Xeon E5-2697 v2 vs Xeon Silver 4123

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.

Xeon E5-2697 v2 vs Xeon Silver 4123 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Xeon E5-2697 v2 vs Xeon Silver 4123: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Xeon E5-2697 v2

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+172.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 11 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,267 vs 14,405).
❌23.8% higher power demand at 130W vs 105W.

Xeon Silver 4123

2018

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 105W instead of 130W, a 25W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2697 v2 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (11 MB vs 30 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Silver 4123 better than Xeon E5-2697 v2?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-2697 v2 is ahead with a 15.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Silver 4123 pulls ahead with 1% better PassMark. Xeon E5-2697 v2 also has the bigger cache pool with 172.7% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 11 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Silver 4123 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon Silver 4123 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon Silver 4123 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon Silver 4123 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2013) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 12/24. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon E5-2697 v2 vs Xeon Silver 4123 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Xeon E5-2697 v2

The Xeon E5-2697 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 14,267 points. Launch price was $1,723.

Xeon Silver 4123

The Xeon Silver 4123 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 14,405 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E5-2697 v2 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon Silver 4123 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2697 v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2697 v2 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4123 — a 9% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2697 v2 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon E5-2697 v2 is built on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2697 v2 scores 14,267 against the Xeon Silver 4123's 14,405 — a 1% lead for the Xeon Silver 4123. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2697 v2 vs 11 MB on the Xeon Silver 4123.

Feature	Xeon E5-2697 v2	Xeon Silver 4123
Cores / Threads	12 / 24+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+9%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	3 GHz+11%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+173%	11 MB
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	—
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Ivy Bridge-EP (2013)	—
PassMark	14,267	14,405

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-2697 v2 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Silver 4123 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.