Xeon E5-2686 v4 vs Ryzen 5 PRO 230
Xeon E5-2686 v4
Ryzen 5 PRO 230
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 Ryzen 5 PRO 230
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Ryzen 5 PRO 230 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Ryzen 5 PRO 230 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 Ryzen 5 PRO 230
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.
Ryzen 5 PRO 230
The Ryzen 5 PRO 230 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 19,702 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2686 v4 packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 — a 48.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2686 v4 scores 19,860 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 230's 19,702 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E5-2686 v4. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 895 vs 2,320, a 88.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 6,822 vs 7,210 (5.5% advantage for the Ryzen 5 PRO 230). L3 cache: 45 MB on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 PRO 230.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Ryzen 5 PRO 230 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 36+200% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 4.9 GHz+63% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.5 GHz+52% |
| L3 Cache | 45 MB+181% | 16 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4.5 MB | 6 MB+33% |
| Process | 14 nm | 4 nm-71% |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) |
| PassMark | 19,860 | 19,702 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 895 | 2,320+159% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 6,822 | 7,210+6% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2686 v4 uses the FCLGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 uses FP7/FP7r2/FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Xeon E5-2686 v4 versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 — the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2686 v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 256 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 PRO 230). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) vs 20 (Ryzen 5 PRO 230) — the Xeon E5-2686 v4 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 v4) and Socket FP7 (Ryzen 5 PRO 230).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Ryzen 5 PRO 230 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCLGA2011-3 | FP7/FP7r2/FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR5-5600+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1536 GB+500% | 256 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+100% | 20 |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon E5-2686 v4) vs AMD-V, AMD-Vi (Ryzen 5 PRO 230). The Ryzen 5 PRO 230 includes integrated graphics (Radeon 760M), while the Xeon E5-2686 v4 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2686 v4 | Ryzen 5 PRO 230 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon 760M |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | Yes | AMD-V, AMD-Vi |
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