Xeon E5-2690 vs Core i7-7700K
Xeon E5-2690
Core i7-7700K
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 E5-2690 is positioned at rank 992 and the Core i7-7700K is on rank 577, so the Core i7-7700K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2690
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-7700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-7700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+6%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
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 E5-2690 and Core i7-7700K
Xeon E5-2690
The Xeon E5-2690 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 2.9 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): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,764 points. Launch price was $397.
Core i7-7700K
The Core i7-7700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,625 points. Launch price was $339.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2690 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-7700K offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2690 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 versus 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-7700K — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-7700K (base: 2.9 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-2690 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-7700K uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2690 scores 9,764 against the Core i7-7700K's 9,625 — a 1.4% lead for the Xeon E5-2690. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2690 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-7700K.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-7700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.5 GHz+18% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | 4.2 GHz+45% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+150% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 9,764+1% | 9,625 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2690 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-7700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-7700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2690 launched at $2057 MSRP, while the Core i7-7700K debuted at $305. At current prices ($150 vs $140), the Core i7-7700K is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2690 delivers 65.1 pts/$ vs 68.8 pts/$ for the Core i7-7700K — making the Core i7-7700K the 5.5% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-7700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2057 | $305-85% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150 | $140-7% |
| Performance per Dollar | 65.1 | 68.8+6% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2017 |
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