Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 vs Intel Xeon W-2125 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data paints a remarkably consistent picture: the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 wins every single head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Xeon W-2125. Across six Cinebench tests, the E5-2640 v3 holds a lead between 9.1% and 9.6% in every discipline. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is structural, not workload-dependent.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the E5-2640 v3 scores 942 against the W-2125's 852, a 9.6% advantage. The single-core test shows the same pattern: 132 versus 120, a 9.1% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the E5-2640 v3 posts 3926 multicore and 553 single-core, while the W-2125 manages 3551 and 501 respectively, again a 9.6% and 9.4% margin. Cinebench R23 repeats the story with 9348 versus 8455 multicore and 1319 versus 1193 single-core, both at 9.6% deltas.

Notably, the W-2125's higher clock speeds do not translate into any benchmark victory. The W-2125 boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the E5-2640 v3 tops out at 3.40 GHz, yet the older Haswell part still outpaces it in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The average benchmark score reflects this overall trend: the E5-2640 v3 sits at 2703 in the database, compared to the W-2125's 2623. The percentile rankings are close, 50th versus 49th percentile among all CPUs, but the E5-2640 v3 edges ahead in every measured category.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows no scenario where the W-2125 emerges victorious. The E5-2640 v3 wins all six head-to-head tests, covering both single-core and multi-core Cinebench workloads across three different benchmark versions. This means for rendering tasks, CPU-bound simulations, or general productivity workloads, the E5-2640 v3 consistently delivers higher scores.

The W-2125's advantages lie elsewhere in the spec sheet, not in raw benchmark numbers. It offers a higher base clock of 4.00 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 3.40 GHz. The W-2125 also provides more PCIe lanes: 48 lanes compared to 40 lanes on the E5-2640 v3, both at Gen 3 speeds. Memory bandwidth favors the W-2125 at 85.3 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s, though both use quad-channel DDR4.

For users prioritizing raw benchmark performance, the E5-2640 v3 is the clear choice. For scenarios where the W-2125's higher clocks, additional PCIe lanes, or greater memory bandwidth matter, it holds structural advantages that the benchmarks do not capture. The database records zero wins for the W-2125, but its clock speeds and platform features may still appeal to specific workstation configurations.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The W-2125 uses Skylake-W architecture on a 14 nm process node with a die size of 484 mm². The E5-2640 v3 uses Haswell-EP architecture on a 22 nm process node with a die size of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors.

Core counts diverge significantly. The W-2125 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the E5-2640 v3 offers 8 cores and 16 threads. This doubling of core count explains the E5-2640 v3's multicore advantage, despite its lower clocks. The cache hierarchies also differ: the W-2125 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8.25 MB of shared L3. The E5-2640 v3 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a larger 20 MB of shared L3.

Both processors support DDR4 memory with quad-channel buses, but the W-2125 achieves higher theoretical bandwidth at 85.3 GB/s versus 59.7 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, making them suitable for server and workstation environments. The W-2125 uses Intel Socket 2066, while the E5-2640 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3, meaning they are not interchangeable in existing platforms.

The W-2125 launched on 2017-08-28 with a launch MSRP of $444. The E5-2640 v3 launched on 2014-09-07 with a launch MSRP of $939. Both are marked as end-of-life production. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and neither includes integrated graphics. The W-2125's newer architecture delivers higher clocks per core, but the E5-2640 v3's extra cores and larger L3 cache prove more decisive in the benchmark data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3. It scores 132 in Cinebench R15 single-core and 553 in Cinebench R20 single-core, compared to the Xeon W-2125's 120 and 501. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the E5-2640 v3 scores 1319 versus 1193.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2125 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The Xeon W-2125 supports 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Xeon E5-2640 v3 supports 59.7 GB/s. Both use quad-channel DDR4 memory.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 has 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Xeon W-2125 has 8.25 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon W-2125 and the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 support ECC memory.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2125 boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 boosts to 3.40 GHz.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 outperforms the Intel Xeon W-2125 in every recorded test. Across six Cinebench benchmarks, the E5-2640 v3 holds a consistent 9.1% to 9.6% lead, in both single-core and multicore workloads. Its average benchmark score of 2703 exceeds the W-2125's 2623, and its 50th percentile ranking among all CPUs beats the W-2125's 49th.

Users seeking maximum benchmark performance should choose the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide a substantial multicore advantage, and its single-core scores also lead despite lower clock speeds. The larger 20 MB L3 cache likely contributes to this unexpected single-core superiority.

The Intel Xeon W-2125 retains appeal for specific platform requirements. It offers higher clock speeds, more PCIe lanes, and greater memory bandwidth. Users with workloads that depend on these characteristics, or those already invested in Socket 2066 platforms, may find the W-2125 suitable despite its benchmark deficit. However, the database records zero wins for the W-2125 across all measured tests, making the E5-2640 v3 the recommended choice for pure performance.