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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Xeon E7-8867 v3

2015

Why buy it

✅+2.5% higher PassMark.
✅+25.9% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Draws 165W instead of 205W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.9 vs 12.1 PassMark/$ ($4,672 MSRP vs $2,977 MSRP).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon Gold 6242R

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,695 less on MSRP ($2,977 MSRP vs $4,672 MSRP).
✅Delivers 53.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 12.1 vs 7.9 PassMark/$ ($2,977 MSRP vs $4,672 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 32) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (36,011 vs 36,908).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 45 MB).
❌24.2% higher power demand at 205W vs 165W.

Xeon E7-8867 v3

2015

Xeon Gold 6242R

2020

Why buy it

✅+2.5% higher PassMark.
✅+25.9% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 36 MB).
✅Draws 165W instead of 205W, a 40W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,695 less on MSRP ($2,977 MSRP vs $4,672 MSRP).
✅Delivers 53.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 12.1 vs 7.9 PassMark/$ ($2,977 MSRP vs $4,672 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 32) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.9 vs 12.1 PassMark/$ ($4,672 MSRP vs $2,977 MSRP).
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (36,011 vs 36,908).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (36 MB vs 45 MB).
❌24.2% higher power demand at 205W vs 165W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Gold 6242R better than Xeon E7-8867 v3?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Xeon Gold 6242R is ahead with a 0.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E7-8867 v3 pulls ahead with 2.5% better PassMark. Xeon E7-8867 v3 also has the bigger cache pool with 25.9% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 36 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E7-8867 v3 is the better fit. You are getting 2.5% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25.9% larger total L3 cache (45 MB vs 36 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon Gold 6242R is the smarter buy today. Xeon Gold 6242R is $1,695 cheaper on MSRP at $2,977 MSRP versus $4,672 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Xeon E7-8867 v3 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 2.5% better PassMark. It is also 53.1% better value on MSRP (12.1 vs 7.9 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon Gold 6242R is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2015) and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Xeon E7-8867 v3 Benchmark Check

Xeon Gold 6242R Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Xeon E7-8867 v3	Xeon Gold 6242R
1080p
low	184 FPS	199 FPS
medium	156 FPS	160 FPS
high	124 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	159 FPS
medium	129 FPS	124 FPS
high	99 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	73 FPS
medium	63 FPS	60 FPS
high	49 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	40 FPS	38 FPS

Open Xeon E7-8867 v3 Open Xeon Gold 6242R

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Xeon E7-8867 v3	Xeon Gold 6242R
1080p
low	370 FPS	501 FPS
medium	335 FPS	440 FPS
high	279 FPS	364 FPS
ultra	223 FPS	324 FPS
1440p
low	317 FPS	442 FPS
medium	291 FPS	389 FPS
high	246 FPS	326 FPS
ultra	189 FPS	274 FPS
4K
low	198 FPS	279 FPS
medium	184 FPS	247 FPS
high	157 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	200 FPS

Open Xeon E7-8867 v3 Open Xeon Gold 6242R

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Xeon E7-8867 v3	Xeon Gold 6242R
1080p
low	885 FPS	900 FPS
medium	792 FPS	900 FPS
high	752 FPS	863 FPS
ultra	665 FPS	781 FPS
1440p
low	721 FPS	814 FPS
medium	637 FPS	720 FPS
high	605 FPS	665 FPS
ultra	539 FPS	596 FPS
4K
low	470 FPS	516 FPS
medium	387 FPS	423 FPS
high	354 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	296 FPS	306 FPS

Open Xeon E7-8867 v3 Open Xeon Gold 6242R

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Xeon E7-8867 v3	Xeon Gold 6242R
1080p
low	923 FPS	900 FPS
medium	845 FPS	900 FPS
high	725 FPS	783 FPS
ultra	619 FPS	671 FPS
1440p
low	759 FPS	824 FPS
medium	661 FPS	707 FPS
high	563 FPS	605 FPS
ultra	468 FPS	515 FPS
4K
low	543 FPS	602 FPS
medium	483 FPS	523 FPS
high	422 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	387 FPS

Open Xeon E7-8867 v3 Open Xeon Gold 6242R

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E7-8867 v3 and Xeon Gold 6242R

Xeon E7-8867 v3

The Xeon E7-8867 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EX (2015) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 45 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333/1600/1866, DDR3-1066/1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 36,908 points. Launch price was $800.

Xeon Gold 6242R

The Xeon Gold 6242R is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 205 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 36,011 points. Launch price was $2,529.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E7-8867 v3 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon Gold 6242R offers 20 cores / 40 threads — the Xeon Gold 6242R has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E7-8867 v3 versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6242R — a 21.6% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6242R (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Xeon E7-8867 v3 uses the Haswell-EX (2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon Gold 6242R uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E7-8867 v3 scores 36,908 against the Xeon Gold 6242R's 36,011 — a 2.5% lead for the Xeon E7-8867 v3. L3 cache: 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E7-8867 v3 vs 35.75 MB on the Xeon Gold 6242R.

Feature	Xeon E7-8867 v3	Xeon Gold 6242R
Cores / Threads	16 / 32	20 / 40+25%
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz	4.1 GHz+24%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.1 GHz+24%
L3 Cache	45 MB (total)+26%	35.75 MB
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	20 MB+7900%
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Haswell-EX (2015)	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)
PassMark	36,908+2%	36,011
Geekbench 6 Single	850	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,000	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon E7-8867 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 6242R uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-1866 on the Xeon E7-8867 v3 versus 2933 on the Xeon Gold 6242R — the Xeon Gold 6242R supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E7-8867 v3 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 1024 — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E7-8867 v3) vs 6 (Xeon Gold 6242R). PCIe lanes: 32 (Xeon E7-8867 v3) vs 48 (Xeon Gold 6242R) — the Xeon Gold 6242R offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C602J (Xeon E7-8867 v3) and C621 (Xeon Gold 6242R).

Feature	Xeon E7-8867 v3	Xeon Gold 6242R
Socket	LGA2011	LGA3647
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-1866	2933+73225%
Max RAM Capacity	1536 GB+157286300%	1024
RAM Channels	4	6+50%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	32	48+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 6242R supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Primary use case: Xeon E7-8867 v3 targets Server. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 6242R rivals EPYC 7302.

Feature	Xeon E7-8867 v3	Xeon Gold 6242R
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Server	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Xeon E7-8867 v3 launched at $4672 MSRP, while the Xeon Gold 6242R debuted at $2977. On MSRP ($4672 vs $2977), the Xeon Gold 6242R is $1695 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E7-8867 v3 delivers 7.9 pts/$ vs 12.1 pts/$ for the Xeon Gold 6242R — making the Xeon Gold 6242R the 42% better value option.