Xeon E5-2686 V3 vs Xeon Gold 5120T

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 E5-2686 V3 vs Xeon Gold 5120T 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 E5-2686 V3 vs Xeon Gold 5120T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Xeon E5-2686 V3

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+133.8% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 19 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $1,500 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 5120T mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Gold 5120T

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 105W instead of 120W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2686 V3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,127 vs 18,148).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (19 MB vs 45 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2686 V3 better than Xeon Gold 5120T?

Yes. Xeon E5-2686 V3 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 7.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon E5-2686 V3 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 7.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2686 V3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 18 cores and 36 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 133.8% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 19 MB).

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

Xeon E5-2686 V3 is the better buy right now. Xeon E5-2686 V3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $1,500 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (12.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 Gold 5120T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Xeon E5-2686 V3 vs Xeon Gold 5120T Technical Specifications

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

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.

Xeon Gold 5120T

The Xeon Gold 5120T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. L2 cache: 14 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 18,127 points. Launch price was $1,727.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E5-2686 V3 packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5120T offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5120T — a 9% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2686 V3 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5120T uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2686 V3 scores 18,148 against the Xeon Gold 5120T's 18,127 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 V3. L3 cache: 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 vs 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 5120T.

Feature	Xeon E5-2686 V3	Xeon Gold 5120T
Cores / Threads	18 / 36+29%	14 / 28
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+9%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	2 GHz	2.2 GHz+10%
L3 Cache	45 MB (total)+134%	19.25 MB
L2 Cache	256K (per core)+1729%	14 MB
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	18,148	18,127
Cinebench R23 Multi	10,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,033	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,649	—

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 5120T uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Xeon E5-2686 V3	Xeon Gold 5120T
Socket	LGA2011-3	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2133	—
Max RAM Capacity	768 GB	—
RAM Channels	4	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	40	—