Xeon Gold 5218 vs Xeon E7-8891 v3
Xeon Gold 5218
Xeon E7-8891 v3
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 Gold 5218
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E7-8891 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5218 | Xeon E7-8891 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) | ✅ More affordable ($418) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EX (2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5218 | Xeon E7-8891 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+20%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) | ✅ More affordable ($418) |
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 Gold 5218 and Xeon E7-8891 v3
Xeon Gold 5218
The Xeon Gold 5218 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 22 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2667. Passmark benchmark score: 21,586 points. Launch price was $1,273.
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.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5218 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon E7-8891 v3 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon Gold 5218 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5218 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E7-8891 v3 — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 5218 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5218 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E7-8891 v3 uses Haswell-EX (2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5218 scores 21,586 against the Xeon E7-8891 v3's 21,615 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E7-8891 v3. L3 cache: 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 5218 vs 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E7-8891 v3.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218 | Xeon E7-8891 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 32+60% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+11% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.8 GHz+22% |
| L3 Cache | 22 MB | 45 MB (total)+105% |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+6300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Haswell-EX (2015) |
| PassMark | 21,586 | 21,615 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 900 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 9,500 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5218 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E7-8891 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2666 on the Xeon Gold 5218 versus DDR4-1866 on the Xeon E7-8891 v3 — the Xeon Gold 5218 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E7-8891 v3 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 768 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Gold 5218) vs 4 (Xeon E7-8891 v3). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Gold 5218) vs 32 (Xeon E7-8891 v3) — the Xeon Gold 5218 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon Gold 5218) and C602J (Xeon E7-8891 v3).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218 | Xeon E7-8891 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2666+66550% | DDR4-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 | 1536 GB+209715100% |
| RAM Channels | 6+50% | 4 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48+50% | 32 |
Advanced Features
Only the Xeon Gold 5218 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 5218) vs Yes (Xeon E7-8891 v3).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218 | Xeon E7-8891 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Gold 5218 launched at $1273 MSRP, while the Xeon E7-8891 v3 debuted at $6841. At current prices ($500 vs $418), the Xeon E7-8891 v3 is $82 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 5218 delivers 43.2 pts/$ vs 51.7 pts/$ for the Xeon E7-8891 v3 — making the Xeon E7-8891 v3 the 18% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5218 | Xeon E7-8891 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1273-81% | $6841 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $500 | $418-16% |
| Performance per Dollar | 43.2 | 51.7+20% |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2015 |
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