Core i7-9700 vs Xeon E5-1680 v3
Core i7-9700
Xeon E5-1680 v3
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1680 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-9700 | Xeon E5-1680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($150) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-9700 | Xeon E5-1680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+33%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($150) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700 and Xeon E5-1680 v3
Core i7-9700
The Core i7-9700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,206 points. Launch price was $323.
Xeon E5-1680 v3
The Xeon E5-1680 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 13,273 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-9700 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E5-1680 v3's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-9700 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1680 v3 — a 21.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i7-9700 uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700 scores 13,206 against the Xeon E5-1680 v3's 13,273 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-1680 v3. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,570 vs 1,141, a 31.6% lead for the Core i7-9700 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 7,202 vs 8,782 (19.8% advantage for the Xeon E5-1680 v3). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1680 v3.
| Feature | Core i7-9700 | Xeon E5-1680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz+24% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 20 MB (total)+67% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 13,206 | 13,273 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 8,540 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,570+38% | 1,141 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 7,202 | 8,782+22% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-9700 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Xeon E5-1680 v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-9700) vs 4 (Xeon E5-1680 v3). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700) vs 40 (Xeon E5-1680 v3) — the Xeon E5-1680 v3 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: LGA1151 (Core i7-9700) and C612,X99 (Xeon E5-1680 v3).
| Feature | Core i7-9700 | Xeon E5-1680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 768 GB+500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 40+150% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700) vs Yes (Xeon E5-1680 v3). The Core i7-9700 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-9700 | Xeon E5-1680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-9700 launched at $333 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 debuted at $1723. At current prices ($150 vs $200), the Core i7-9700 is $50 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700 delivers 88.0 pts/$ vs 66.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1680 v3 — making the Core i7-9700 the 28.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-9700 | Xeon E5-1680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $333-81% | $1723 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150-25% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 88.0+33% | 66.4 |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2014 |
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