Core i9-10980HK vs Xeon E5-2680 v4

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i9-10980HK

#187

Core Ultra 9 288V

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

128%

#188

Core i7-10870H

MSRP: $417|Avg: N/A

127%

#202

Core i9-10980HK

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2680 v4

#115

Xeon W-1370

MSRP: $323|Avg: $323

103%

#119

Xeon 6505P

MSRP: $563|Avg: $563

101%

#124

Xeon E5-2680 v4

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#130

EPYC 9115

MSRP: $726|Avg: $726

96%

#131

EPYC 74F3

MSRP: $913|Avg: $824

96%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Core i9-10980HK (2020) utilizes 14 nm technology and DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Core i9-10980HK	Xeon E5-2680 v4
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Comet Lake-H (2020) / 14 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-EP (2016) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Xeon E5-2680 v4 (2016) relies on 14 nm technology and DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Core i9-10980HK	Xeon E5-2680 v4
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i9-10980HK Benchmark Check

Xeon E5-2680 v4 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-10980HK and Xeon E5-2680 v4

Core i9-10980HK

The Core i9-10980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,037 points. Launch price was $583.

Xeon E5-2680 v4

The Xeon E5-2680 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 35 MB. L2 cache: 3.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 17,292 points. Launch price was $1,745.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-10980HK packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2680 v4 offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Xeon E5-2680 v4 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10980HK versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 v4 — a 42.9% clock advantage for the Core i9-10980HK (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i9-10980HK uses the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2680 v4 uses Broadwell-EP (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-10980HK scores 17,037 against the Xeon E5-2680 v4's 17,292 — a 1.5% lead for the Xeon E5-2680 v4. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-10980HK vs 35 MB on the Xeon E5-2680 v4.

Feature	Core i9-10980HK	Xeon E5-2680 v4
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	14 / 28+75%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+55%	3.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	35 MB+119%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	3.5 MB+1300%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Comet Lake-H (2020)	Broadwell-EP (2016)
PassMark	17,037	17,292+1%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-10980HK uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2680 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i9-10980HK	Xeon E5-2680 v4
Socket	BGA1440	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	2400
Max RAM Capacity	—	1536
RAM Channels	—	4
ECC Support	—	✅
PCIe Lanes	—	40

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-10980HK) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2680 v4). Direct competitor: Xeon E5-2680 v4 rivals Xeon Silver 4114.