CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2660 v2
Core i9-8950HK
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 E5-2660 v2 is positioned at rank 931 and the Core i9-8950HK is on rank 927, so the Core i9-8950HK offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2660 v2
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-8950HK
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2660 v2 | Core i9-8950HK |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($129) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2660 v2 | Core i9-8950HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($129) | ✅ 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E5-2660 v2 and Core i9-8950HK
Xeon E5-2660 v2
The Xeon E5-2660 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 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,353 points. Launch price was $850.
Core i9-8950HK
The Core i9-8950HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,373 points. Launch price was $583.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2660 v2 packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i9-8950HK offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2660 v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2660 v2 versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-8950HK — a 46.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-8950HK (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Xeon E5-2660 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i9-8950HK uses Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2660 v2 scores 10,353 against the Core i9-8950HK's 10,373 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i9-8950HK. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2660 v2 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i9-8950HK.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2660 v2 | Core i9-8950HK |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20+67% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 4.8 GHz+60% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.9 GHz+32% |
| L3 Cache | 25 MB (total)+108% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) | Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 10,353 | 10,373 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2660 v2 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-8950HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2660 v2 | Core i9-8950HK |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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