Core i9-9980HK vs Xeon E5-2667 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.

Core i9-9980HK vs Xeon E5-2667 v4 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i9-9980HK vs Xeon E5-2667 v4: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i9-9980HK

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 135W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Xeon E5-2667 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅+56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9980HK across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,776 vs 13,966).
❌200% higher power demand at 135W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9980HK better than Xeon E5-2667 v4?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-2667 v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-9980HK is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9980HK is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 19.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9980HK is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i9-9980HK still makes the most sense overall. Core i9-9980HK comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 19.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i9-9980HK makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i9-9980HK vs Xeon E5-2667 v4 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i9-9980HK

The Core i9-9980HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 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: 13,966 points. Launch price was $583.

Xeon E5-2667 v4

The Xeon E5-2667 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 13,776 points. Launch price was $2,057.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i9-9980HK and Xeon E5-2667 v4 share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-9980HK versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2667 v4 — a 32.6% clock advantage for the Core i9-9980HK (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i9-9980HK uses the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2667 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-9980HK scores 13,966 against the Xeon E5-2667 v4's 13,776 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i9-9980HK. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9980HK vs 25 MB on the Xeon E5-2667 v4.

Feature	Core i9-9980HK	Xeon E5-2667 v4
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5 GHz+39%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.2 GHz+33%
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	25 MB+56%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+12700%	2 MB
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-HR (2019)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	13,966+1%	13,776

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-9980HK uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2667 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.