CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-1680 v3
Core i7-9700
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1680 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1680 v3 | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($150) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1680 v3 | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+33%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($150) |
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 E5-1680 v3 and Core i7-9700
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.
Core i7-9700
The Core i7-9700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,206 points. Launch price was $323.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-1680 v3 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, matching the Core i7-9700's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1680 v3 versus 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-9700 — a 21.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-9700 uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1680 v3 scores 13,273 against the Core i7-9700's 13,206 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-1680 v3. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,141 vs 1,570, a 31.6% lead for the Core i7-9700 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,782 vs 7,202 (19.8% advantage for the Xeon E5-1680 v3). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1680 v3 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1680 v3 | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.7 GHz+24% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+7% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+67% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 13,273 | 13,206 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 8,540 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,141 | 1,570+38% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,782+22% | 7,202 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-9700 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. The Xeon E5-1680 v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-1680 v3) vs 2 (Core i7-9700). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-1680 v3) vs 16 (Core i7-9700) — the Xeon E5-1680 v3 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C612,X99 (Xeon E5-1680 v3) and LGA1151 (Core i7-9700).
| Feature | Xeon E5-1680 v3 | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB+500% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon E5-1680 v3) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700). The Core i7-9700 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1680 v3 | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-1680 v3 launched at $1723 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700 debuted at $333. At current prices ($200 vs $150), the Core i7-9700 is $50 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-1680 v3 delivers 66.4 pts/$ vs 88.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700 — making the Core i7-9700 the 28.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1680 v3 | Core i7-9700 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1723 | $333-81% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $200 | $150-25% |
| Performance per Dollar | 66.4 | 88.0+33% |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2019 |
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