Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs Xeon E5-2667 v3

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.

Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs Xeon E5-2667 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.

Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs Xeon E5-2667 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Xeon E5-1660 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.9% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $977 less on MSRP ($1,080 MSRP vs $2,057 MSRP).
✅Delivers 92.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 11.7 vs 6.1 PassMark/$ ($1,080 MSRP vs $2,057 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Xeon E5-2667 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 135W instead of 140W, a 5W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (12,474 vs 12,582).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.1 vs 11.7 PassMark/$ ($2,057 MSRP vs $1,080 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-1660 v3 better than Xeon E5-2667 v3?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-2667 v3 is ahead with a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-1660 v3 pulls ahead with 0.9% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-1660 v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Xeon E5-1660 v3 is the better buy right now. Xeon E5-1660 v3 comes in $977 cheaper on MSRP at $1,080 MSRP versus $2,057 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.9% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2667 v3 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 92.1% better value on MSRP (11.7 vs 6.1 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon E5-1660 v3 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs Xeon E5-2667 v3 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Xeon E5-2667 v3

The Xeon E5-2667 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 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 12,474 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

Both the Xeon E5-1660 v3 and Xeon E5-2667 v3 share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v3 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2667 v3 — a 2.8% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2667 v3 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). Both are built on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture using a 22 nm process. In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1660 v3 scores 12,582 against the Xeon E5-2667 v3's 12,474 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5-1660 v3. Both processors carry 20 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Xeon E5-1660 v3	Xeon E5-2667 v3
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+3%
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.2 GHz+7%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	20 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm	22 nm
Architecture	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	12,582	12,474

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 3.0.

Feature	Xeon E5-1660 v3	Xeon E5-2667 v3
Socket	LGA2011	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2133
Max RAM Capacity	—	768 GB
RAM Channels	—	4
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	40

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Xeon E5-1660 v3 was priced at $1080, while the Xeon E5-2667 v3 came in at $2057. On launch pricing ($1080 vs $2057), Xeon E5-1660 v3 was $977 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-1660 v3 delivers 11.7 pts/$ vs 6.1 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2667 v3 — making the Xeon E5-1660 v3 the 63.1% better value option.

Feature	Xeon E5-1660 v3	Xeon E5-2667 v3
MSRP	$1080-47%	$2057
Performance per Dollar	11.7+92%	6.1
Release Date	2014	2014

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