Xeon E5-2643 v4 vs EPYC 7261
Xeon E5-2643 v4
EPYC 7261
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 E5-2643 v4 is positioned at rank 947 and the EPYC 7261 is on rank 592, so the EPYC 7261 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2643 v4
Performance Per Dollar EPYC 7261
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2643 v4 | EPYC 7261 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($555) | ✅ More affordable ($8) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Naples (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2643 v4 | EPYC 7261 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+6916%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($555) | ✅ More affordable ($8) |
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 E5-2643 v4 and EPYC 7261
Xeon E5-2643 v4
The Xeon E5-2643 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 11,024 points. Launch price was $1,552.
EPYC 7261
The EPYC 7261 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Naples (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 170 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 11,149 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2643 v4 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the EPYC 7261 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the EPYC 7261 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E5-2643 v4 versus 2.9 GHz on the EPYC 7261 — a 24.2% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2643 v4 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-2643 v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the EPYC 7261 uses Naples (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2643 v4 scores 11,024 against the EPYC 7261's 11,149 — a 1.1% lead for the EPYC 7261. L3 cache: 20 MB on the Xeon E5-2643 v4 vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7261.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2643 v4 | EPYC 7261 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+28% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+36% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB | 32 MB (total)+60% |
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB+200% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Naples (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 11,024 | 11,149+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2643 v4 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 7261 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2643 v4 | EPYC 7261 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | SP3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2643 v4 launched at $1552 MSRP, while the EPYC 7261 debuted at $501. At current prices ($555 vs $8), the EPYC 7261 is $547 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2643 v4 delivers 19.9 pts/$ vs 1393.6 pts/$ for the EPYC 7261 — making the EPYC 7261 the 194.4% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2643 v4 | EPYC 7261 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1552 | $501-68% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $555 | $8-99% |
| Performance per Dollar | 19.9 | 1393.6+6903% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2018 |
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