
Xeon E7-8891 v3 vs Xeon E5-2697A v4

Xeon E7-8891 v3

Xeon E5-2697A v4
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E7-8891 v3
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2697A v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E7-8891 v3 | Xeon E5-2697A v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($418) | ✅ More affordable ($121) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EX (2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E7-8891 v3 | Xeon E5-2697A v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+246%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($418) | ✅ More affordable ($121) |
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 E7-8891 v3 and Xeon E5-2697A v4

Xeon E7-8891 v3
The Xeon E7-8891 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EX (2015) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 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: 21,615 points. Launch price was $800.

Xeon E5-2697A v4
The Xeon E5-2697A v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 40 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 145 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 21,621 points. Launch price was $2,891.
Processing Power
The Xeon E7-8891 v3 packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon E5-2697A v4 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the Xeon E5-2697A v4 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E7-8891 v3 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2697A v4 — a 2.8% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2697A v4 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Xeon E7-8891 v3 uses the Haswell-EX (2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-2697A v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E7-8891 v3 scores 21,615 against the Xeon E5-2697A v4's 21,621 — a 0% lead for the Xeon E5-2697A v4. L3 cache: 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E7-8891 v3 vs 40 MB on the Xeon E5-2697A v4.
| Feature | Xeon E7-8891 v3 | Xeon E5-2697A v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 16 / 32+60% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+8% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 45 MB (total)+13% | 40 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EX (2015) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 21,615 | 21,621 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 900 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,500 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA2011 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Xeon E7-8891 v3 | Xeon E5-2697A v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1536 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 32 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Xeon E7-8891 v3) / not specified (Xeon E5-2697A v4).
| Feature | Xeon E7-8891 v3 | Xeon E5-2697A v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E7-8891 v3 launched at $6841 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2697A v4 debuted at $2891. At current prices ($418 vs $121), the Xeon E5-2697A v4 is $297 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E7-8891 v3 delivers 51.7 pts/$ vs 178.7 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2697A v4 — making the Xeon E5-2697A v4 the 110.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E7-8891 v3 | Xeon E5-2697A v4 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $6841 | $2891-58% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $418 | $121-71% |
| Performance per Dollar | 51.7 | 178.7+246% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2016 |
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