Xeon E5-1680 v2 vs Xeon E5-2649 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 E5-1680 v2 vs Xeon E5-2649 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 E5-1680 v2 vs Xeon E5-2649 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 E5-1680 v2

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (12,396 vs 12,399).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,723 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2649 V3 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌23.8% higher power demand at 130W vs 105W.

Xeon E5-2649 V3

2014

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 105W instead of 130W, a 25W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-1680 v2 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2649 V3 better than Xeon E5-1680 v2?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-1680 v2 is ahead with a 3.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2649 V3 pulls ahead with 0% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2649 V3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads.

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

Xeon E5-2649 V3 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-1680 v2 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon E5-2649 V3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,723 MSRP, and it still gives you 0% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-1680 v2 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 3.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-1680 v2 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 E5-2649 V3 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2013) and more multi-core headroom with 10 cores / 20 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon E5-1680 v2 vs Xeon E5-2649 V3 Technical Specifications

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

Xeon E5-1680 v2

The Xeon E5-1680 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600, DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 12,396 points. Launch price was $800.

Xeon E5-2649 V3

The Xeon E5-2649 V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 2133 MHz Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 12,399 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E5-1680 v2 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2649 V3 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon E5-2649 V3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E5-1680 v2 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2649 V3 — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-1680 v2 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Xeon E5-1680 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-2649 V3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1680 v2 scores 12,396 against the Xeon E5-2649 V3's 12,399 — a 0% lead for the Xeon E5-2649 V3. Both processors carry 25 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Xeon E5-1680 v2	Xeon E5-2649 V3
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	10 / 20+25%
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz+30%	3 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+30%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	25 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm	22 nm
Architecture	Ivy Bridge-EP (2013)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	12,396	12,399
Cinebench R23 Multi	8,579	—
Geekbench 6 Single	750	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	4,500	—

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-1680 v2 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2649 V3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Xeon E5-1680 v2	Xeon E5-2649 V3
Socket	LGA2011	LGA2011-3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	—
Max RAM Capacity	256 GB	—
RAM Channels	4	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	40	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon E5-1680 v2) / not specified (Xeon E5-2649 V3). Primary use case: Xeon E5-1680 v2 targets Server/Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon E5-1680 v2 rivals Core i7-4960X.