Core i9-10900T vs Xeon E5-2680 v3
Core i9-10900T
Xeon E5-2680 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 i9-10900T
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2680 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-10900T | Xeon E5-2680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($212) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-10900T | Xeon E5-2680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+4101%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($212) |
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 i9-10900T and Xeon E5-2680 v3
Core i9-10900T
The Core i9-10900T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2020 (5 years ago). It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 14,727 points. Launch price was $149.
Xeon E5-2680 v3
The Xeon E5-2680 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 14,864 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i9-10900T packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon E5-2680 v3 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2680 v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i9-10900T versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 v3 — a 32.9% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900T (base: 1.9 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-2680 v3 is built on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i9-10900T scores 14,727 against the Xeon E5-2680 v3's 14,864 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5-2680 v3. L3 cache: 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Core i9-10900T vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2680 v3.
| Feature | Core i9-10900T | Xeon E5-2680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 12 / 24+20% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+39% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.5 GHz+32% |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache | 30 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | — | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | — | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 14,727 | 14,864 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,710 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 7,476 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-10900T uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2680 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2933 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2680 v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-10900T) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2680 v3). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i9-10900T) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2680 v3) — the Xeon E5-2680 v3 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i9-10900T | Xeon E5-2680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 768 GB+500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 40+150% |
Advanced Features
Only the Xeon E5-2680 v3 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Yes (Core i9-10900T) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2680 v3). The Core i9-10900T includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2680 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E5-2680 v3 targets Server.
| Feature | Core i9-10900T | Xeon E5-2680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
The Core i9-10900T launched at $120 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2680 v3 debuted at $1745. At current prices ($5 vs $212), the Core i9-10900T is $207 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-10900T delivers 2945.4 pts/$ vs 70.1 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2680 v3 — making the Core i9-10900T the 190.7% better value option.
| Feature | Core i9-10900T | Xeon E5-2680 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $120-93% | $1745 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-98% | $212 |
| Performance per Dollar | 2945.4+4102% | 70.1 |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2014 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i9-10900T and Xeon E5-2680 v3
