Xeon Silver 4210 vs Xeon E5-2690
Xeon Silver 4210
Xeon E5-2690
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 Silver 4210
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2690
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Silver 4210 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Silver 4210 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 Silver 4210 and Xeon E5-2690
Xeon Silver 4210
The Xeon Silver 4210 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 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 13.75 MB. L2 cache: 10 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 13,463 points. Launch price was $501.
Xeon E5-2690
The Xeon E5-2690 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,764 points. Launch price was $397.
Processing Power
The Xeon Silver 4210 packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon E5-2690 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Silver 4210 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4210 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 — a 17.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-2690 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Xeon Silver 4210 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2690 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Silver 4210 scores 13,463 against the Xeon E5-2690's 9,764 — a 31.9% lead for the Xeon Silver 4210. L3 cache: 13.75 MB on the Xeon Silver 4210 vs 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2690.
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4210 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20+25% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.8 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.9 GHz+32% |
| L3 Cache | 13.75 MB | 20480 kB (total)+45% |
| L2 Cache | 10 MB+3900% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 13,463+38% | 9,764 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Silver 4210 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2690 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2400 on the Xeon Silver 4210 versus DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E5-2690 — the Xeon Silver 4210 supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Silver 4210 supports up to 1024 of RAM compared to 384 GB — 90.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Silver 4210) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2690). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Silver 4210) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2690) — the Xeon Silver 4210 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon Silver 4210) and Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2690).
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4210 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2400+79900% | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1024 | 384 GB+39321500% |
| RAM Channels | 6+50% | 4 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48+20% | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Silver 4210) / not specified (Xeon E5-2690).
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4210 | Xeon E5-2690 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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