Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 vs Intel Xeon W-2135 Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2135 and Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 are both end-of-life 14 nm server/workstation processors with 140 W TDPs, but they represent different architectural eras and socket ecosystems. The W-2135 is a 6-core Skylake-W part on Socket 2066, while the E5-1680 v4 is an 8-core Broadwell-EP part on Socket 2011-3. Benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, advantage for the W-2135 across every Cinebench iteration, despite the E5-1680 v4 having two more physical cores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably one-sided in favor of the Intel Xeon W-2135, which wins all six benchmark comparisons. However, the margins are extremely tight, ranging from 1.0% to 1.2%. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the W-2135 scores 1230 against the E5-1680 v4's 1217, a 1.1% lead. The single-core R15 result shows a similar pattern, with 173 versus 171, translating to a 1.2% advantage.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 5126 for the W-2135 and 5073 for the E5-1680 v4, a 1% delta. The single-core R20 test shows 723 versus 716, also a 1% difference. The latest Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: the W-2135 scores 12205 in multicore versus 12080 for the E5-1680 v4, and in single-core it scores 1723 versus 1705, with both deltas at 1% and 1.1% respectively.

The statistical significance of these margins is questionable. A 1% difference in a benchmark like Cinebench R23 multicore (a 125-point gap) could easily fall within run-to-run variance. Yet the consistency across all six tests—every single one favoring the W-2135—suggests a genuine, if modest, performance edge. This is particularly interesting given that the E5-1680 v4 has 8 cores and 16 threads compared to the W-2135's 6 cores and 12 threads. The W-2135's higher clock speeds (3.70 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost versus 3.40 GHz and 4.00 GHz) appear to compensate for its core deficit, and then some.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The W-2135 has an average benchmark score of 3530, while the E5-1680 v4 sits at 3494. Both processors are at the 55th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they perform similarly relative to the entire market. Interestingly, the W-2135's closest rival is the Intel Core i3-12300 (average score 3532, 0% delta), while the E5-1680 v4's nearest competitor is the Intel Xeon E-2246G (average score 3492, 0.1% delta).

Where Each One Wins

Given that the W-2135 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, it is tempting to declare it the outright winner in all scenarios. However, the data invites a more nuanced interpretation. The W-2135's wins are all in Cinebench workloads, which are heavily optimized for multi-threading and can leverage the higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The single-core results (173 vs 171 in R15, 723 vs 716 in R20, 1723 vs 1705 in R23) show the W-2135's architectural advantage in lightly-threaded tasks, which is expected given its Skylake design and superior clock speeds.

The E5-1680 v4, despite losing all benchmarks, offers a theoretical advantage in core count. With 8 cores and 16 threads versus 6 cores and 12 threads, it has 33% more processing elements. In workloads that scale perfectly with core count and are not clock-bound, one would expect the E5-1680 v4 to pull ahead. Yet the data shows it does not, at least in Cinebench. This suggests that the W-2135's per-core efficiency and higher clocks are sufficient to overcome the two-core deficit.

For memory bandwidth, the W-2135 also holds an edge: 85.3 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s, despite both using quad-channel DDR4. The W-2135 also provides more PCIe lanes (48 versus 40), which could matter for GPUs or NVMe storage. However, the E5-1680 v4 has a much larger L3 cache: 20 MB shared versus 8.25 MB shared for the W-2135. In cache-sensitive workloads, the E5-1680 v4 might perform better than the Cinebench results suggest, though no benchmark data in the pack confirms this.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon W-2135 outperforms the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 in every measured Cinebench test, with margins between 1% and 1.2%. For users prioritizing raw CPU throughput in rendering workloads, the W-2135 is the clear choice. Its higher base and boost clocks (3.70/4.50 GHz versus 3.40/4.00 GHz) and newer Skylake architecture deliver better single-threaded and multi-threaded performance despite having fewer cores.

However, the verdict is not a complete dismissal of the E5-1680 v4. Its 8-core/16-thread configuration and 20 MB L3 cache could prove beneficial in specific multi-threaded scenarios not represented in the Cinebench suite. Additionally, the E5-1680 v4 has a larger transistor count (3,400 million versus unspecified for the W-2135) and a smaller die size (246 mm² versus 484 mm²), suggesting a different design philosophy. The W-2135's larger die size may contribute to its higher performance, but the E5-1680 v4's more compact design could imply better power efficiency per transistor, though TDP is identical at 140 W.

