Xeon E5-2660 v4 vs Xeon E5-2690 v3

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.

Xeon E5-2660 v4 vs Xeon E5-2690 v3 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Xeon E5-2660 v4 vs Xeon E5-2690 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Xeon E5-2660 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 105W instead of 135W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (15,650 vs 16,027).

Xeon E5-2690 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅+2.4% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2660 v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $2,090 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2660 v4 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌28.6% higher power demand at 135W vs 105W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2660 v4 better than Xeon E5-2690 v3?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-2660 v4 is ahead with a 7.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2690 v3 pulls ahead with 2.4% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2690 v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 2.4% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon E5-2660 v4 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-2690 v3 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon E5-2660 v4 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $2,090 MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2690 v3 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 2.4% better PassMark. Xeon E5-2690 v3 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon E5-2660 v4 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Xeon E5-2660 v4 vs Xeon E5-2690 v3 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Xeon E5-2660 v4

The Xeon E5-2660 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. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 35 MB. L2 cache: 3.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 15,650 points. Launch price was $1,445.

Xeon E5-2690 v3

The Xeon E5-2690 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 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): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 16,027 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E5-2660 v4 packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Xeon E5-2690 v3 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2660 v4 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon E5-2660 v4 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 v3 — a 9% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2690 v3 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-2660 v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2690 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2660 v4 scores 15,650 against the Xeon E5-2690 v3's 16,027 — a 2.4% lead for the Xeon E5-2690 v3. L3 cache: 35 MB on the Xeon E5-2660 v4 vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2690 v3.

Feature	Xeon E5-2660 v4	Xeon E5-2690 v3
Cores / Threads	14 / 28+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz	3.5 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2 GHz	2.6 GHz+30%
L3 Cache	35 MB+17%	30 MB (total)
L2 Cache	3.5 MB	256K (per core)+7214%
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Broadwell (2015−2019)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	15,650	16,027+2%