Core i7-980X vs Xeon E5-2430 v2
Core i7-980X
Xeon E5-2430 v2
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. The Core i7-980X is positioned at rank 1052 and the Xeon E5-2430 v2 is on rank 428, so the Xeon E5-2430 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-980X
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2430 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-980X | Xeon E5-2430 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-980X | Xeon E5-2430 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-980X and Xeon E5-2430 v2
Core i7-980X
The Core i7-980X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,817 points. Launch price was $959.
Xeon E5-2430 v2
The Xeon E5-2430 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,859 points. Launch price was $311.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-980X and Xeon E5-2430 v2 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-980X versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2430 v2 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-980X (base: 3.33 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i7-980X uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-2430 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-980X scores 6,817 against the Xeon E5-2430 v2's 6,859 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E5-2430 v2. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-980X vs 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2430 v2.
| Feature | Core i7-980X | Xeon E5-2430 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+20% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz+33% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 15 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 6,817 | 6,859 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-980X uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2430 v2 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-980X | Xeon E5-2430 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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