Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs Intel Xeon W-2133 Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2133 and the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 are two end-of-life workstation processors that deliver nearly identical application performance, yet they achieve this through completely different hardware designs. The W-2133 relies on a newer, more efficient architecture with higher clock speeds, while the E5-1660 v3 counters with two additional physical cores and a much larger shared cache. Benchmark data shows the W-2133 edges out the E5-1660 v3 in every single test, but the margins are so thin—often fractions of a percent—that the real deciding factors come down to platform specifics like socket compatibility, PCIe lane counts, and memory bandwidth rather than raw compute throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon W-2133 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the W-2133 scores 1075 versus 1074 for the E5-1660 v3, a 0.1% advantage. The gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 and R23 multicore tests, where the W-2133 leads by 0.2% in both cases—4483 versus 4475 in R20 and 10676 versus 10656 in R23. The single-core results follow the same trend: the W-2133 scores 151 in R15 single-core (a tie at 0% delta), 632 versus 631 in R20 single-core, and 1507 versus 1504 in R23 single-core, each a 0.2% edge.

These wins are consistent but small. The W-2133’s advantage comes from its higher base and boost clocks—3.60 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost compared to 3.00 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost for the E5-1660 v3. Clock speed matters more in single-threaded workloads, which explains why the W-2133 leads in every single-core test. However, the E5-1660 v3 has more raw resources: 8 cores and 16 threads versus 6 cores and 12 threads, plus 20 MB of shared L3 cache versus 8.25 MB. Despite having two fewer cores, the W-2133 manages to keep pace or slightly edge ahead in multicore tests because its Skylake architecture and higher clocks compensate for the core deficit.

The practical takeaway is that the W-2133 wins every benchmark, but the E5-1660 v3 is not meaningfully slower. The largest delta is 0.2% in three tests, which is within run-to-run noise for most workloads. Neither processor has a decisive victory in any application class; instead, the W-2133’s wins are uniform across the board, suggesting it is slightly more efficient per clock and per core.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate that the Intel Xeon W-2133 is the better performer, but the margin is so narrow that it should not be the primary reason for choosing between these two CPUs. The W-2133 wins all six head-to-head tests, including a 0.2% lead in Cinebench R20 and R23 multicore, and a 0.1% lead in R15 multicore. If you prioritize the absolute highest scores in these benchmarks, the W-2133 is the correct pick. Yet, the E5-1660 v3 is only 0.2% behind on average benchmark score—3082 versus 3087—and its lower clock speeds are offset by having 8 cores and 16 threads.

The real verdict hinges on platform considerations. The W-2133 uses Intel Socket 2066 and offers 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the E5-1660 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3 with 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The W-2133 also has higher memory bandwidth at 85.3 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s. If you need more PCIe lanes for multiple GPUs or NVMe drives, or you want faster memory throughput, the W-2133 is the superior choice. Conversely, the E5-1660 v3 has an unlocked multiplier, making it a viable option for overclocking enthusiasts who want to squeeze extra performance from a Haswell platform. The E5-1660 v3 also has a larger L3 cache (20 MB versus 8.25 MB), which can benefit workloads that repeatedly access a large working set.

For most users, the W-2133 is the safer recommendation because it wins every benchmark and offers a newer architecture with more PCIe lanes and memory bandwidth. The E5-1660 v3 only makes sense if you already own a Socket 2011-3 motherboard or specifically need an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Neither processor is a clear knockout winner, but the W-2133’s consistent, albeit tiny, leads make it the default choice.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the W-2133 leading by a single point, 1075 to 1074, a 0.1% difference. This is the closest result in the entire comparison and effectively a statistical tie. The R15 single-core test is an exact tie at 151 points for both processors, with a 0% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the W-2133 again takes the multicore lead with 4483 points versus 4475 for the E5-1660 v3, a 0.2% advantage. The R20 single-core test sees the W-2133 at 632 points and the E5-1660 v3 at 631, another 0.2% win. The Cinebench R23 multicore test shows the largest absolute gap: 10676 for the W-2133 versus 10656 for the E5-1660 v3, still only a 0.2% delta. The R23 single-core test rounds out the sweep with 1507 for the W-2133 and 1504 for the E5-1660 v3, a 0.2% lead.

