Xeon E5-4640 v3 vs Xeon E5-2660 v2
Xeon E5-4640 v3
Xeon E5-2660 v2
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. The Xeon E5-4640 v3 is positioned at rank 1007 and the Xeon E5-2660 v2 is on rank 931, so the Xeon E5-2660 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-4640 v3
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2660 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-4640 v3 | Xeon E5-2660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($129) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-4640 v3 | Xeon E5-2660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+132%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($129) |
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 E5-4640 v3 and Xeon E5-2660 v2
Xeon E5-4640 v3
The Xeon E5-4640 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,372 points. Launch price was $800.
Xeon E5-2660 v2
The Xeon E5-2660 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 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,353 points. Launch price was $850.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-4640 v3 packs 12 cores / 24 threads, while the Xeon E5-2660 v2 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon E5-4640 v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-4640 v3 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2660 v2 — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2660 v2 (base: 1.9 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-4640 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-2660 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-4640 v3 scores 10,372 against the Xeon E5-2660 v2's 10,353 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E5-4640 v3. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-4640 v3 vs 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2660 v2.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 v3 | Xeon E5-2660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 24+20% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.2 GHz+16% |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB (total)+20% | 25 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 10,372 | 10,353 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 750 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 7,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-1866 on the Xeon E5-4640 v3 versus DDR3-1866 on the Xeon E5-2660 v2 — the Xeon E5-4640 v3 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 768 GB of RAM. Both feature 4-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 40 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: C612 (Xeon E5-4640 v3) and Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2660 v2).
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 v3 | Xeon E5-2660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-1866+33% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB | 768 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4 | 4 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Xeon E5-4640 v3) / not specified (Xeon E5-2660 v2).
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 v3 | Xeon E5-2660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-4640 v3 launched at $2859 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2660 v2 debuted at $1393. At current prices ($300 vs $129), the Xeon E5-2660 v2 is $171 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-4640 v3 delivers 34.6 pts/$ vs 80.3 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2660 v2 — making the Xeon E5-2660 v2 the 79.6% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 v3 | Xeon E5-2660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2859 | $1393-51% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $300 | $129-57% |
| Performance per Dollar | 34.6 | 80.3+132% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2013 |
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