EPYC 4124P vs Xeon E5-2686 V3

CPU

GPU

EPYC 4124P

4 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2024

EPYC family

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Xeon E5-2686 V3

18 Cores36 Thrd120 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2014

Similar parts

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EPYC 4124P vs Xeon E5-2686 V3 Performance Spectrum

EPYC 4124P

4 / 8

18,139

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Xeon E5-2686 V3

18 / 36

18,148

0.0%

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.

EPYC 4124P vs Xeon E5-2686 V3 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.

EPYC 4124P vs Xeon E5-2686 V3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

EPYC 4124P

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2011-3 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics, while Xeon E5-2686 V3 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 45 MB).

Xeon E5-2686 V3

2014

Why buy it

✅+40.6% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 32 MB).
✅42.9% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 28) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 4124P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (10,000 vs 10,500).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,500 MSRP, while EPYC 4124P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2011-3 with DDR4, while EPYC 4124P moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 4124P better than Xeon E5-2686 V3?

Yes. EPYC 4124P is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 13.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 4124P is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 13.1% 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, EPYC 4124P is the stronger fit. You are getting 5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

EPYC 4124P is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-2686 V3 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. EPYC 4124P comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,500 MSRP, and it still gives you a 13.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-2686 V3 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (12.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

EPYC 4124P makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2014), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of LGA2011-3, more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 18/36, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

EPYC 4124P vs Xeon E5-2686 V3 Technical Specifications

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

EPYC 4124P

The EPYC 4124P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 May 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,139 points. Launch price was $149.

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.

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Processing Power

The EPYC 4124P packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the EPYC 4124P versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 — a 37.2% clock advantage for the EPYC 4124P (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2 GHz). The EPYC 4124P uses the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture (5 nm), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 4124P scores 18,139 against the Xeon E5-2686 V3's 18,148 — a 0% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 V3. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 10,500 vs 10,000 (4.9% advantage for the EPYC 4124P). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,962 vs 1,033, a 62% lead for the EPYC 4124P that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 8,649 (128% advantage for the Xeon E5-2686 V3). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 4124P vs 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2686 V3.

Feature	EPYC 4124P	Xeon E5-2686 V3
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	18 / 36+350%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+46%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.8 GHz+90%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	45 MB (total)+41%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	5 nm-77%	22 nm
Architecture	Raphael (2023−2025)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	18,139	18,148
Cinebench R23 Multi	10,500+5%	10,000
Geekbench 6 Single	1,962+90%	1,033
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	8,649+356%

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Memory & Platform

The EPYC 4124P uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5200 on the EPYC 4124P versus DDR4-2133 on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 — the EPYC 4124P supports 143.8% 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 192 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (EPYC 4124P) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2686 V3). PCIe lanes: 28 (EPYC 4124P) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B650,X670,X870 (EPYC 4124P) and C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 V3).

Feature	EPYC 4124P	Xeon E5-2686 V3
Socket	AM5	LGA2011-3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200+144%	DDR4-2133
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	768 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28	40+43%

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Advanced Features

Only the EPYC 4124P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, AMD-Vi (EPYC 4124P) vs Yes (Xeon E5-2686 V3). The EPYC 4124P includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: EPYC 4124P targets Entry Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 4124P rivals Core i5-10500T.