Xeon E5-2686 v4 vs Core i9-10900F
Xeon E5-2686 v4
Core i9-10900F
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 i9-10900F
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Core i9-10900F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Core i9-10900F |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) |
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 i9-10900F
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 i9-10900F
The Core i9-10900F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 19,800 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2686 v4 packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Core i9-10900F offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10900F — a 51.9% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900F (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i9-10900F uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2686 v4 scores 19,860 against the Core i9-10900F's 19,800 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 v4. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 895 vs 1,701, a 62.1% lead for the Core i9-10900F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 6,822 vs 8,456 (21.4% advantage for the Core i9-10900F). L3 cache: 45 MB on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 vs 20 MB (total) on the Core i9-10900F.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Core i9-10900F |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 36+80% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 5.1 GHz+70% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.8 GHz+22% |
| L3 Cache | 45 MB+125% | 20 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4.5 MB+1700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 19,860 | 19,800 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 13,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 895 | 1,701+90% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 6,822 | 8,456+24% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses the FCLGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-10900F uses LGA1200 (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 i9-10900F). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) vs 16 (Core i9-10900F) — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) and B460,H470,Z490,B560,H570,Z590 (Core i9-10900F).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Core i9-10900F |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCLGA2011-3 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2933 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1536 GB+1100% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon E5-2686 v4) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-10900F). Primary use case: Core i9-10900F targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i9-10900F rivals Ryzen 7 3800X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Core i9-10900F |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Gaming |
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