Intel Core i7-5960X vs Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents an unusually one-sided comparison. Across every recorded Cinebench test, the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 takes the win, and the Intel Core i7-5960X never claims a single head-to-head victory. That said, the margins are consistent and modest, which matters for real-world context.

The Xeon E5-1680 v4 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks with deltas between 4.3% and 4.5%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 1217 against 1165, a 4.5% advantage. In R20 multicore, the gap is 5073 versus 4857, again 4.4%. In R23 multicore, the Xeon posts 12080 against 11565, a 4.5% edge. The pattern repeats in single-core tests: R15 single-core shows 171 versus 164 (4.3%), R20 single-core shows 716 versus 685 (4.5%), and R23 single-core shows 1705 versus 1632 (4.5%).

The story is not about one workload type dominating over another. The Xeon wins both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads by nearly identical margins, which suggests a broad architectural efficiency advantage rather than a specific feature benefiting one scenario. In percentage terms, the single-core and multicore deltas are almost indistinguishable, ranging from 4.3% to 4.5%.

For users choosing between these two, the Xeon E5-1680 v4 is the safer pick in every measured scenario. The i7-5960X is not without merit, however. It is an unlocked part, meaning the multiplier can be adjusted, while the Xeon is locked. The benchmark results reflect stock settings in the database, and the i7's overclocking headroom could narrow or reverse the gap in practice, though no overclocked data is recorded here.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The Xeon E5-1680 v4 sits at 3494, while the i7-5960X sits at 3442. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2246G at 3492 (0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i9-9900T at 3499 (0.2% ahead). The i7-5960X's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G at 3441 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS at 3444 (0% delta). The percentile placement is close too: the Xeon lands at the 55th percentile of all CPUs, the i7 at the 54th.

For a workstation or rendering machine running stock clocks, the Xeon is the better performer in every recorded test. For a tinkerer who wants manual frequency control, the i7 offers that flexibility, and the performance deficit is small enough that overclocking could plausibly compensate.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same socket, Intel Socket 2011-3, and the same core and thread counts: 8 cores and 16 threads. Both support DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus, and both provide PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU. The similarities end there.

The Xeon E5-1680 v4 is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-EP codename, and uses a 14 nm process node. The i7-5960X is Haswell, specifically Haswell-E, on a 22 nm node. This node shrink is a central difference. The Xeon packs 3,400 million transistors into a 246 mm² die, while the i7 packs 2,600 million transistors into a much larger 356 mm² die. The smaller die with more transistors reflects the density improvement of the 14 nm process over 22 nm.

Cache configurations are identical in structure: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. So the performance gap cannot be attributed to cache capacity differences.

Memory bandwidth differs. The Xeon records 76.8 GB/s, the i7 records 68.3 GB/s. Both use quad-channel DDR4, but the Xeon's newer memory controller and process node appear to extract more bandwidth. ECC support also differs: the Xeon supports ECC memory, the i7 does not. This is a meaningful distinction for users running long, error-sensitive compute jobs.

The clock speeds differ as well. The Xeon has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The i7 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Xeon runs at higher frequencies out of the box, which explains part of its single-core advantage.

The multiplier situation is important. The i7-5960X has an unlocked multiplier, the Xeon does not. The i7 is marketed as a Core i7 Extreme part, while the Xeon is a Xeon E5 desktop-market part. Both are classified as desktop market segment and both are end-of-life.

The release dates are roughly two years apart. The i7-5960X was released in August 2014, the Xeon E5-1680 v4 in June 2016. The part numbers are SR20Q for the i7 and SR2P8 for the Xeon. Neither has integrated graphics.

The architecture differences boil down to process node, transistor count, die size, memory bandwidth, ECC support, clock speeds, and unlock status. The Xeon is the newer, denser, faster-clocked part. The i7 is the older, larger-die part with manual overclocking freedom.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 scores 12080 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core i7-5960X scores 11565. That is a 4.5% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Xeon E5-1680 v4 supports ECC memory, but the Core i7-5960X does not.

Q: Are these CPUs overclockable?

A: Only the Core i7-5960X has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon E5-1680 v4 is locked.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor provide?

A: The Xeon E5-1680 v4 provides 76.8 GB/s, while the Core i7-5960X provides 68.3 GB/s. Both use quad-channel DDR4.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Xeon E5-1680 v4 boosts to 4.00 GHz, while the Core i7-5960X boosts to 3.50 GHz.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon E5-1680 v4 has an average benchmark score of 3494, placing it at the 55th percentile of all CPUs. The Core i7-5960X has an average score of 3442, placing it at the 54th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 | Intel Core i7-5960X |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Broadwell | Haswell |

| Codename | Broadwell-EP | Haswell-E |

| Process node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 3,400 million | 2,600 million |

| Die size | 246 mm² | 356 mm² |

| Base clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Memory bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 68.3 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Supported | Not supported |

| Multiplier | Locked | Unlocked |

| Release date | June 2016 | August 2014 |

| Part number | SR2P8 | SR20Q |

The L1 and L2 cache sizes are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively, and both share 20 MB of L3. Both processors use Intel Socket 2011-3, support quad-channel DDR4, and provide 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The TDP is 140 watts for both. The Xeon has a recorded launch MSRP of $1723, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the i7.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E5-1680 v4 wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, and the margins are strikingly consistent. Every single one of the six tests shows a delta between 4.3% and 4.5%. There are no outliers, no workload where the i7 closes the gap, and no workload where the Xeon runs away.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 1217 and the i7 scores 1165. That is a 4.5% lead. In R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 171 and the i7 scores 164, a 4.3% lead. The multicore advantage is slightly larger in percentage terms, but only by 0.2 points.

In Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. Multicore shows 5073 for the Xeon and 4857 for the i7, a 4.4% delta. Single-core shows 716 for the Xeon and 685 for the i7, a 4.5% delta. The single-core margin actually edges out the multicore margin here, which is notable given that both CPUs have the same core count.

Cinebench R23 follows the same script. Multicore: 12080 for the Xeon, 11565 for the i7, a 4.5% delta. Single-core: 1705 for the Xeon, 1632 for the i7, a 4.5% delta. The consistency across three Cinebench versions is remarkable. The performance relationship between these two chips has not changed as the benchmark workload evolved.

The i7-5960X does have additional benchmark records in the database that the Xeon lacks, specifically Geekbench results. The i7 scores 6461 in Geekbench multicore and 1010 in Geekbench single-core. Since the Xeon has no recorded Geekbench score in the database, no direct comparison can be made for that test.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head results. The Xeon averages 3494 across its recorded tests, the i7 averages 3442. The Xeon's nearest rival, the Xeon E-2246G, sits at 3492, just 0.1% behind. The i7's nearest rival, the Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G, sits at 3441, essentially tied at 0% delta. Both CPUs occupy similar positions in the overall CPU landscape, but the Xeon is consistently ahead of the i7 by a small, repeatable margin.

For anyone relying on stock-clock Cinebench performance, the Xeon E5-1680 v4 is the clear winner in every measured scenario. The i7-5960X retains its unlocked multiplier as a counterargument, but the recorded data gives the Xeon the edge across the board.