Xeon E5-2640 v2 vs Xeon E3-1545M v5
Xeon E5-2640 v2
Xeon E3-1545M v5
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 E5-2640 v2 is positioned at rank 1023 and the Xeon E3-1545M v5 is on rank 771, so the Xeon E3-1545M v5 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2640 v2
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1545M v5
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2640 v2 | Xeon E3-1545M v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($530) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($636) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-H (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2640 v2 | Xeon E3-1545M v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+20%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($530) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($636) |
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 E5-2640 v2 and Xeon E3-1545M v5
Xeon E5-2640 v2
The Xeon E5-2640 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,625 points. Launch price was $728.
Xeon E3-1545M v5
The Xeon E3-1545M v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-H (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,640 points. Launch price was $679.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2640 v2 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E3-1545M v5 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2640 v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2640 v2 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1545M v5 — a 41.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1545M v5 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Xeon E5-2640 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1545M v5 uses Skylake-H (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2640 v2 scores 7,625 against the Xeon E3-1545M v5's 7,640 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E3-1545M v5. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2640 v2 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1545M v5.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 v2 | Xeon E3-1545M v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.8 GHz+52% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.9 GHz+45% |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+150% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) | Skylake-H (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 7,625 | 7,640 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2640 v2 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E3-1545M v5 uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 v2 | Xeon E3-1545M v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2640 v2 launched at $4115 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1545M v5 debuted at $581. At current prices ($530 vs $636), the Xeon E5-2640 v2 is $106 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2640 v2 delivers 14.4 pts/$ vs 12.0 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1545M v5 — making the Xeon E5-2640 v2 the 18% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 v2 | Xeon E3-1545M v5 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $4115 | $581-86% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $530-17% | $636 |
| Performance per Dollar | 14.4+20% | 12.0 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2016 |
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