CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2696 v4
Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
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 v4
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2696 v4 | Ryzen Threadripper 2920X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($452) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (ZEN+ (2018−2019) / 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2696 v4 | Ryzen Threadripper 2920X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($452) |
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 v4 and Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Xeon E5-2696 v4
The Xeon E5-2696 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 55 MB. L2 cache: 5.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 24,938 points. Launch price was $800.
Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
The Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the ZEN+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: SP3r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 180 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 25,148 points. Launch price was $649.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2696 v4 packs 22 cores / 44 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2696 v4 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2696 v4 versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X — a 17.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-2696 v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X uses ZEN+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2696 v4 scores 24,938 against the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X's 25,148 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X. L3 cache: 55 MB on the Xeon E5-2696 v4 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2696 v4 | Ryzen Threadripper 2920X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 22 / 44+83% | 12 / 24 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.3 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.5 GHz+59% |
| L3 Cache | 55 MB+72% | 32 MB |
| L2 Cache | 5.5 MB+1000% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 12 nm-14% |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | ZEN+ (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 24,938 | 25,148 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2696 v4 uses the FCLGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X uses SP3r2 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2696 v4 | Ryzen Threadripper 2920X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCLGA2011-3 | SP3r2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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