Xeon E5-4650 vs Core i7-7700
Xeon E5-4650
Core i7-7700
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 E5-4650 is positioned at rank 1018 and the Core i7-7700 is on rank 574, so the Core i7-7700 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-4650
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7700
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-4650 | Core i7-7700 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($71) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-4650 | Core i7-7700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+43%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($71) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($102) |
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 E5-4650 and Core i7-7700
Xeon E5-4650
The Xeon E5-4650 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 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,599 points. Launch price was $799.
Core i7-7700
The Core i7-7700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,642 points. Launch price was $303.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-4650 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-7700 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-4650 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-4650 versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i7-7700 — a 24% clock advantage for the Core i7-7700 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-4650 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-7700 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-4650 scores 8,599 against the Core i7-7700's 8,642 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i7-7700. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4650 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-7700.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4650 | Core i7-7700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 4.2 GHz+27% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.6 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+150% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 8,599 | 8,642 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,435 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-4650 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-7700 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4650 | Core i7-7700 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-4650) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-7700). The Core i7-7700 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-4650 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-7700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-7700 rivals Ryzen 5 1600.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4650 | Core i7-7700 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-4650 launched at $3616 MSRP, while the Core i7-7700 debuted at $272. At current prices ($71 vs $102), the Xeon E5-4650 is $31 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-4650 delivers 121.1 pts/$ vs 84.7 pts/$ for the Core i7-7700 — making the Xeon E5-4650 the 35.4% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4650 | Core i7-7700 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3616 | $272-92% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $71-30% | $102 |
| Performance per Dollar | 121.1+43% | 84.7 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2017 |
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