Core i9-11900K vs Xeon E5-2696 v4
Core i9-11900K
Xeon E5-2696 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 i9-11900K
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2696 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-11900K | Xeon E5-2696 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($435) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake (2021) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-11900K | Xeon E5-2696 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($435) | ✅ 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 i9-11900K and Xeon E5-2696 v4
Core i9-11900K
The Core i9-11900K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 24,990 points. Launch price was $539.
Xeon E5-2696 v4
The Xeon E5-2696 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 55 MB. L2 cache: 5.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 24,938 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i9-11900K packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2696 v4 offers 22 cores / 44 threads — the Xeon E5-2696 v4 has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.2 GHz on the Core i9-11900K versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2696 v4 — a 36.4% clock advantage for the Core i9-11900K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i9-11900K uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2696 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-11900K scores 24,990 against the Xeon E5-2696 v4's 24,938 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i9-11900K. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-11900K vs 55 MB on the Xeon E5-2696 v4.
| Feature | Core i9-11900K | Xeon E5-2696 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 22 / 44+175% |
| Boost Clock | 5.2 GHz+44% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+59% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 55 MB+244% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 5.5 MB+1000% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Rocket Lake (2021) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 24,990 | 24,938 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-11900K uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2696 v4 uses FCLGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-11900K | Xeon E5-2696 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | FCLGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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