Xeon E5-2640 vs Opteron 6276
Xeon E5-2640
Opteron 6276
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 is positioned at rank 946 and the Opteron 6276 is on rank 53, so the Opteron 6276 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
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 6276
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2640 | Opteron 6276 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($885) | ✅ More affordable ($397) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Interlagos (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2640 | Opteron 6276 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+124%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($885) | ✅ More affordable ($397) |
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 and Opteron 6276
Xeon E5-2640
The Xeon E5-2640 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 6,305 points. Launch price was $162.
Opteron 6276
The Opteron 6276 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 November 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,348 points. Launch price was $119.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2640 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Opteron 6276 offers 16 cores / 16 threads — the Opteron 6276 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2640 versus 3.2 GHz on the Opteron 6276 — a 6.5% clock advantage for the Opteron 6276 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Xeon E5-2640 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Opteron 6276 uses Interlagos (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2640 scores 6,305 against the Opteron 6276's 6,348 — a 0.7% lead for the Opteron 6276. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2640 vs 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6276.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 | Opteron 6276 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 16 / 16+167% |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+9% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 15360 kB (total)+88% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (per module)+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Interlagos (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 6,305 | 6,348 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2640 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Opteron 6276 uses G34 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 | Opteron 6276 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | G34 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2640) / not specified (Opteron 6276). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2640 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 | Opteron 6276 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2640 launched at $885 MSRP, while the Opteron 6276 debuted at $788.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 | Opteron 6276 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $885 | $788-11% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $397 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2011 |
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