Core i9-8950HK vs Xeon E5-1660 v2

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 i9-8950HK is positioned at rank 927 and the Xeon E5-1660 v2 is on rank 352, so the Xeon E5-1660 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

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 i9-8950HK

#915

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

1649%

#916

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

1625%

#917

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

1492%

#918

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

1485%

#919

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

1472%

#921

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

1421%

#922

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

1363%

#923

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

1360%

#924

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

1324%

#927

Core i9-8950HK

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#928

A8-6410

MSRP: $100|Avg: $40

100%

#933

Athlon X2 L310

MSRP: $100|Avg: $20

98%

#939

FX-7600P

MSRP: $150|Avg: $45

96%

#940

Athlon II M300

MSRP: $100|Avg: $10

96%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1660 v2

#1

Xeon Platinum 8454H

MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A

5028%

#6

Xeon Gold 6240R

MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A

949%

#10

Xeon 6337P

MSRP: $60|Avg: $5

844%

#15

EPYC 9174F

MSRP: $194|Avg: $30

652%

#253

Xeon W-2150B

MSRP: $499|Avg: $400

99%

#255

Xeon 6517P

MSRP: $1195|Avg: $1195

99%

#352

Xeon E5-1660 v2

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#362

Xeon E5-2667 v2

MSRP: $300|Avg: $300

98%

#367

Xeon E5-1410

MSRP: $120|Avg: $55

98%

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 i9-8950HK (2018) utilizes 14 nm technology and DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Core i9-8950HK	Xeon E5-1660 v2
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) / 14 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-E (2013) / 22 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Xeon E5-1660 v2 (2013) relies on 22 nm technology and DDR3, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Core i9-8950HK	Xeon E5-1660 v2
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 i9-8950HK Benchmark Check

Xeon E5-1660 v2 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-8950HK and Xeon E5-1660 v2

Core i9-8950HK

The Core i9-8950HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,373 points. Launch price was $583.

Xeon E5-1660 v2

The Xeon E5-1660 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-E (2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,332 points. Launch price was $1,809.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i9-8950HK and Xeon E5-1660 v2 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-8950HK versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v2 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-8950HK (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i9-8950HK uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-E (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-8950HK scores 10,373 against the Xeon E5-1660 v2's 10,332 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i9-8950HK. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i9-8950HK vs 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660 v2.

Feature	Core i9-8950HK	Xeon E5-1660 v2
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+20%	4 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.7 GHz+28%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	15 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)	Ivy Bridge-E (2013)
PassMark	10,373	10,332

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-8950HK uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.