CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-1660 v3
Core Ultra 7 164U
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 E5-1660 v3 is positioned at rank 824 and the Core Ultra 7 164U is on rank 675, so the Core Ultra 7 164U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1660 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 7 164U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($198) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-U (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($198) | ✅ 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 Xeon E5-1660 v3 and Core Ultra 7 164U
Xeon E5-1660 v3
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 12,582 points. Launch price was $800.
Core Ultra 7 164U
The Core Ultra 7 164U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-U (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2551. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 12,625 points. Launch price was $448.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 164U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 7 164U has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v3 versus 4.8 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 164U — a 31.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 7 164U (base: 3 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Xeon E5-1660 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 164U uses Meteor Lake-U (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1660 v3 scores 12,582 against the Core Ultra 7 164U's 12,625 — a 0.3% lead for the Core Ultra 7 164U. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 7 164U.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 12 / 14+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.8 GHz+37% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+173% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+67% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+700% |
| Process | 22 nm | 7 nm-68% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Meteor Lake-U (2023) |
| PassMark | 12,582 | 12,625 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 8,766 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,131 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,973 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 7 164U uses FCBGA2551 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | FCBGA2551 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | LPDDR5x-6400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-1660 v3) / VT-x, VT-d (Core Ultra 7 164U). The Core Ultra 7 164U includes integrated graphics (Intel Arc), while the Xeon E5-1660 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core Ultra 7 164U targets Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Core Ultra 7 164U rivals Ryzen 7 7840U.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core Ultra 7 164U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel Arc |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Enthusiast |
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