Core Ultra 5 238V vs Xeon E5-2686 V3
Core Ultra 5 238V
Xeon E5-2686 V3
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 238V
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2686 V3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | Similar productivity capacity | Similar productivity capacity |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($454) | ✅ More affordable ($160) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Lunar Lake (2024) / 3 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+183%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($454) | ✅ More affordable ($160) |
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 238V and Xeon E5-2686 V3
Core Ultra 5 238V
The Core Ultra 5 238V is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 September 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2.5 MB (per core). Built on 3 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2833. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,219 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon E5-2686 V3
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 2133 MHz Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 18,148 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 5 238V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 238V versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 — a 29.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 238V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 238V scores 18,219 against the Xeon E5-2686 V3's 18,148 — a 0.4% lead for the Core Ultra 5 238V. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 10,000 vs 10,000 (0% advantage for the Xeon E5-2686 V3). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,683 vs 1,033, a 88.8% lead for the Core Ultra 5 238V that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,130 vs 8,649 (15.8% advantage for the Core Ultra 5 238V). L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 238V vs 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2686 V3.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 18 / 36+125% |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz+34% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz+5% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 45 MB (total)+463% |
| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core)+900% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 3 nm-86% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Lunar Lake (2024) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 18,219 | 18,148 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,683+160% | 1,033 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 10,130+17% | 8,649 |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 5 238V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-8533 on the Core Ultra 5 238V versus DDR4-2133 on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 — the Core Ultra 5 238V supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2686 V3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 184% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 5 238V) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2686 V3). PCIe lanes: 8 (Core Ultra 5 238V) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core Ultra 5 238V) and C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 V3).
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2833 | LGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-8533+25% | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 768 GB+2300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 40+400% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 5 238V) vs Yes (Xeon E5-2686 V3). The Core Ultra 5 238V includes integrated graphics (Arc Graphics 130V), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 5 238V targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 5 238V rivals Ryzen 5 8640U.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Arc Graphics 130V | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | Yes |
| Target Use | Productivity | — |
Value Analysis
The Core Ultra 5 238V launched at $454 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 debuted at $1500. At current prices ($454 vs $160), the Xeon E5-2686 V3 is $294 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core Ultra 5 238V delivers 40.1 pts/$ vs 113.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2686 V3 — making the Xeon E5-2686 V3 the 95.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core Ultra 5 238V | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $454-70% | $1500 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $454 | $160-65% |
| Performance per Dollar | 40.1 | 113.4+183% |
| Release Date | 2024 | 2014 |
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