
Xeon E5-2430 v2 vs Xeon X5680

Xeon E5-2430 v2

Xeon X5680
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 E5-2430 v2 is positioned at rank 428 and the Xeon X5680 is on rank 704, so the Xeon E5-2430 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 E5-2430 v2
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5680
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2430 v2 | Xeon X5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($13) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2430 v2 | Xeon X5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($13) |
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 E5-2430 v2 and Xeon X5680

Xeon E5-2430 v2
The Xeon E5-2430 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 6,859 points. Launch price was $311.

Xeon X5680
The Xeon X5680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,910 points. Launch price was $172.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-2430 v2 and Xeon X5680 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2430 v2 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon X5680 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Xeon X5680 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Xeon E5-2430 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon X5680 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2430 v2 scores 6,859 against the Xeon X5680's 6,910 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon X5680. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2430 v2 vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon X5680.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2430 v2 | Xeon X5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.33 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+25% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 6,859 | 6,910 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2430 v2 uses the LGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X5680 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2430 v2 | Xeon X5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1356 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2430 v2) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5680). Primary use case: Xeon X5680 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5680 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2430 v2 | Xeon X5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
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