Core Ultra 7 268V vs Xeon E5-2686 v4
Core Ultra 7 268V
Xeon E5-2686 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 7 268V
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2686 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 268V | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Lunar Lake (2024) / 3 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core Ultra 7 268V | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 268V and Xeon E5-2686 v4
Core Ultra 7 268V
The Core Ultra 7 268V 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 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 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: 19,698 points. Launch price was $299.
Xeon E5-2686 v4
The Xeon E5-2686 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB. L2 cache: 4.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,860 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core Ultra 7 268V packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 268V versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 — a 50% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 268V (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core Ultra 7 268V uses the Lunar Lake (2024) architecture (3 nm), while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core Ultra 7 268V scores 19,698 against the Xeon E5-2686 v4's 19,860 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 v4. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,437 vs 895, a 92.6% lead for the Core Ultra 7 268V that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,000 vs 6,822 (37.8% advantage for the Core Ultra 7 268V). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 268V vs 45 MB on the Xeon E5-2686 v4.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 268V | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8 | 18 / 36+125% |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz+67% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.3 GHz+5% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 45 MB+275% |
| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core) | 4.5 MB+80% |
| Process | 3 nm-79% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Lunar Lake (2024) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 19,698 | 19,860 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 10,653 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,437+172% | 895 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 10,000+47% | 6,822 |
Memory & Platform
The Core Ultra 7 268V uses the FCBGA2833 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses FCLGA2011-3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5x-8533 on the Core Ultra 7 268V versus DDR4-2400 on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 — the Core Ultra 7 268V supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2686 v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core Ultra 7 268V) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2686 v4). PCIe lanes: 8 (Core Ultra 7 268V) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Core Ultra 7 268V) and C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 v4).
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 268V | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA2833 | FCLGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5x-8533+25% | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 1536 GB+4700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 40+400% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core Ultra 7 268V) vs Yes (Xeon E5-2686 v4). The Core Ultra 7 268V includes integrated graphics (Arc Graphics 140V), while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 268V targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 7 268V rivals Core Ultra 7 155H.
| Feature | Core Ultra 7 268V | Xeon E5-2686 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Arc Graphics 140V | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | Yes |
| Target Use | Productivity | — |
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