Xeon E5-2680 v4
VS
Core Ultra 5 125U

Xeon E5-2680 v4 vs Core Ultra 5 125U

Intel

Xeon E5-2680 v4

14 Cores28 Thrd120 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2016
VS
Intel

Core Ultra 5 125U

12 Cores14 Thrd0 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2023

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2680 v4

#115
Xeon W-1370
MSRP: $323|Avg: $323
103%
#119
Xeon 6505P
MSRP: $563|Avg: $563
101%
#124
Xeon E5-2680 v4
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#130
EPYC 9115
MSRP: $726|Avg: $726
96%
#131
EPYC 74F3
MSRP: $913|Avg: $824
96%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 125U

#153
Core i7-1370P
MSRP: $438|Avg: $280
106%
#158
Core i9-13900H
MSRP: $617|Avg: N/A
104%
#161
Core Ultra 7 268V
MSRP: $450|Avg: $400
102%
#162
Core Ultra 7 256V
MSRP: $450|Avg: $350
101%
#165
Core Ultra 5 125U
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#167
Core Ultra 7 258V
MSRP: $450|Avg: $400
98%
#169
Core i7-1280P
MSRP: $482|Avg: $482
97%
#173
Core Ultra 5 238V
MSRP: $454|Avg: $454
94%
#176
Core i9-13900HK
MSRP: $697|Avg: N/A
91%
#178
Core i7-1360P
MSRP: $480|Avg: $280
90%
#179
Core i7-1260P
MSRP: $432|Avg: $432
90%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Core Ultra 5 125U (2023) utilizes 7 nm technology and DDR5, providing a fundamental performance advantage.
InsightXeon E5-2680 v4Core Ultra 5 125U
Gaming
Lower gaming performance
Superior gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-EP (2016) / 14 nm)
✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-P (2023) / 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Xeon E5-2680 v4 (2016) relies on 14 nm technology and DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.
InsightXeon E5-2680 v4Core Ultra 5 125U
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 v4 and Core Ultra 5 125U

Intel

Xeon E5-2680 v4

The Xeon E5-2680 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 35 MB. L2 cache: 3.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 17,292 points. Launch price was $1,745.

Intel

Core Ultra 5 125U

The Core Ultra 5 125U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-P (2023) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,152 points. Launch price was $363.

Processing Power

The Xeon E5-2680 v4 packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 125U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Xeon E5-2680 v4 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 v4 versus 4.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125U — a 26.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 125U (base: 2.4 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Xeon E5-2680 v4 uses the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 125U uses Meteor Lake-P (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2680 v4 scores 17,292 against the Core Ultra 5 125U's 17,152 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E5-2680 v4. L3 cache: 35 MB on the Xeon E5-2680 v4 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 125U.

FeatureXeon E5-2680 v4Core Ultra 5 125U
Cores / Threads
14 / 28+17%
12 / 14
Boost Clock
3.3 GHz
4.3 GHz+30%
Base Clock
2.4 GHz+85%
1.3 GHz
L3 Cache
35 MB+192%
12 MB (total)
L2 Cache
3.5 MB+75%
2 MB (per core)
Process
14 nm
7 nm-50%
Architecture
Broadwell-EP (2016)
Meteor Lake-P (2023)
PassMark
17,292
17,152
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-2680 v4 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 125U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureXeon E5-2680 v4Core Ultra 5 125U
Socket
LGA2011
FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed
2400
Max RAM Capacity
1536
RAM Channels
4
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
40
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2680 v4) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 125U). Direct competitor: Xeon E5-2680 v4 rivals Xeon Silver 4114.

FeatureXeon E5-2680 v4Core Ultra 5 125U
Integrated GPU
No
IGPU Model
None
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d