CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-4640
Xeon W3680
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 is positioned at rank 1016 and the Xeon W3680 is on rank 817, so the Xeon W3680 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
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3680
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,725) | ✅ More affordable ($26) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+10400%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,725) | ✅ More affordable ($26) |
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 and Xeon W3680
Xeon E5-4640
The Xeon E5-4640 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,012 points. Launch price was $2,730.
Xeon W3680
The Xeon W3680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,025 points. Launch price was $350.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-4640 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon W3680 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-4640 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-4640 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon W3680 — a 25% clock advantage for the Xeon W3680 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Xeon E5-4640 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon W3680 uses Gulftown (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-4640 scores 7,012 against the Xeon W3680's 7,025 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon W3680. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4640 vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon W3680.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.33 GHz+39% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+67% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Gulftown (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 7,012 | 7,025 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-4640 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon W3680 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-4640 launched at $2725 MSRP, while the Xeon W3680 debuted at $594.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon W3680 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2725 | $594-78% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $26 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
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