These results tell a clear story: the W-2133’s higher clock speeds (3.60 GHz base, 3.90 GHz boost) give it a slight edge in every workload, but the E5-1660 v3’s extra two cores (8 versus 6) and larger cache (20 MB versus 8.25 MB) prevent it from falling behind by more than a fraction of a percent. The fact that the W-2133 wins multicore tests despite having fewer cores is notable; it indicates that the Skylake architecture’s per-core efficiency is superior to Haswell’s. However, the differences are so small that they would be imperceptible in real-world use. A user running a single Cinebench R23 pass would see scores within 0.2% of each other, which is negligible.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2133 has an average benchmark score of 3087, while the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 scores 3082. The W-2133 leads by 0.2% according to the nearestRivals data.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 win any benchmark tests?

A: No. The head-to-head benchmark data shows the W-2133 winning all six tests, with the E5-1660 v3 recording 0 wins.

Q: What is the difference in core counts between the two processors?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon W-2133 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The E5-1660 v3 has two more physical cores and four more threads.

Q: Which CPU offers more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2133 provides 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). The W-2133 has 8 more lanes.

Q: Are both CPUs compatible with the same motherboard socket?

A: No. The Intel Xeon W-2133 uses Intel Socket 2066, while the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Xeon W-2133 has 8.25 MB of shared L3 cache. The E5-1660 v3 has over twice as much L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Xeon W-2133 is built on Skylake architecture (codename Skylake-W) using a 14 nm process node, while the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 uses Haswell architecture (codename Haswell-EP) on a 22 nm process node. This node shrink gives the W-2133 a significant efficiency advantage, allowing it to achieve higher clock speeds—3.60 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost versus 3.00 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost—while maintaining the same 140 W TDP. The die size also differs: the W-2133 has a die size of 484 mm², while the E5-1660 v3 has a die size of 356 mm². Interestingly, the E5-1660 v3 has 2,600 million transistors documented, while the W-2133’s transistor count is not listed in the data.

Cache architecture is another major divergence. The W-2133 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, but only 8.25 MB of shared L3 cache. The E5-1660 v3 has the same 64 KB L1 cache per core but a smaller 256 KB L2 cache per core, yet it compensates with 20 MB of shared L3 cache. This means the E5-1660 v3 has more total cache capacity for frequently accessed data, which can help in certain multi-threaded workloads. The W-2133’s larger L2 cache (1 MB per core versus 256 KB per core) suggests it is better optimized for per-core data locality.

Memory support is similar in type—both support DDR4 with a quad-channel memory bus—but the W-2133 has a higher memory bandwidth at 85.3 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s for the E5-1660 v3. Both support ECC memory, which is expected for server/workstation processors. The W-2133 also offers more PCIe connectivity with 48 Gen 3 lanes compared to 40 Gen 3 lanes on the E5-1660 v3. Neither processor has integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is core count: the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon W-2133 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds favor the W-2133, which runs at 3.60 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost, compared to 3.00 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost for the E5-1660 v3. Both processors have a 140 W TDP, so power consumption is identical on paper.

The socket is a critical differentiator. The W-2133 fits Intel Socket 2066, whereas the E5-1660 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. This means they require different motherboards and are not cross-compatible. The W-2133 also has more PCIe lanes (48 versus 40) and higher memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s). The L3 cache is substantially different: 8.25 MB shared on the W-2133 versus 20 MB shared on the E5-1660 v3. The L2 cache per core is also different—1 MB on the W-2133 versus 256 KB on the E5-1660 v3.

The E5-1660 v3 has an unlocked multiplier, while the W-2133 does not, meaning the E5-1660 v3 is more suitable for overclocking. The W-2133 has a documented launch MSRP of $617; the E5-1660 v3 has no launch MSRP listed in the data. The release dates show the E5-1660 v3 launched in September 2014, while the W-2133 launched in August 2017. The process node differs (14 nm for the W-2133, 22 nm for the E5-1660 v3), and the E5-1660 v3 has a documented transistor count of 2,600 million, while the W-2133’s transistor count is not specified. The die sizes are 484 mm² for the W-2133 and 356 mm² for the E5-1660 v3. Both are end-of-life production status and target the server/workstation market segment.