CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2696 V3
Xeon Gold 5218T
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 E5-2696 V3
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 5218T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2696 V3 | Xeon Gold 5218T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,349) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2696 V3 | Xeon Gold 5218T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,349) |
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 E5-2696 V3 and Xeon Gold 5218T
Xeon E5-2696 V3
The Xeon E5-2696 V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 2133 MHz Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 21,435 points. Launch price was $800.
Xeon Gold 5218T
The Xeon Gold 5218T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 21,433 points. Launch price was $1,561.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2696 V3 packs 18 cores / 36 threads, while the Xeon Gold 5218T offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon E5-2696 V3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2696 V3 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5218T — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Xeon E5-2696 V3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5218T uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2696 V3 scores 21,435 against the Xeon Gold 5218T's 21,433 — a 0% lead for the Xeon E5-2696 V3. L3 cache: 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2696 V3 vs 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 5218T.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2696 V3 | Xeon Gold 5218T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 36+13% | 16 / 32 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz+10% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 45 MB (total)+105% | 22 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 16 MB+6300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 21,435 | 21,433 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2696 V3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 5218T uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2696 V3 | Xeon Gold 5218T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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