
Core Ultra 7 164U vs Xeon E5-2680 v2

Core Ultra 7 164U

Xeon E5-2680 v2
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. The Core Ultra 7 164U is positioned at rank 675 and the Xeon E5-2680 v2 is on rank 636, so the Xeon E5-2680 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 7 164U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2680 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 164U | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($462) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-U (2023) / 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 164U | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($462) |
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 7 164U and Xeon E5-2680 v2

Core Ultra 7 164U
The Core Ultra 7 164U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-U (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2551. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 12,625 points. Launch price was $448.

Xeon E5-2680 v2
The Xeon E5-2680 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 12,707 points. Launch price was $1,260.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 7 164U packs 12 cores / 14 threads, while the Xeon E5-2680 v2 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Core Ultra 7 164U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 164U versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 v2 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 164U (base: 1.1 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 164U uses the Meteor Lake-U (2023) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon E5-2680 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 164U scores 12,625 against the Xeon E5-2680 v2's 12,707 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E5-2680 v2. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 164U vs 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2680 v2.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 164U | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 14+20% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz+33% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.1 GHz | 2.8 GHz+155% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 25 MB (total)+108% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core)+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm-68% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Meteor Lake-U (2023) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 12,625 | 12,707 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 8,766 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,131 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,973 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 7 164U uses the FCBGA2551 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E5-2680 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-6400 on the Core Ultra 7 164U versus DDR3-1866 on the Xeon E5-2680 v2 — the Core Ultra 7 164U supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2680 v2 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 7 164U) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2680 v2). PCIe lanes: 12 (Core Ultra 7 164U) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2680 v2) — the Xeon E5-2680 v2 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Meteor Lake-U (Core Ultra 7 164U) and Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2680 v2).
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 164U | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2551 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-6400+67% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 768 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 40+233% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 164U) / not specified (Xeon E5-2680 v2). The Core Ultra 7 164U includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc), while the Xeon E5-2680 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 164U targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 7 164U rivals Ryzen 7 7840U.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 164U | Xeon E5-2680 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel Arc | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Enthusiast | — |
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