
Xeon E5-2658 vs Core i7-4860HQ

Xeon E5-2658

Core i7-4860HQ
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 E5-2658 is positioned at rank 699 and the Core i7-4860HQ is on rank 861, so the Xeon E5-2658 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2658
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4860HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2658 | Core i7-4860HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Crystalwell (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2658 | Core i7-4860HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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.

League of Legends

Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E5-2658 and Core i7-4860HQ

Xeon E5-2658
The Xeon E5-2658 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 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: 6,232 points. Launch price was $1,462.

Core i7-4860HQ
The Core i7-4860HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,204 points. Launch price was $434.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2658 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-4860HQ offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2658 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2658 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-4860HQ — a 40% clock advantage for the Core i7-4860HQ (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon E5-2658 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-4860HQ uses Crystalwell (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2658 scores 6,232 against the Core i7-4860HQ's 6,204 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-2658. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2658 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4860HQ.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2658 | Core i7-4860HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.6 GHz+50% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.4 GHz+14% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+150% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Crystalwell (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 6,232 | 6,204 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2658 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-4860HQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2658 | Core i7-4860HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | BGA1364 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
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