Xeon Gold 6242 vs Xeon E5-2696 v4

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6242

#22

Xeon Platinum 8268

MSRP: $6302|Avg: N/A

123%

#24

Xeon Gold 6130H

MSRP: $1894|Avg: N/A

119%

#37

Xeon Gold 6242

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#41

Xeon W-2195

MSRP: $150|Avg: $5

94%

#50

Xeon Gold 6238R

MSRP: $2612|Avg: N/A

74%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2696 v4

#41

Xeon W-2195

MSRP: $150|Avg: $5

123%

#48

Xeon E5-2696 v4

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#50

Xeon Gold 6238R

MSRP: $2612|Avg: N/A

96%

#54

EPYC 4465P

MSRP: $399|Avg: $399

83%

#55

Ryzen 5 PRO 7645

MSRP: $229|Avg: $192

79%

#56

Xeon E5-4667 v3

MSRP: $128|Avg: $128

79%

#59

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

MSRP: $409|Avg: $450

75%

#60

Xeon Platinum 8571N

MSRP: $599|Avg: $418

75%

#61

Xeon Platinum 8270

MSRP: $7405|Avg: N/A

75%

#62

EPYC 4464P

MSRP: $429|Avg: $450

72%

#63

EPYC 4345P

MSRP: $329|Avg: $329

72%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Xeon Gold 6242 (2019) utilizes 14 nm technology and DDR4-2933, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Xeon Gold 6242	Xeon E5-2696 v4
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Xeon E5-2696 v4 (2016) relies on 14 nm technology and DDR4, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Xeon Gold 6242	Xeon E5-2696 v4
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

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 Gold 6242 Benchmark Check

Xeon E5-2696 v4 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Gold 6242 and Xeon E5-2696 v4

Xeon Gold 6242

The Xeon Gold 6242 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 2.8 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): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 24,994 points. Launch price was $2,529.

Xeon E5-2696 v4

The Xeon E5-2696 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 55 MB. L2 cache: 5.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCLGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 24,938 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

The Xeon Gold 6242 packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon E5-2696 v4 offers 22 cores / 44 threads — the Xeon E5-2696 v4 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6242 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-2696 v4 — a 8% clock advantage for the Xeon Gold 6242 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6242 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2696 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6242 scores 24,994 against the Xeon E5-2696 v4's 24,938 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon Gold 6242. L3 cache: 22 MB on the Xeon Gold 6242 vs 55 MB on the Xeon E5-2696 v4.

Feature	Xeon Gold 6242	Xeon E5-2696 v4
Cores / Threads	16 / 32	22 / 44+38%
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz+8%	3.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+27%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	22 MB	55 MB+150%
L2 Cache	16 MB+191%	5.5 MB
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Cascade Lake (2019−2020)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	24,994	24,938

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon Gold 6242 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2696 v4 uses FCLGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.