Xeon E5-2687W vs Xeon W-2125
Xeon E5-2687W
Xeon W-2125
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. The Xeon E5-2687W is positioned at rank 982 and the Xeon W-2125 is on rank 590, so the Xeon W-2125 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2687W
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W-2125
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2687W | Xeon W-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($42) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2687W | Xeon W-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+66%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($42) |
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 and Xeon W-2125
Xeon E5-2687W
The Xeon E5-2687W is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,036 points. Launch price was $815.
Xeon W-2125
The Xeon W-2125 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400, DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 10,000 points. Launch price was $444.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2687W packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon W-2125 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2687W has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2687W versus 4.5 GHz on the Xeon W-2125 — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Xeon W-2125 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Xeon E5-2687W uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon W-2125 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2687W scores 10,036 against the Xeon W-2125's 10,000 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon E5-2687W. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2687W vs 8.25 MB (total) on the Xeon W-2125.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2687W | Xeon W-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.5 GHz+18% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 4 GHz+29% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+142% | 8.25 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 10,036 | 10,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2687W uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon W-2125 uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2687W | Xeon W-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2066 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 512 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 48 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2687W) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon W-2125). Primary use case: Xeon W-2125 targets Workstation.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2687W | Xeon W-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2687W launched at $1885 MSRP, while the Xeon W-2125 debuted at $444. At current prices ($70 vs $42), the Xeon W-2125 is $28 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2687W delivers 143.4 pts/$ vs 238.1 pts/$ for the Xeon W-2125 — making the Xeon W-2125 the 49.7% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2687W | Xeon W-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1885 | $444-76% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $70 | $42-40% |
| Performance per Dollar | 143.4 | 238.1+66% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2017 |
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