Xeon E5-2628 V3 vs Xeon W-2123

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 E5-2628 V3 vs Xeon W-2123 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 E5-2628 V3 vs Xeon W-2123: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Xeon E5-2628 V3

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+142.4% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8.3 MB).
✅Draws 85W instead of 120W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,447 vs 8,519).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon W-2123

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.9% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2628 V3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8.3 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $294 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2628 V3 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌41.2% higher power demand at 120W vs 85W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon W-2123 better than Xeon E5-2628 V3?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-2628 V3 is ahead with a 6.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon W-2123 pulls ahead with 0.9% better PassMark. Xeon E5-2628 V3 also has the bigger cache pool with 142.4% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8.3 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon W-2123 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Xeon W-2123 is the better buy right now. Xeon W-2123 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $294 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.9% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2628 V3 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 6.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (29.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon W-2123 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2014), more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon E5-2628 V3 vs Xeon W-2123 Technical Specifications

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

Xeon E5-2628 V3

The Xeon E5-2628 V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 8,447 points. Launch price was $800.

Xeon W-2123

The Xeon W-2123 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400, DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 8,519 points. Launch price was $294.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E5-2628 V3 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon W-2123 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2628 V3 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2628 V3 versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon W-2123 — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Xeon W-2123 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-2628 V3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon W-2123 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2628 V3 scores 8,447 against the Xeon W-2123's 8,519 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon W-2123. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2628 V3 vs 8.25 MB (total) on the Xeon W-2123.

Feature	Xeon E5-2628 V3	Xeon W-2123
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+100%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3 GHz	3.9 GHz+30%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+44%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+142%	8.25 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+25500%	1 MB (per core)
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	8,447	8,519
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,172
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	4,215

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-2628 V3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W-2123 uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Xeon E5-2628 V3	Xeon W-2123
Socket	LGA2011-3	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	—	512 GB
RAM Channels	—	4
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	48