Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 vs Intel Core i7-6950X

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 and Intel Core i7-6950X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics. Benchmark processor performance analysis: 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 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 Xeon E5-2678 v3

Intel Core i7-6950X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 12 vs 10
4 more threads: 24 vs 20
2.4x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 20% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 20% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 17% lower typical power consumption: 120 Watt vs 140 Watt
Around 23% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 7451 vs 6073

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	12 vs 10
Number of threads	24 vs 20
L1 cache	768 KB vs 320 KB
L2 cache	3 MB vs 2.5 MB
L3 cache	30 MB vs 25 MB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	120 Watt vs 140 Watt
Benchmarks
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	7451 vs 6073

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-6950X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 22 nm

Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 22 nm

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-6950X

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

7451

6073

Name	Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3	Intel Core i7-6950X
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	7451	6073
PassMark - Single thread mark		2349
PassMark - CPU mark		17651
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		977
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		9071
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		10.499
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		103.335
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		1.263
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		5.312
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		14.075

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3	Intel Core i7-6950X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Haswell-EP	Broadwell E
Family	Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3
Place in performance rating	867	1452
Processor Number	E5-2678 v3	i7-6950X
Vertical segment	Server	Desktop
Launch date		10 March 2016
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,723
Price now		$1,575.99
Series		Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		3.73
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2500 MHz	3.00 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
L1 cache	768 KB	320 KB
L2 cache	3 MB	2.5 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	25 MB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	14 nm
Number of cores	12	10
Number of threads	24	20
Die size		246 mm
Front-side bus (FSB)		9.6 GT / s / QPI
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Maximum frequency		3.50 GHz
Transistor count		3200 Million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Supported memory types	DDR4	DDR4 2400/2133
Maximum memory size		128 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2	1
Sockets supported	LGA2011-3 (R3)	FCLGA2011-3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	120 Watt	140 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40	40
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
Scalability		1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Fused Multiply-Add 3 (FMA3)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Turbo Boost Max 3.0
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Processor graphics		None