Xeon E5-1660 v4 vs Xeon E5-1680 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 v4 vs Xeon E5-1680 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 v4 vs Xeon E5-1680 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 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

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

Xeon E5-1680 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,273 vs 13,341).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,723 MSRP, while Xeon E5-1660 v4 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-1660 v4 better than Xeon E5-1680 v3?

Yes. Xeon E5-1660 v4 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-1660 v4 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Xeon E5-1660 v4 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-1680 v3 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon E5-1660 v4 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,723 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-1680 v3 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Xeon E5-1660 v4 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2014) and 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 v4 vs Xeon E5-1680 v3 Technical Specifications

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

Xeon E5-1660 v4

The Xeon E5-1660 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20 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: 13,341 points. Launch price was $1,113.

Xeon E5-1680 v3

The Xeon E5-1680 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 3.8 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: 13,273 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Xeon E5-1660 v4 and Xeon E5-1680 v3 share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v4 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1680 v3 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-1660 v4 uses the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1660 v4 scores 13,341 against the Xeon E5-1680 v3's 13,273 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-1660 v4. Both processors carry 20 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Xeon E5-1660 v4	Xeon E5-1680 v3
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	20 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Broadwell-EP (2016)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	13,341	13,273
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,141
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	8,782