Xeon E5-2686 V3 vs Core i9-9900K
Xeon E5-2686 V3
Core i9-9900K
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2686 V3
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-9900K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($160) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($331) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+107%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($160) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($331) |
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 E5-2686 V3 and Core i9-9900K
Xeon E5-2686 V3
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 2133 MHz Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 18,148 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i9-9900K
The Core i9-9900K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 18,109 points. Launch price was $488.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Core i9-9900K offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900K — a 35.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-9900K (base: 2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i9-9900K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2686 V3 scores 18,148 against the Core i9-9900K's 18,109 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 V3. L3 cache: 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900K.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 36+125% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 5 GHz+43% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+80% |
| L3 Cache | 45 MB (total)+181% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 18,148 | 18,109 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 10,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,033 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,649 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-9900K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2686 V3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) vs 2 (Core i9-9900K). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) vs 16 (Core i9-9900K) — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) and Intel 300 series (Core i9-9900K).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB+500% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Xeon E5-2686 V3) / not specified (Core i9-9900K). The Core i9-9900K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 launched at $1500 MSRP, while the Core i9-9900K debuted at $488. At current prices ($160 vs $331), the Xeon E5-2686 V3 is $171 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2686 V3 delivers 113.4 pts/$ vs 54.7 pts/$ for the Core i9-9900K — making the Xeon E5-2686 V3 the 69.8% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | Core i9-9900K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1500 | $488-67% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $160-52% | $331 |
| Performance per Dollar | 113.4+107% | 54.7 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2018 |
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