Xeon E5-2440 vs Xeon E5-2630

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 E5-2440 vs Xeon E5-2630 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 E5-2440 vs Xeon E5-2630: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Xeon E5-2440

2012

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2630 across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.4 vs 15.4 PassMark/$ ($728 MSRP vs $395 MSRP).

Xeon E5-2630

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.8% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $333 less on MSRP ($395 MSRP vs $728 MSRP).
✅Delivers 83.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 15.4 vs 8.4 PassMark/$ ($395 MSRP vs $728 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,077 vs 6,091).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2440 better than Xeon E5-2630?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-2630 is ahead with a 3.8% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2440 pulls ahead with 0.2% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2440 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Xeon E5-2440 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-2630 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon E5-2440 comes in 84.3% more expensive on MSRP at $728 MSRP versus $395 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2630 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 3.8% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-2630 is also 83.9% better value on MSRP (15.4 vs 8.4 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Xeon E5-2440 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon E5-2440 vs Xeon E5-2630 Technical Specifications

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

Xeon E5-2440

The Xeon E5-2440 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,091 points. Launch price was $295.

Xeon E5-2630

The Xeon E5-2630 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,077 points. Launch price was $74.

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Processing Power

Both the Xeon E5-2440 and Xeon E5-2630 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Xeon E5-2440 versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2630 — a 3.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2440 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Xeon E5-2440 uses the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-2630 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2440 scores 6,091 against the Xeon E5-2630's 6,077 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E5-2440. Both processors carry 15360 kB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Xeon E5-2440	Xeon E5-2630
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz+4%	2.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz+4%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	15360 kB (total)	15360 kB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Sandy Bridge-EN (2012)	Sandy Bridge-EP (2012)
PassMark	6,091	6,077

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-2440 uses the LGA1356 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-2630 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Xeon E5-2440	Xeon E5-2630
Socket	LGA1356	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 4.0+100%

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Xeon E5-2440 was priced at $728, while the Xeon E5-2630 came in at $395. On launch pricing ($728 vs $395), Xeon E5-2630 was $333 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2440 delivers 8.4 pts/$ vs 15.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2630 — making the Xeon E5-2630 the 59.1% better value option.

Feature	Xeon E5-2440	Xeon E5-2630
MSRP	$728	$395-46%
Performance per Dollar	8.4	15.4+83%
Release Date	2012	2012

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