
Xeon E5-4650 vs Xeon W-2123

Xeon E5-4650

Xeon W-2123
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 Xeon W-2123 is on rank 497, so the Xeon W-2123 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 Xeon W-2123
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-4650 | Xeon W-2123 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($71) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($342) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-4650 | Xeon W-2123 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+386%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($71) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($342) |
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 Xeon W-2123

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.

Xeon W-2123
The Xeon W-2123 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400, DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 8,519 points. Launch price was $294.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-4650 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon W-2123 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 3.9 GHz on the Xeon W-2123 — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Xeon W-2123 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-4650 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon W-2123 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-4650 scores 8,599 against the Xeon W-2123's 8,519 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5-4650. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4650 vs 8.25 MB (total) on the Xeon W-2123.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4650 | Xeon W-2123 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.9 GHz+18% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.6 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+142% | 8.25 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 8,599 | 8,519 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,172 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 4,215 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-4650 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon W-2123 uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4650 | Xeon W-2123 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2066 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 512 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 48 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-4650) / Yes (Xeon W-2123).
| Feature | Xeon E5-4650 | Xeon W-2123 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-4650 launched at $3616 MSRP, while the Xeon W-2123 debuted at $294. At current prices ($71 vs $342), the Xeon E5-4650 is $271 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-4650 delivers 121.1 pts/$ vs 24.9 pts/$ for the Xeon W-2123 — making the Xeon E5-4650 the 131.8% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4650 | Xeon W-2123 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3616 | $294-92% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $71-79% | $342 |
| Performance per Dollar | 121.1+386% | 24.9 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2017 |
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