Xeon E5-2697 v3 vs Xeon Gold 5120

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2697 v3

#86

Xeon Platinum 8260

MSRP: $400|Avg: $400

106%

#97

Xeon Silver 4314

MSRP: $395|Avg: $395

101%

#98

Xeon W-1350

MSRP: $255|Avg: $255

101%

#99

Xeon W-1370P

MSRP: $323|Avg: $323

101%

#101

Xeon E5-2697 v3

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#106

Xeon Gold 6143

MSRP: $342|Avg: $342

100%

#115

Xeon W-1370

MSRP: $323|Avg: $323

98%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 5120

#97

Xeon Silver 4314

MSRP: $395|Avg: $395

102%

#98

Xeon W-1350

MSRP: $255|Avg: $255

101%

#99

Xeon W-1370P

MSRP: $323|Avg: $323

101%

#104

Xeon Gold 5120

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#106

Xeon Gold 6143

MSRP: $342|Avg: $342

100%

#115

Xeon W-1370

MSRP: $323|Avg: $323

98%

#119

Xeon 6505P

MSRP: $563|Avg: $563

96%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Xeon Gold 5120 (2017) utilizes 14 nm technology and DDR4-2400, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Xeon E5-2697 v3	Xeon Gold 5120
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm)	✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Xeon E5-2697 v3 (2014) relies on 22 nm technology and DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Xeon E5-2697 v3	Xeon Gold 5120
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Xeon E5-2697 v3 Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 5120 Benchmark Check

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Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E5-2697 v3 and Xeon Gold 5120

Xeon E5-2697 v3

The Xeon E5-2697 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 35 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 18,182 points. Launch price was $800.

Xeon Gold 5120

The Xeon Gold 5120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. L2 cache: 14 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 18,132 points. Launch price was $1,555.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Xeon E5-2697 v3 and Xeon Gold 5120 share an identical 14-core/28-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2697 v3 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5120 — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2697 v3 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-2697 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5120 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2697 v3 scores 18,182 against the Xeon Gold 5120's 18,132 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2697 v3. L3 cache: 35 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2697 v3 vs 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 5120.

Feature	Xeon E5-2697 v3	Xeon Gold 5120
Cores / Threads	14 / 28	14 / 28
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz+12%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+18%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	35 MB (total)+82%	19.25 MB
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	14 MB+5500%
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	18,182	18,132

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon E5-2697 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 5120 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.