Xeon E5-2640 vs Xeon E5-4617
Xeon E5-2640
Xeon E5-4617
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 Xeon E5-4617 is on rank 144, so the Xeon E5-4617 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 Xeon E5-4617
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2640 | Xeon E5-4617 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($885) | ✅ More affordable ($35) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2640 | Xeon E5-4617 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+2426%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($885) | ✅ More affordable ($35) |
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 Xeon E5-4617
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.
Xeon E5-4617
The Xeon E5-4617 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,298 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2640 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, matching the Xeon E5-4617's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2640 versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E5-4617 — a 12.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-4617 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2640 scores 6,305 against the Xeon E5-4617's 6,298 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2640. Both processors carry 15360 kB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 | Xeon E5-4617 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 6 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.9 GHz+16% |
| 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-EP (2012) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 6,305 | 6,298 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 5.0.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 | Xeon E5-4617 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| 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 (Xeon E5-4617). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2640 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 | Xeon E5-4617 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon E5-4617 debuted at $90.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2640 | Xeon E5-4617 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $885 | $90-90% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $35 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2012 |
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