CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-1607 v3
Xeon E5-2420
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 E5-1607 v3 is positioned at rank 561 and the Xeon E5-2420 is on rank 556, so the Xeon E5-2420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1607 v3
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2420
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1607 v3 | Xeon E5-2420 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1607 v3 | Xeon E5-2420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 E5-1607 v3 and Xeon E5-2420
Xeon E5-1607 v3
The Xeon E5-1607 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 4,932 points. Launch price was $800.
Xeon E5-2420
The Xeon E5-2420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,012 points. Launch price was $390.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-1607 v3 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-2420 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2420 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Xeon E5-1607 v3 versus 2.4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2420 — a 25.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-1607 v3 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Xeon E5-1607 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-2420 uses Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1607 v3 scores 4,932 against the Xeon E5-2420's 5,012 — a 1.6% lead for the Xeon E5-2420. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1607 v3 vs 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2420.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1607 v3 | Xeon E5-2420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+29% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+63% | 1.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total) | 15360 kB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) |
| PassMark | 4,932 | 5,012+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1607 v3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2420 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1607 v3 | Xeon E5-2420 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | LGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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