Xeon E5-2690 vs Xeon E5-2689
Xeon E5-2690
Xeon E5-2689
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 Xeon E5-2689 is on rank 979, so the Xeon E5-2689 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 Xeon E5-2689
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2690 | Xeon E5-2689 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($18) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2690 | Xeon E5-2689 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+747%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($18) |
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 Xeon E5-2689
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.
Xeon E5-2689
The Xeon E5-2689 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,922 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-2690 and Xeon E5-2689 share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2689 — a 5.4% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2690 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2690 scores 9,764 against the Xeon E5-2689's 9,922 — a 1.6% lead for the Xeon E5-2689. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2690 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2689.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2690 | Xeon E5-2689 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+6% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+12% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total) | 20 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 9,764 | 9,922+2% |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2690 | Xeon E5-2689 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| 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 Xeon E5-2689 debuted at $1800. At current prices ($150 vs $18), the Xeon E5-2689 is $132 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2690 delivers 65.1 pts/$ vs 551.2 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2689 — making the Xeon E5-2689 the 157.8% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2690 | Xeon E5-2689 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2057 | $1800-12% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150 | $18-88% |
| Performance per Dollar | 65.1 | 551.2+747% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2012 |
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