Xeon W-1290E vs Xeon E5-2690 v4
Xeon W-1290E
Xeon E5-2690 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 W-1290E
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2690 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W-1290E | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($389) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W-1290E | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($389) |
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 W-1290E and Xeon E5-2690 v4
Xeon W-1290E
The Xeon W-1290E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 13 May 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,060 points. Launch price was $552.
Xeon E5-2690 v4
The Xeon E5-2690 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 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 35 MB. L2 cache: 3.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 19,255 points. Launch price was $2,090.
Processing Power
The Xeon W-1290E packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 offers 14 cores / 28 threads — the Xeon E5-2690 v4 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Xeon W-1290E versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2690 v4 — a 31.3% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1290E (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Xeon W-1290E uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W-1290E scores 19,060 against the Xeon E5-2690 v4's 19,255 — a 1% lead for the Xeon E5-2690 v4. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1290E vs 35 MB on the Xeon E5-2690 v4.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290E | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 14 / 28+40% |
| Boost Clock | 4.8 GHz+37% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+35% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total) | 35 MB+75% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 3.5 MB+1300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Comet Lake (2020−2025) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 19,060 | 19,255+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W-1290E uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W-1290E | Xeon E5-2690 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 1536 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
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