Core Ultra 5 125U vs Xeon E5-2689 v4
Core Ultra 5 125U
Xeon E5-2689 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 Ultra 5 125U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2689 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 125U | Xeon E5-2689 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-P (2023) / 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 125U | Xeon E5-2689 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 Ultra 5 125U and Xeon E5-2689 v4
Core Ultra 5 125U
The Core Ultra 5 125U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-P (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,152 points. Launch price was $363.
Xeon E5-2689 v4
The Xeon E5-2689 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 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB. L2 cache: 2.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 17,084 points. Launch price was $2,723.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 5 125U packs 12 cores / 14 threads, while the Xeon E5-2689 v4 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Core Ultra 5 125U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125U versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2689 v4 — a 12.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 125U (base: 1.3 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 125U uses the Meteor Lake-P (2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon E5-2689 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 125U scores 17,152 against the Xeon E5-2689 v4's 17,084 — a 0.4% lead for the Core Ultra 5 125U. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 125U vs 25 MB on the Xeon E5-2689 v4.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 125U | Xeon E5-2689 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 14+20% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+13% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.3 GHz | 3.1 GHz+138% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 25 MB+108% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 2.5 MB+25% |
| Process | 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Meteor Lake-P (2023) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 17,152 | 17,084 |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 5 125U uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E5-2689 v4 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 125U | Xeon E5-2689 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2049 | LGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
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