
Xeon E5-1650 v4 vs Core i7-6850K

Xeon E5-1650 v4

Core i7-6850K
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 E5-1650 v4 is positioned at rank 315 and the Core i7-6850K is on rank 827, so the Xeon E5-1650 v4 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1650 v4
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6850K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1650 v4 | Core i7-6850K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-EP (2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1650 v4 | Core i7-6850K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 E5-1650 v4 and Core i7-6850K

Xeon E5-1650 v4
The Xeon E5-1650 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 11,360 points. Launch price was $617.

Core i7-6850K
The Core i7-6850K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 11,376 points. Launch price was $475.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-1650 v4 and Core i7-6850K share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon E5-1650 v4 versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-6850K — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-1650 v4 uses the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-6850K uses Broadwell-E (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1650 v4 scores 11,360 against the Core i7-6850K's 11,376 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-6850K. Both processors carry 15 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1650 v4 | Core i7-6850K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total) | 15 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-EP (2016) | Broadwell-E (2016) |
| PassMark | 11,360 | 11,376 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,200 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 5,500 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 5.0.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1650 v4 | Core i7-6850K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-1650 v4) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-6850K). Primary use case: Core i7-6850K targets HEDT.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1650 v4 | Core i7-6850K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | HEDT |
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