Xeon E5-1680 v4 vs Xeon E5-2666 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 v4 vs Xeon E5-2666 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 v4 vs Xeon E5-2666 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 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,945 vs 14,044).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 25 MB).

Xeon E5-2666 V3

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Draws 135W instead of 140W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-1680 v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2666 V3 better than Xeon E5-1680 v4?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-1680 v4 is ahead with a 10.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2666 V3 pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark. Xeon E5-2666 V3 also has the bigger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2666 V3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 10 cores and 20 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Xeon E5-2666 V3 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon E5-2666 V3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark.

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

Xeon E5-1680 v4 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Xeon E5-1680 v4 vs Xeon E5-2666 V3 Technical Specifications

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

Xeon E5-1680 v4

The Xeon E5-1680 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 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 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: 13,945 points. Launch price was $1,723.

Xeon E5-2666 V3

The Xeon E5-2666 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 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 2133 MHz Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 14,044 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E5-1680 v4 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2666 V3 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon E5-2666 V3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon E5-1680 v4 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2666 V3 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-1680 v4 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Xeon E5-1680 v4 uses the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2666 V3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1680 v4 scores 13,945 against the Xeon E5-2666 V3's 14,044 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5-2666 V3. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1680 v4 vs 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2666 V3.

Feature	Xeon E5-1680 v4	Xeon E5-2666 V3
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	10 / 20+25%
Boost Clock	4 GHz+14%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+17%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	25 MB (total)+25%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Broadwell-EP (2016)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	13,945	14,044

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-1680 v4 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2666 V3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.