Xeon E5-2687W v4 vs Xeon Gold 6234

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 E5-2687W v4 vs Xeon Gold 6234 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 E5-2687W v4 vs Xeon Gold 6234: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Xeon E5-2687W v4

2016

Why buy it

✅+21.2% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Gold 6234 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (17,640 vs 17,943).
❌Launch MSRP is still $2,141 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 6234 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌23.1% higher power demand at 160W vs 130W.

Xeon Gold 6234

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 130W instead of 160W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6234 better than Xeon E5-2687W v4?

Yes. Xeon Gold 6234 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon Gold 6234 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.1% 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 Gold 6234 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Xeon Gold 6234 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-2687W v4 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon Gold 6234 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $2,141 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-2687W v4 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (8.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon Gold 6234 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 12/24. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon E5-2687W v4 vs Xeon Gold 6234 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Xeon Gold 6234

The Xeon Gold 6234 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 24.75 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 17,943 points. Launch price was $2,214.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E5-2687W v4 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6234 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2687W v4 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2687W v4 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6234 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6234 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Xeon E5-2687W v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6234 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2687W v4 scores 17,640 against the Xeon Gold 6234's 17,943 — a 1.7% lead for the Xeon Gold 6234. L3 cache: 30 MB on the Xeon E5-2687W v4 vs 24.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6234.

Feature	Xeon E5-2687W v4	Xeon Gold 6234
Cores / Threads	12 / 24+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	4 GHz+14%
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.3 GHz+10%
L3 Cache	30 MB+21%	24.75 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB	8 MB+167%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Broadwell (2015−2019)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	17,640	17,943+2%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,063	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,255	—

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-2687W v4 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 6234 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Xeon E5-2687W v4	Xeon Gold 6234
Socket	LGA2011	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	1536 GB	—
RAM Channels	4	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	40	—