Xeon W-3225 vs Xeon E5-2686 V3
Xeon W-3225
Xeon E5-2686 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 W-3225
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2686 V3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W-3225 | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($850) | ✅ More affordable ($160) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W-3225 | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+428%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($850) | ✅ More affordable ($160) |
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-3225 and Xeon E5-2686 V3
Xeon W-3225
The Xeon W-3225 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16.5 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 160 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 18,251 points. Launch price was $1,199.
Xeon E5-2686 V3
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 18 cores and 36 threads. Base frequency is 2 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: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4 2133 MHz Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 18,148 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon W-3225 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 offers 18 cores / 36 threads — the Xeon E5-2686 V3 has 10 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Xeon W-3225 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2686 V3 — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Xeon W-3225 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Xeon W-3225 uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W-3225 scores 18,251 against the Xeon E5-2686 V3's 18,148 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon W-3225. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 11,500 vs 10,000 (14% advantage for the Xeon W-3225). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,150 vs 1,033, a 10.7% lead for the Xeon W-3225 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,100 vs 8,649 (5.1% advantage for the Xeon W-3225). L3 cache: 16.5 MB on the Xeon W-3225 vs 45 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2686 V3.
| Feature | Xeon W-3225 | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 18 / 36+125% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+26% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+85% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16.5 MB | 45 MB (total)+173% |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+3100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 18,251 | 18,148 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 11,500+15% | 10,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,150+11% | 1,033 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 9,100+5% | 8,649 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W-3225 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2933 memory speed. The Xeon W-3225 supports up to 1024 GB of RAM compared to 768 GB — 28.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon W-3225) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2686 V3). PCIe lanes: 64 (Xeon W-3225) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2686 V3) — the Xeon W-3225 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon W-3225) and C612,X99 (Xeon E5-2686 V3).
| Feature | Xeon W-3225 | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA2011-3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 1024 GB+33% | 768 GB |
| RAM Channels | 6+50% | 4 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 64+60% | 40 |
Advanced Features
Only the Xeon W-3225 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon W-3225) vs Yes (Xeon E5-2686 V3). Primary use case: Xeon W-3225 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon W-3225 rivals Ryzen Threadripper 2920X.
| Feature | Xeon W-3225 | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | Yes |
| Target Use | Workstation | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W-3225 launched at $1319 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2686 V3 debuted at $1500. At current prices ($850 vs $160), the Xeon E5-2686 V3 is $690 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon W-3225 delivers 21.5 pts/$ vs 113.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2686 V3 — making the Xeon E5-2686 V3 the 136.3% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon W-3225 | Xeon E5-2686 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1319-12% | $1500 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $850 | $160-81% |
| Performance per Dollar | 21.5 | 113.4+427% |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2014 |
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