CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2658 v4
Xeon E5-2697 v2
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2658 v4
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2697 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2658 v4 | Xeon E5-2697 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2658 v4 | Xeon E5-2697 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 E5-2658 v4 and Xeon E5-2697 v2
Xeon E5-2658 v4
The Xeon E5-2658 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 14 cores and 28 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 35 MB. L2 cache: 3.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 14,434 points. Launch price was $1,832.
Xeon E5-2697 v2
The Xeon E5-2697 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 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 14,267 points. Launch price was $1,723.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2658 v4 packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Xeon E5-2697 v2 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2658 v4 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2658 v4 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2697 v2 — a 41.4% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2697 v2. The Xeon E5-2658 v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2697 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2658 v4 scores 14,434 against the Xeon E5-2697 v2's 14,267 — a 1.2% lead for the Xeon E5-2658 v4. L3 cache: 35 MB on the Xeon E5-2658 v4 vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2697 v2.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2658 v4 | Xeon E5-2697 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 28+17% | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.5 GHz+52% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 35 MB+17% | 30 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 3.5 MB+1300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 14,434+1% | 14,267 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2658 v4 uses the FCLGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E5-2697 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2658 v4 | Xeon E5-2697 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCLGA2011-3 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 768 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
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