Xeon E5-1681 V3 vs Core i9-10900T
Xeon E5-1681 V3
Core i9-10900T
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 E5-1681 V3
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-10900T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1681 V3 | Core i9-10900T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1681 V3 | Core i9-10900T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+3875%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
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 E5-1681 V3 and Core i9-10900T
Xeon E5-1681 V3
The Xeon E5-1681 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: DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 14,820 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i9-10900T
The Core i9-10900T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2020 (5 years ago). It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 14,727 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-1681 V3 and Core i9-10900T share an identical 10-core/20-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-1681 V3 versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i9-10900T — a 27.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900T (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Xeon E5-1681 V3 is built on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1681 V3 scores 14,820 against the Core i9-10900T's 14,727 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E5-1681 V3. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,050 vs 1,710, a 47.8% lead for the Core i9-10900T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,000 vs 7,476 (18.5% advantage for the Xeon E5-1681 V3). L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1681 V3 vs 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Core i9-10900T.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1681 V3 | Core i9-10900T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.6 GHz+31% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+53% | 1.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 25 MB (total)+25% | 20 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | — |
| PassMark | 14,820 | 14,727 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,050 | 1,710+63% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,000+20% | 7,476 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1681 V3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-10900T uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. The Xeon E5-1681 V3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-1681 V3) vs 2 (Core i9-10900T). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-1681 V3) vs 16 (Core i9-10900T) — the Xeon E5-1681 V3 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C612,X99 (Xeon E5-1681 V3) and Z490,H470,B460,H410,Z590,B560,H510 (Core i9-10900T).
| Feature | Xeon E5-1681 V3 | Core i9-10900T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2933 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB+500% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Both support Yes virtualization. The Core i9-10900T includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-1681 V3 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1681 V3 | Core i9-10900T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-1681 V3 launched at $1589 MSRP, while the Core i9-10900T debuted at $120. At current prices ($200 vs $5), the Core i9-10900T is $195 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-1681 V3 delivers 74.1 pts/$ vs 2945.4 pts/$ for the Core i9-10900T — making the Core i9-10900T the 190.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1681 V3 | Core i9-10900T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1589 | $120-92% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $200 | $5-98% |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.1 | 2945.4+3875% |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2020 |
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