CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-4640
Xeon X5690
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 X5690 is on rank 514, so the Xeon X5690 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 X5690
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,725) | ✅ More affordable ($250) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+993%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,725) | ✅ More affordable ($250) |
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 X5690
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 X5690
The Xeon X5690 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.46 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 12288 kB (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: 7,031 points. Launch price was $205.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-4640 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon X5690 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 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X5690 — a 28.5% clock advantage for the Xeon X5690 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.46 GHz). The Xeon E5-4640 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon X5690 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-4640 scores 7,012 against the Xeon X5690's 7,031 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon X5690. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4640 vs 12288 kB (total) on the Xeon X5690.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.73 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.46 GHz+44% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+67% | 12288 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 7,012 | 7,031 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 3,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-4640 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon X5690 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-4640) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5690). Primary use case: Xeon X5690 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5690 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-4640 launched at $2725 MSRP, while the Xeon X5690 debuted at $250.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4640 | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2725 | $250-91% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $250 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2011 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon E5-4640 and Xeon X5690
