Xeon E5-2420 v2 vs Core i5-7500
Xeon E5-2420 v2
Core i5-7500
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. The Xeon E5-2420 v2 is positioned at rank 454 and the Core i5-7500 is on rank 573, so the Xeon E5-2420 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2420 v2
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2420 v2 | Core i5-7500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($112) | ✅ More affordable ($65) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2420 v2 | Core i5-7500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+73%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($112) | ✅ More affordable ($65) |
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 E5-2420 v2 and Core i5-7500
Xeon E5-2420 v2
The Xeon E5-2420 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,349 points. Launch price was $480.
Core i5-7500
The Core i5-7500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,362 points. Launch price was $202.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2420 v2 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i5-7500 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2420 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Xeon E5-2420 v2 versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i5-7500 — a 33.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-7500 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Xeon E5-2420 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-7500 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2420 v2 scores 6,349 against the Core i5-7500's 6,362 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-7500. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2420 v2 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7500.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2420 v2 | Core i5-7500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.8 GHz+41% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.4 GHz+55% |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+150% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,349 | 6,362 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2420 v2 uses the LGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-7500 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2420 v2 | Core i5-7500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1356 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2420 v2) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-7500). The Core i5-7500 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2420 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7500 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2420 v2 | Core i5-7500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
At current prices ($112 vs $65), the Core i5-7500 is $47 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2420 v2 delivers 56.7 pts/$ vs 97.9 pts/$ for the Core i5-7500 — making the Core i5-7500 the 53.3% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2420 v2 | Core i5-7500 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $199 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $112 | $65-42% |
| Performance per Dollar | 56.7 | 97.9+73% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2017 |
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