Xeon E5-2680 v2 vs Xeon E5-1660 v3
Xeon E5-2680 v2
Xeon E5-1660 v3
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 E5-2680 v2 is positioned at rank 636 and the Xeon E5-1660 v3 is on rank 824, so the Xeon E5-2680 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2680 v2
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1660 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2680 v2 | Xeon E5-1660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($462) | ✅ More affordable ($198) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2680 v2 | Xeon E5-1660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+131%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($462) | ✅ More affordable ($198) |
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 E5-2680 v2 and Xeon E5-1660 v3
Xeon E5-2680 v2
The Xeon E5-2680 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 12,707 points. Launch price was $1,260.
Xeon E5-1660 v3
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 12,582 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2680 v2 packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon E5-1660 v3 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2680 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 v2 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v3 — a 2.8% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2680 v2 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon E5-2680 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-1660 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2680 v2 scores 12,707 against the Xeon E5-1660 v3's 12,582 — a 1% lead for the Xeon E5-2680 v2. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2680 v2 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660 v3.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 v2 | Xeon E5-1660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20+25% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+3% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 25 MB (total)+25% | 20 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 12,707 | 12,582 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 v2 | Xeon E5-1660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| 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 | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2680 v2 launched at $667 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-1660 v3 debuted at $1080. At current prices ($462 vs $198), the Xeon E5-1660 v3 is $264 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2680 v2 delivers 27.5 pts/$ vs 63.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1660 v3 — making the Xeon E5-1660 v3 the 79.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 v2 | Xeon E5-1660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $667-38% | $1080 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $462 | $198-57% |
| Performance per Dollar | 27.5 | 63.5+131% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2014 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon E5-2680 v2 and Xeon E5-1660 v3
