Core i9-10900F vs Xeon E5-2686 v4
Core i9-10900F
Xeon E5-2686 v4
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 i9-10900F
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2686 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-10900F | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-10900F | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ 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 i9-10900F and Xeon E5-2686 v4
Core i9-10900F
The Core i9-10900F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 19,800 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon E5-2686 v4
The Xeon E5-2686 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB. L2 cache: 4.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,860 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i9-10900F packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10900F versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 — a 51.9% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900F (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i9-10900F uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-10900F scores 19,800 against the Xeon E5-2686 v4's 19,860 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 v4. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,701 vs 895, a 62.1% lead for the Core i9-10900F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,456 vs 6,822 (21.4% advantage for the Core i9-10900F). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i9-10900F vs 45 MB on the Xeon E5-2686 v4.
| Feature | Core i9-10900F | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 18 / 36+80% |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz+70% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+22% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total) | 45 MB+125% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4.5 MB+1700% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Comet Lake (2020−2025) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 19,800 | 19,860 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 13,500 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,701+90% | 895 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,456+24% | 6,822 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-10900F uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses FCLGA2011-3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2933 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2686 v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-10900F) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2686 v4). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i9-10900F) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B460,H470,Z490,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i9-10900F) and C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 v4).
| Feature | Core i9-10900F | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | FCLGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 1536 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 40+150% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-10900F) vs Yes (Xeon E5-2686 v4). Primary use case: Core i9-10900F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i9-10900F rivals Ryzen 7 3800X.
| Feature | Core i9-10900F | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | Yes |
| Target Use | Gaming | — |
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