Intel Core i7-6900K vs Intel Xeon E5-2680 v2

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-6900K and Intel Xeon E5-2680 v2 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i7-6900K

Intel Xeon E5-2680 v2

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-6900K

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 8 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 3% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 22 nm
Around 29% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2321 vs 1794
Around 52% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1005 vs 660
Around 30% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 7893 vs 6091
Around 13% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 10.395 vs 9.188
2.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 179.127 vs 68.859
Around 26% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 1.3 vs 1.033

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	May 2016 vs September 2013
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 3.60 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 22 nm
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2321 vs 1794
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1005 vs 660
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7893 vs 6091
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	10.395 vs 9.188
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	179.127 vs 68.859
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.3 vs 1.033

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5-2680 v2

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 10 vs 8
4 more threads: 20 vs 16
2.5x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 25% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 25% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
6x more maximum memory size: 768 GB vs 128 GB
Around 22% lower typical power consumption: 115 Watt vs 140 Watt
Around 47% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 21270 vs 14431
Around 67% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 14639 vs 8778
Around 17% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 6.075 vs 5.194
Around 33% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 18.09 vs 13.602

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	10 vs 8
Number of threads	20 vs 16
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 32 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	25600 KB (shared) vs 20480 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	768 GB vs 128 GB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	115 Watt vs 140 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	21270 vs 14431
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	14639 vs 8778
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	6.075 vs 5.194
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	18.09 vs 13.602

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-6900K
CPU 2: Intel Xeon E5-2680 v2

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2321

1794

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

14431

21270

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1005

660

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

7893

6091

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

8778

14639

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

10.395

9.188

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

179.127

68.859

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.3

1.033

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.194

6.075

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

13.602

18.09

Name	Intel Core i7-6900K	Intel Xeon E5-2680 v2
PassMark - Single thread mark	2321	1794
PassMark - CPU mark	14431	21270
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1005	660
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7893	6091
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	8778	14639
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	10.395	9.188
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	179.127	68.859
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.3	1.033
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.194	6.075
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	13.602	18.09

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-6900K	Intel Xeon E5-2680 v2
Essentials
Architecture codename	Broadwell E	Ivy Bridge EP
Launch date	May 2016	September 2013
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,020	$1,260
Place in performance rating	1325	1420
Price now	$1,198.99	$401.11
Processor Number	i7-6900K	E5-2680V2
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 v2 Family
Status	Discontinued	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	4.35	11.60
Vertical segment	Desktop	Server
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.20 GHz	2.80 GHz
L1 cache	32 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	20480 KB (shared)	25600 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	22 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	3.60 GHz
Number of cores	8	10
Number of threads	16	20
Unlocked
Bus Speed		8 GT/s QPI
Die size		160 mm
Maximum core temperature		82°C
Number of QPI Links		2
Transistor count		1400 million
VID voltage range		0.65–1.30V
Memory
Max memory channels	4	4
Maximum memory size	128 GB	768 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4 2400/2133	DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600/1866
ECC memory support
Maximum memory bandwidth		59.7 GB/s
Graphics
Processor graphics	None
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	2
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011-3	FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	140 Watt	115 Watt
Package Size		52.5mm x 45mm
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40	40
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
Scalability	1S Only	2S Only
PCIe configurations		x4, x8, x16
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Turbo Boost Max 3.0
Instruction set extensions		Intel® AVX
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® TSX-NI
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		46-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)