Xeon E5-2685 v3 vs Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Xeon E5-2685 v3
Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
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 E5-2685 v3 is positioned at rank 250 and the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition is on rank 943, so the Xeon E5-2685 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2685 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2685 v3 | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,090) | ✅ More affordable ($175) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2685 v3 | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1090%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,090) | ✅ More affordable ($175) |
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 E5-2685 v3 and Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
Xeon E5-2685 v3
The Xeon E5-2685 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 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 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: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 12,944 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition
The Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 November 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Max frequency: 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB. L2 cache: 1,536 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 12,900 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2685 v3 packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2685 v3 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2685 v3 versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition — a 5.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition. The Xeon E5-2685 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2685 v3 scores 12,944 against the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition's 12,900 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2685 v3. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2685 v3 vs 15 MB on the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2685 v3 | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 12+100% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.5 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB (total)+100% | 15 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1,536 kB+500% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 12,944 | 12,900 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 742 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2685 v3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition uses FCLGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2685 v3 | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | FCLGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2685 v3) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition). Primary use case: Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition targets HEDT Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition rivals FX-9590.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2685 v3 | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | HEDT Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2685 v3 launched at $2090 MSRP, while the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition debuted at $990.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2685 v3 | Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2090 | $990-53% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $175 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2012 |
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