Xeon E5-2697A v4 vs Xeon Gold 5218
Xeon E5-2697A v4
Xeon Gold 5218
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 E5-2697A v4
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 5218
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Xeon Gold 5218 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($121) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Xeon Gold 5218 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+314%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($121) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) |
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 E5-2697A v4 and Xeon Gold 5218
Xeon E5-2697A v4
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 40 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 21,621 points. Launch price was $2,891.
Xeon Gold 5218
The Xeon Gold 5218 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 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 21,586 points. Launch price was $1,273.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-2697A v4 and Xeon Gold 5218 share an identical 16-core/32-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2697A v4 versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5218 — a 8% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 5218 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Xeon E5-2697A v4 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5218 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2697A v4 scores 21,621 against the Xeon Gold 5218's 21,586 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E5-2697A v4. L3 cache: 40 MB on the Xeon E5-2697A v4 vs 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 5218.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Xeon Gold 5218 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32 | 16 / 32 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.9 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+13% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 40 MB+82% | 22 MB |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB | 16 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 21,621 | 21,586 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 5218 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Xeon Gold 5218 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 768 |
| RAM Channels | — | 6 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 48 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2697A v4) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 5218).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Xeon Gold 5218 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 launched at $2891 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 5218 debuted at $1273. At current prices ($121 vs $500), the Xeon E5-2697A v4 is $379 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2697A v4 delivers 178.7 pts/$ vs 43.2 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 5218 — making the Xeon E5-2697A v4 the 122.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2697A v4 | Xeon Gold 5218 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2891 | $1273-56% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $121-76% | $500 |
| Performance per Dollar | 178.7+314% | 43.2 |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2019 |
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