Xeon E5649 vs Core i5-4690K
Xeon E5649
Core i5-4690K
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 E5649 is positioned at rank 938 and the Core i5-4690K is on rank 718, so the Core i5-4690K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5649
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4690K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5649 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($774) | ✅ More affordable ($101) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5649 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+670%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($774) | ✅ More affordable ($101) |
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 E5649 and Core i5-4690K
Xeon E5649
The Xeon E5649 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 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 12288 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,659 points. Launch price was $45.
Core i5-4690K
The Core i5-4690K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 88 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,689 points. Launch price was $300.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5649 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i5-4690K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5649 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Xeon E5649 versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-4690K — a 28.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-4690K (base: 2.53 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon E5649 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-4690K uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5649 scores 5,659 against the Core i5-4690K's 5,689 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-4690K. L3 cache: 12288 kB (total) on the Xeon E5649 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-4690K.
| Feature | Xeon E5649 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz | 3.9 GHz+33% |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | 3.5 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 12288 kB (total)+100% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 5,659 | 5,689 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 415 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,109 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5649 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-4690K uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3 1333 MHz on the Xeon E5649 versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i5-4690K — the Xeon E5649 supports 200% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5649 supports up to 288 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 160% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 3 (Xeon E5649) vs 2 (Core i5-4690K). PCIe lanes: 0 (Xeon E5649) vs 16 (Core i5-4690K) — the Core i5-4690K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Xeon E5649 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3 1333 MHz | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 288 GB+800% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 3+50% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i5-4690K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Xeon E5649) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-4690K). The Core i5-4690K includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Xeon E5649 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E5649 targets Server, Core i5-4690K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon E5649 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4600 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Server | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5649 launched at $774 MSRP, while the Core i5-4690K debuted at $243.
| Feature | Xeon E5649 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $774 | $243-69% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $101 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2014 |
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