Xeon E5-2680 v3 vs Xeon Silver 4215R

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 E5-2680 v3 vs Xeon Silver 4215R 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 E5-2680 v3 vs Xeon Silver 4215R: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Xeon E5-2680 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅+172.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 11 MB).
✅Draws 120W instead of 130W, a 10W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $1,745 MSRP, while Xeon Silver 4215R mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Silver 4215R

2020

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,683 vs 14,864).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (11 MB vs 30 MB).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2680 v3 better than Xeon Silver 4215R?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon Silver 4215R is ahead with a 1.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2680 v3 pulls ahead with 1.2% better PassMark. Xeon E5-2680 v3 also has the bigger cache pool with 172.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 11 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2680 v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 172.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 11 MB).

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

Xeon E5-2680 v3 is the better buy right now. Xeon E5-2680 v3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $1,745 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1.2% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon Silver 4215R is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (8.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon Silver 4215R makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Xeon E5-2680 v3 vs Xeon Silver 4215R Technical Specifications

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

Xeon E5-2680 v3

The Xeon E5-2680 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 14,864 points. Launch price was $800.

Xeon Silver 4215R

The Xeon Silver 4215R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 14,683 points. Launch price was $794.

⚡

Processing Power

The Xeon E5-2680 v3 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Silver 4215R offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2680 v3 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 v3 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4215R — a 19.2% clock advantage for the Xeon Silver 4215R (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-2680 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon Silver 4215R uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2680 v3 scores 14,864 against the Xeon Silver 4215R's 14,683 — a 1.2% lead for the Xeon E5-2680 v3. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2680 v3 vs 11 MB on the Xeon Silver 4215R.

Feature	Xeon E5-2680 v3	Xeon Silver 4215R
Cores / Threads	12 / 24+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz	4 GHz+21%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.2 GHz+28%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+173%	11 MB
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+3100%	8 MB
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	14,864+1%	14,683

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-2680 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Silver 4215R uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.