
Xeon E-2234 vs Xeon E5-2690

Xeon E-2234

Xeon E5-2690
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 Xeon E-2234 is positioned at rank 388 and the Xeon E5-2690 is on rank 992, so the Xeon E-2234 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E-2234
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2690
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E-2234 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($136) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S WS (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E-2234 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+9%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($136) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 Xeon E-2234 and Xeon E5-2690

Xeon E-2234
The Xeon E-2234 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 May 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S WS (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 71 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 9,639 points. Launch price was $250.

Xeon E5-2690
The Xeon E5-2690 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,764 points. Launch price was $397.
Processing Power
The Xeon E-2234 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2690 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2690 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Xeon E-2234 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 — a 23.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E-2234 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Xeon E-2234 uses the Coffee Lake-S WS (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2690 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E-2234 scores 9,639 against the Xeon E5-2690's 9,764 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2690. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E-2234 vs 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2690.
| Feature | Xeon E-2234 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz+26% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+24% | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 20480 kB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-S WS (2018−2019) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 9,639 | 9,764+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E-2234 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2690 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E-2234 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 384 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E-2234 launched at $250 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2690 debuted at $2057. At current prices ($136 vs $150), the Xeon E-2234 is $14 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E-2234 delivers 70.9 pts/$ vs 65.1 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2690 — making the Xeon E-2234 the 8.5% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E-2234 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $250-88% | $2057 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $136-9% | $150 |
| Performance per Dollar | 70.9+9% | 65.1 |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2012 |
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