Xeon E5-2686 V3 vs EPYC 4124P
Xeon E5-2686 V3
EPYC 4124P
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 EPYC 4124P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | EPYC 4124P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($160) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Raphael (2023−2025) / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | EPYC 4124P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($160) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 EPYC 4124P
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.
EPYC 4124P
The EPYC 4124P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 May 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Raphael (2023−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 18,139 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the EPYC 4124P offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 versus 5.1 GHz on the EPYC 4124P — a 37.2% clock advantage for the EPYC 4124P (base: 2 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the EPYC 4124P uses Raphael (2023−2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2686 V3 scores 18,148 against the EPYC 4124P's 18,139 — a 0% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 V3. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 10,000 vs 10,500 (4.9% advantage for the EPYC 4124P). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,033 vs 1,962, a 62% lead for the EPYC 4124P that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,649 vs 1,898 (128% advantage for the Xeon E5-2686 V3). L3 cache: 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 4124P.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | EPYC 4124P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 36+350% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 5.1 GHz+46% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.8 GHz+90% |
| L3 Cache | 45 MB (total)+41% | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 5 nm-77% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Raphael (2023−2025) |
| PassMark | 18,148 | 18,139 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 10,000 | 10,500+5% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,033 | 1,962+90% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,649+356% | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the EPYC 4124P uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 versus DDR5-5200 on the EPYC 4124P — the EPYC 4124P supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2686 V3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 192 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) vs 2 (EPYC 4124P). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) vs 28 (EPYC 4124P) — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) and B650,X670,X870 (EPYC 4124P).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | EPYC 4124P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | AM5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR5-5200+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB+300% | 192 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+43% | 28 |
Advanced Features
Only the EPYC 4124P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon E5-2686 V3) vs AMD-V, AMD-Vi (EPYC 4124P). The EPYC 4124P includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: EPYC 4124P targets Entry Server. Direct competitor: EPYC 4124P rivals Core i5-10500T.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 V3 | EPYC 4124P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | Yes | AMD-V, AMD-Vi |
| Target Use | — | Entry Server |
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