The data also shows both processors are at the 55th percentile, indicating they are mid-pack performers by modern standards. The W-2135's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-12300 and Core i5-10600K, while the E5-1680 v4 sits near the Xeon E-2246G and Xeon E-2176G. This positioning suggests neither CPU is a top-tier performer today, but both remain viable for their respective platforms. The W-2135 is the better choice for new builds on Socket 2066, while the E5-1680 v4 may appeal to those upgrading an existing Socket 2011-3 system.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon W-2135 scores 12205 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 scores 12080, giving the W-2135 a 1% lead.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in single-core performance?

A: The W-2135 wins all single-core tests, including 1723 versus 1705 in Cinebench R23 and 723 versus 716 in Cinebench R20, with margins of 1.1% and 1% respectively.

Q: Does the E5-1680 v4 have any advantage in core count?

A: Yes, the E5-1680 v4 has 8 cores and 16 threads, compared to 6 cores and 12 threads for the W-2135. However, this does not translate to a win in any Cinebench benchmark.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications for each CPU?

A: The W-2135 has a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the E5-1680 v4 has 76.8 GB/s, both using quad-channel DDR4 memory.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The E5-1680 v4 has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, significantly more than the W-2135's 8.25 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No, both are end-of-life products. The W-2135 was released on 2017-08-28, and the E5-1680 v4 was released on 2016-06-19.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The W-2135 is based on Skylake-W architecture, codenamed Skylake-W, and belongs to the Xeon W (Skylake-W) generation. The E5-1680 v4 uses Broadwell-EP architecture, codenamed Broadwell-EP, from the Xeon E5 (Broadwell-EP) generation. Both are manufactured on a 14 nm process by Intel, but the W-2135 has a significantly larger die size of 484 mm² compared to 246 mm² for the E5-1680 v4.

The W-2135's cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with 8.25 MB of shared L3 cache. The E5-1680 v4 has the same 64 KB L1 per core but only 256 KB of L2 per core, while its L3 cache is substantially larger at 20 MB shared. The E5-1680 v4 also lists a transistor count of 3,400 million, while no transistor count is provided for the W-2135.

The most notable architectural difference is the socket: the W-2135 uses Intel Socket 2066, while the E5-1680 v4 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. This means they are not interchangeable in motherboards. Both support DDR4 memory with ECC, but the W-2135 offers higher memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s). PCIe connectivity also differs, with the W-2135 providing 48 lanes of PCIe Gen 3 versus 40 lanes for the E5-1680 v4. The W-2135 is classified as a Server/Workstation segment part, while the E5-1680 v4 is classified as Desktop, despite both being Xeon processors.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ: the W-2135 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the E5-1680 v4 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds favor the W-2135, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boost clock of 4.50 GHz, versus 3.40 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost for the E5-1680 v4. Both have a TDP of 140 W.

Memory bandwidth is higher on the W-2135 at 85.3 GB/s, compared to 76.8 GB/s on the E5-1680 v4. The W-2135 also provides more PCIe lanes: 48 versus 40, both Gen 3. The L2 cache per core differs significantly: 1 MB per core on the W-2135 versus 256 KB per core on the E5-1680 v4. L3 cache also differs, with 8.25 MB shared on the W-2135 and 20 MB shared on the E5-1680 v4.

The socket is a major differentiator: Intel Socket 2066 for the W-2135 and Intel Socket 2011-3 for the E5-1680 v4. The launch MSRP also differs substantially: the W-2135 was $835, while the E5-1680 v4 was $1723. The release dates are about 14 months apart, with the W-2135 launching on 2017-08-28 and the E5-1680 v4 on 2016-06-19. The die size is nearly double on the W-2135 (484 mm² versus 246 mm²), and the E5-1680 v4 lists a transistor count of 3,400 million while the W-2135 does not. The market segment classifications also differ: Server/Workstation for the W-2135 and Desktop for the E5-1680 v4.