Xeon E5-2698 v4 vs Xeon E5-4640 v4

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 E5-2698 v4 vs Xeon E5-4640 v4 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 E5-2698 v4 vs Xeon E5-4640 v4: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Xeon E5-2698 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (50 MB vs 30 MB).

Trade-offs

❌28.6% higher power demand at 135W vs 105W.

Xeon E5-4640 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Draws 105W instead of 135W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (22,559 vs 22,764).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 50 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $2,837 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2698 v4 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2698 v4 better than Xeon E5-4640 v4?

Yes. Xeon E5-2698 v4 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.9% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon E5-2698 v4 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2698 v4 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 20 cores and 40 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 66.7% larger total L3 cache (50 MB vs 30 MB).

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

Xeon E5-2698 v4 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-4640 v4 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon E5-2698 v4 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $2,837 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-4640 v4 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (8.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Xeon E5-2698 v4 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 66.7% larger total L3 cache (50 MB vs 30 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 20 cores / 40 threads instead of 12/24. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon E5-2698 v4 vs Xeon E5-4640 v4 Technical Specifications

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

Xeon E5-2698 v4

The Xeon E5-2698 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 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 50 MB. L2 cache: 5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 22,764 points. Launch price was $3,226.

Xeon E5-4640 v4

The Xeon E5-4640 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 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 22,559 points. Launch price was $2,837.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E5-2698 v4 packs 20 cores / 40 threads, while the Xeon E5-4640 v4 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2698 v4 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2698 v4 versus 2.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-4640 v4 — a 32.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2698 v4 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). Both are built on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture using a 14 nm process. In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2698 v4 scores 22,764 against the Xeon E5-4640 v4's 22,559 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5-2698 v4. L3 cache: 50 MB on the Xeon E5-2698 v4 vs 30 MB on the Xeon E5-4640 v4.

Feature	Xeon E5-2698 v4	Xeon E5-4640 v4
Cores / Threads	20 / 40+67%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz+38%	2.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz+5%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	50 MB+67%	30 MB
L2 Cache	5 MB+67%	3 MB
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Broadwell (2015−2019)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	22,764	22,559

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 3.0.

Feature	Xeon E5-2698 v4	Xeon E5-4640 v4
Socket	LGA2011	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4 2133 MHz
Max RAM Capacity	—	1.5 TB
RAM Channels	—	4
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	40