Xeon E5-2680 vs Core i7-4930K
Xeon E5-2680
Core i7-4930K
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 is positioned at rank 1014 and the Core i7-4930K is on rank 919, so the Core i7-4930K 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
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4930K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i7-4930K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-E (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i7-4930K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+148%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 and Core i7-4930K
Xeon E5-2680
The Xeon E5-2680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,289 points. Launch price was $1,723.
Core i7-4930K
The Core i7-4930K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-E (2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,379 points. Launch price was $670.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2680 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-4930K offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2680 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i7-4930K — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-4930K (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Xeon E5-2680 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-4930K uses Ivy Bridge-E (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2680 scores 9,289 against the Core i7-4930K's 9,379 — a 1% lead for the Core i7-4930K. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2680 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-4930K.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i7-4930K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.9 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.4 GHz+26% |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+67% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Ivy Bridge-E (2013) |
| PassMark | 9,289 | 9,379 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i7-4930K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2680 launched at $3226 MSRP, while the Core i7-4930K debuted at $670. At current prices ($40 vs $100), the Xeon E5-2680 is $60 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2680 delivers 232.2 pts/$ vs 93.8 pts/$ for the Core i7-4930K — making the Xeon E5-2680 the 84.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i7-4930K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3226 | $670-79% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-60% | $100 |
| Performance per Dollar | 232.2+148% | 93.8 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2013 |
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