Xeon E5-2687W v4 vs Xeon Phi 7290

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 Phi 7290 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 Phi 7290: 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

✅Better for gaming: +8.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 160W instead of 245W, a 85W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (17,640 vs 17,839).
❌Launch MSRP is still $2,141 MSRP, while Xeon Phi 7290 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Phi 7290

2016

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2687W v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌53.1% higher power demand at 245W vs 160W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2687W v4 better than Xeon Phi 7290?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-2687W v4 is ahead with a 8.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Phi 7290 pulls ahead with 1.1% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Phi 7290 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 72 cores and 288 threads.

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

Xeon E5-2687W v4 is the better buy right now. Xeon E5-2687W v4 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $2,141 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 8.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Xeon Phi 7290 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 1.1% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (8.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon Phi 7290 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 72 cores / 288 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 Phi 7290 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 Phi 7290

The Xeon Phi 7290 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Knights Landing (2016) architecture. It features 72 cores and 288 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 245 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,839 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Xeon E5-2687W v4 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Phi 7290 offers 72 cores / 288 threads — the Xeon Phi 7290 has 60 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2687W v4 versus 1.7 GHz on the Xeon Phi 7290 — a 69.2% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2687W v4 (base: 3 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-2687W v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Phi 7290 uses Knights Landing (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2687W v4 scores 17,640 against the Xeon Phi 7290's 17,839 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon Phi 7290. L3 cache: 30 MB on the Xeon E5-2687W v4 vs 0 kB (total) on the Xeon Phi 7290.

Feature	Xeon E5-2687W v4	Xeon Phi 7290
Cores / Threads	12 / 24	72 / 288+500%
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+106%	1.7 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+100%	1.5 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB	0 kB (total)
L2 Cache	3 MB+500%	512 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Broadwell (2015−2019)	Knights Landing (2016)
PassMark	17,640	17,839+1%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,063	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,255	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-2687W v4 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Phi 7290 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Xeon E5-2687W v4	Xeon Phi 7290
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	—