Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 vs Intel Core i7-4960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 and Intel Core i7-4960X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, 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, 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), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2

Intel Core i7-4960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2

6 more cores, run more applications at once: 12 vs 6
12 more threads: 24 vs 12
Around 29% higher maximum core temperature: 86°C vs 66.8°C
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
12x more maximum memory size: 768 GB vs 64 GB
2.3x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 22852 vs 9996
Around 35% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 6947 vs 5157
7.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 1.157 vs 0.161

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	12 vs 6
Number of threads	24 vs 12
Maximum core temperature	86°C vs 66.8°C
L1 cache	768 KB vs 384 KB
L2 cache	3 MB vs 1.5 MB
L3 cache	30 MB vs 15 MB
Maximum memory size	768 GB vs 64 GB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	22852 vs 9996
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	6947 vs 5157
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.157 vs 0.161

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-4960X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
Around 14% higher clock speed: 4.00 GHz vs 3.50 GHz
Around 21% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2066 vs 1709
Around 30% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 850 vs 654
2.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 25.225 vs 11.052
2.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 174.038 vs 75.574
Around 27% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 6.883 vs 5.429
2.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 32.99 vs 14.769

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz vs 3.50 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2066 vs 1709
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	850 vs 654
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	25.225 vs 11.052
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	174.038 vs 75.574
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	6.883 vs 5.429
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	32.99 vs 14.769

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-4960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1709

2066

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

22852

9996

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

654

850

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

6947

5157

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

11.052

25.225

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

75.574

174.038

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.157

0.161

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.429

6.883

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

14.769

32.99

Name	Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2	Intel Core i7-4960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	1709	2066
PassMark - CPU mark	22852	9996
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	654	850
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	6947	5157
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	11.052	25.225
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	75.574	174.038
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.157	0.161
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.429	6.883
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	14.769	32.99
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		6029

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2	Intel Core i7-4960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge EP	Ivy Bridge E
Launch date	10 September 2013	3 September 2013
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,723	$999
Place in performance rating	1743	1524
Price now	$2,235.02	$769.99
Processor Number	E5-2697V2	i7-4960X
Series	Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 v2 Family	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	2.30	5.28
Vertical segment	Server	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.70 GHz	3.60 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s QPI	5 GT/s DMI2
Die size	160 mm	257 mm
Front-side bus (FSB)	8GT / s
L1 cache	768 KB	384 KB
L2 cache	3 MB	1.5 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	15 MB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	22 nm
Maximum core temperature	86°C	66.8°C
Maximum frequency	3.50 GHz	4.00 GHz
Number of cores	12	6
Number of QPI Links	2
Number of threads	24	12
Transistor count	1400 million	1860 Million
VID voltage range	0.65–1.30V
Unlocked
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	4	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	59.7 GB/s	59.7 GB/s
Maximum memory size	768 GB	64 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600/1866	DDR3 1333/1600/1866
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2	1
Package Size	52.5mm x 51mm	52.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011	FCLGA2011
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	130 Watt	130 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40	40
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	x4, x8, x16
Scalability	2S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	46-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Smart Response technology
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)