Core i7-9700K vs Xeon E5-2687W v3
Core i7-9700K
Xeon E5-2687W 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 i7-9700K
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2687W v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-9700K | Xeon E5-2687W v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($200) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($749) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-9700K | Xeon E5-2687W v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+271%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($200) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($749) |
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 i7-9700K and Xeon E5-2687W v3
Core i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Xeon E5-2687W v3
The Xeon E5-2687W v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 160 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 14,538 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2687W v3 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon E5-2687W v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2687W v3 — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i7-9700K uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2687W v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Xeon E5-2687W v3's 14,538 — a 1% lead for the Xeon E5-2687W v3. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2687W v3.
| Feature | Core i7-9700K | Xeon E5-2687W v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 10 / 20+25% |
| Boost Clock | 4.9 GHz+40% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+16% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 25 MB (total)+108% |
| 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 | 14,397 | 14,538 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-9700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2687W v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2687W v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-9700K) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2687W v3). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-9700K) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2687W v3) — the Xeon E5-2687W v3 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and Intel X99,Intel C612 (Xeon E5-2687W v3).
| Feature | Core i7-9700K | Xeon E5-2687W 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: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K) / not specified (Xeon E5-2687W v3). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2687W v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-9700K | Xeon E5-2687W v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2687W v3 debuted at $2141. At current prices ($200 vs $749), the Core i7-9700K is $549 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 72.0 pts/$ vs 19.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2687W v3 — making the Core i7-9700K the 115.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-9700K | Xeon E5-2687W v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $385-82% | $2141 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $200-73% | $749 |
| Performance per Dollar | 72.0+271% | 19.4 |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2014 |
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