Xeon E5-2686 v4 vs Core i7-11850H
Xeon E5-2686 v4
Core i7-11850H
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 v4
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-11850H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Core i7-11850H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-H (2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Core i7-11850H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 v4 and Core i7-11850H
Xeon E5-2686 v4
The Xeon E5-2686 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB. L2 cache: 4.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,860 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i7-11850H
The Core i7-11850H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,873 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2686 v4 packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Core i7-11850H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-11850H — a 46.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-11850H (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-11850H uses Tiger Lake-H (2021) (10 nm SuperFin). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2686 v4 scores 19,860 against the Core i7-11850H's 19,873 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-11850H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 895 vs 1,911, a 72.4% lead for the Core i7-11850H that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 45 MB on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 vs 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-11850H.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Core i7-11850H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 36+125% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 4.8 GHz+60% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.5 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | 45 MB+88% | 24 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4.5 MB+260% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 10 nm SuperFin-29% |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Tiger Lake-H (2021) |
| PassMark | 19,860 | 19,873 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 895 | 1,911+114% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 6,822 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses the FCLGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-11850H uses FCBGA1787 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2686 v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) vs 2 (Core i7-11850H). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) vs 20 (Core i7-11850H) — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) and HM570,QM580,WM590 (Core i7-11850H).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Core i7-11850H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCLGA2011-3 | FCBGA1787 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1536 GB+1100% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+100% | 20 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-11850H supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon E5-2686 v4) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-11850H). The Core i7-11850H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics), while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-11850H targets Workstation Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-11850H rivals Ryzen 7 5800H.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Core i7-11850H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation Laptop |
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