Xeon W3680 vs Xeon E5-4640
Xeon W3680
Xeon E5-4640
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. The Xeon W3680 is positioned at rank 817 and the Xeon E5-4640 is on rank 1016, so the Xeon W3680 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3680
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-4640
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3680 | Xeon E5-4640 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($26) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,725) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3680 | Xeon E5-4640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+10400%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($26) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($2,725) |
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 W3680 and Xeon E5-4640
Xeon W3680
The Xeon W3680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,025 points. Launch price was $350.
Xeon E5-4640
The Xeon E5-4640 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,012 points. Launch price was $2,730.
Processing Power
The Xeon W3680 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-4640 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-4640 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon W3680 versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-4640 — a 25% clock advantage for the Xeon W3680 (base: 3.33 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon W3680 uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E5-4640 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3680 scores 7,025 against the Xeon E5-4640's 7,012 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon W3680. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Xeon W3680 vs 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4640.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Xeon E5-4640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+29% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz+39% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 20480 kB (total)+67% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 7,025 | 7,012 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W3680 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E5-4640 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Xeon E5-4640 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0+150% |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W3680 launched at $594 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-4640 debuted at $2725.
| Feature | Xeon W3680 | Xeon E5-4640 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $594-78% | $2725 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $26 | — |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon W3680 and Xeon E5-4640
