Xeon E5-2680 vs Xeon E5-4655 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 E5-2680 vs Xeon E5-4655 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 E5-2680 vs Xeon E5-4655 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 E5-2680

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 130W instead of 135W, a 5W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (9,289 vs 9,377).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (20 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 2.9 vs 15.1 PassMark/$ ($3,226 MSRP vs $623 MSRP).

Xeon E5-4655 v3

2015

Why buy it

✅+0.9% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).
✅Costs $2,603 less on MSRP ($623 MSRP vs $3,226 MSRP).
✅Delivers 422.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 15.1 vs 2.9 PassMark/$ ($623 MSRP vs $3,226 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2680 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-4655 v3 better than Xeon E5-2680?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-2680 is ahead with a 3.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-4655 v3 pulls ahead with 0.9% better PassMark. Xeon E5-4655 v3 also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-4655 v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB).

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

Xeon E5-4655 v3 is the better buy right now. Xeon E5-4655 v3 comes in $2,603 cheaper on MSRP at $623 MSRP versus $3,226 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.9% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2680 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 3.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 422.7% better value on MSRP (15.1 vs 2.9 PassMark/$), 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 E5-4655 v3 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2012), 50% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 20 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon E5-2680 vs Xeon E5-4655 v3 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Xeon E5-4655 v3

The Xeon E5-4655 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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. Passmark benchmark score: 9,377 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E5-2680 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-4655 v3 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 3.2 GHz on the Xeon E5-4655 v3 — a 9% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2680 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Xeon E5-2680 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-4655 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2680 scores 9,289 against the Xeon E5-4655 v3's 9,377 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5-4655 v3. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2680 vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-4655 v3.

Feature	Xeon E5-2680	Xeon E5-4655 v3
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+9%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	2.9 GHz+7%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Sandy Bridge-EP (2012)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	9,289	9,377

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 2.0.

Feature	Xeon E5-2680	Xeon E5-4655 v3
Socket	LGA2011	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 5.0+150%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	384 GB	—
RAM Channels	4	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	40	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Xeon E5-2680 was priced at $3226, while the Xeon E5-4655 v3 came in at $623. On launch pricing ($3226 vs $623), Xeon E5-4655 v3 was $2603 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2680 delivers 2.9 pts/$ vs 15.1 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-4655 v3 — making the Xeon E5-4655 v3 the 135.8% better value option.

Feature	Xeon E5-2680	Xeon E5-4655 v3
MSRP	$3226	$623-81%
Performance per Dollar	2.9	15.1+421%
Release Date	2012	2015

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