Xeon E5-2637 vs Core i7-930
Xeon E5-2637
Core i7-930
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 E5-2637 is positioned at rank 1010 and the Core i7-930 is on rank 996, so the Core i7-930 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2637
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-930
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2637 | Core i7-930 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2637 | Core i7-930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+101%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($20) |
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 E5-2637 and Core i7-930
Xeon E5-2637
The Xeon E5-2637 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 5120 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,978 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i7-930
The Core i7-930 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 February 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.06 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,993 points. Launch price was $80.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2637 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i7-930 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-930 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2637 versus 3.06 GHz on the Core i7-930 — a 13.4% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2637 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon E5-2637 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-930 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2637 scores 2,978 against the Core i7-930's 2,993 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i7-930. L3 cache: 5120 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2637 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-930.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2637 | Core i7-930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+14% | 3.06 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+7% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 5120 kB (total) | 8 MB (total)+60% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,978 | 2,993 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 2,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 550 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,500 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2637 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-930 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2637 supports up to 384 GB of RAM compared to 24 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2637) vs 3 (Core i7-930). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2637) vs 36 (Core i7-930) — the Xeon E5-2637 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2637 | Core i7-930 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+100% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB+1500% | 24 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+33% | 3 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+11% | 36 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Xeon E5-2637 targets Server, Core i7-930 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2637 | Core i7-930 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Server | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2637 launched at $885 MSRP, while the Core i7-930 debuted at $294. At current prices ($40 vs $20), the Core i7-930 is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2637 delivers 74.5 pts/$ vs 149.7 pts/$ for the Core i7-930 — making the Core i7-930 the 67.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2637 | Core i7-930 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $885 | $294-67% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | $20-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 74.5 | 149.7+101% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
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