Xeon E5-2689 v4 vs Core Ultra 5 235U
Xeon E5-2689 v4
Core Ultra 5 235U
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 E5-2689 v4
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 235U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2689 v4 | Core Ultra 5 235U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Arrow Lake-U (2025) / 5 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2689 v4 | Core Ultra 5 235U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 E5-2689 v4 and Core Ultra 5 235U
Xeon E5-2689 v4
The Xeon E5-2689 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 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB. L2 cache: 2.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 17,084 points. Launch price was $2,723.
Core Ultra 5 235U
The Core Ultra 5 235U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Arrow Lake-U (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 14 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): 14 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 17,397 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2689 v4 packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 235U offers 12 cores / 14 threads — the Core Ultra 5 235U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2689 v4 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 235U — a 25.3% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 235U (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon E5-2689 v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 235U uses Arrow Lake-U (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2689 v4 scores 17,084 against the Core Ultra 5 235U's 17,397 — a 1.8% lead for the Core Ultra 5 235U. L3 cache: 25 MB on the Xeon E5-2689 v4 vs 12 MB on the Core Ultra 5 235U.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2689 v4 | Core Ultra 5 235U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 12 / 14+20% |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.9 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+29% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 25 MB+108% | 12 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | — |
| Process | 14 nm | 5 nm-64% |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Arrow Lake-U (2025) |
| PassMark | 17,084 | 17,397+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2689 v4 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 235U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2689 v4 | Core Ultra 5 235U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
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