CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2687W v4
Core i7-6950X
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 E5-2687W v4
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6950X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2687W v4 | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,138) | ✅ More affordable ($180) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2687W v4 | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+530%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,138) | ✅ More affordable ($180) |
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 E5-2687W v4 and Core i7-6950X
Xeon E5-2687W v4
The Xeon E5-2687W v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 160 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 17,640 points. Launch price was $2,141.
Core i7-6950X
The Core i7-6950X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,580 points. Launch price was $1,723.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2687W v4 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Core i7-6950X offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon E5-2687W v4 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2687W v4 versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-6950X — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-6950X (base: 3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon E5-2687W v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-6950X uses Broadwell-E (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2687W v4 scores 17,640 against the Core i7-6950X's 17,580 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2687W v4. L3 cache: 30 MB on the Xeon E5-2687W v4 vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-6950X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2687W v4 | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24+20% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB+20% | 25 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+1100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Broadwell-E (2016) |
| PassMark | 17,640 | 17,580 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,063 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,255 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2687W v4 | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1536 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Xeon E5-2687W v4) / not specified (Core i7-6950X).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2687W v4 | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2687W v4 launched at $2141 MSRP, while the Core i7-6950X debuted at $1723. At current prices ($1138 vs $180), the Core i7-6950X is $958 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2687W v4 delivers 15.5 pts/$ vs 97.7 pts/$ for the Core i7-6950X — making the Core i7-6950X the 145.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2687W v4 | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2141 | $1723-20% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $1138 | $180-84% |
| Performance per Dollar | 15.5 | 97.7+530% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2016 |
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