Xeon E5-2690 vs Core i7-9700K
Xeon E5-2690
Core i7-9700K
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. The Xeon E5-2690 is positioned at rank #992 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 E5-2690
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($150) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+11%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($150) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 i7-9700K
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 i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2690 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, matching the Core i7-9700K's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 25.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-2690 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2690 scores 9,764 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 38.4% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2690 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.9 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3.6 GHz+24% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+67% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 9,764 | 14,397+47% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2690 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-9700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E5-2690 versus DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9700K — the Core i7-9700K supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2690 supports up to 384 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2690) vs 2 (Core i7-9700K). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2690) vs 16 (Core i7-9700K) — the Xeon E5-2690 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2690) and Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR4-2666+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB+200% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2690) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). The Core i7-9700K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2690 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2690 launched at $2057 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700K debuted at $385. At current prices ($150 vs $200), the Xeon E5-2690 is $50 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2690 delivers 65.1 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Core i7-9700K the 10.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2690 | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2057 | $385-81% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150-25% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 65.1 | 72.0+11% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2018 |
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