Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 vs Intel Xeon W-2125 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 wins every single benchmark in the comparison set, sweeping all six tests. The W-2125 does not secure a single victory across any Cinebench iteration or workload type. The margins are remarkably consistent, hovering around 8% in favor of the older Haswell part in every test.

Starting with multi-threaded workloads, the E5-4650 v3 posts a Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 928 against the W-2125's 852, a delta of -8.2% for the newer chip. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the E5-4650 v3 scores 3869 versus 3551, again an 8.2% gap. Cinebench R23 shows the same story: 9212 for the E5-4650 v3 versus 8455 for the W-2125, with the identical -8.2% delta. The consistency of this margin across three generations of the Cinebench suite suggests a stable performance relationship rather than workload-specific variance.

Single-threaded results tell a similar tale, though the absolute differences are smaller. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the E5-4650 v3 scores 131 against the W-2125's 120, an 8.4% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 546 versus 501, an 8.2% gap. Cinebench R23 single-core rounds out the sweep with 1300 versus 1193, again -8.2%. This is notable because the W-2125 has a much higher base clock (4.00 GHz versus 2.10 GHz) and boost clock (4.50 GHz versus 2.80 GHz). Yet the older architecture still wins every single-core test.

The E5-4650 v3's aggregate benchmark average is 2664, placing it in the 50th percentile of all CPUs tracked. The W-2125 averages 2623, sitting at the 49th percentile. The nearest rivals for the E5-4650 v3 include the Intel Core i7-9750HF (delta +0.1%), the Core i7-9700T (delta -0.1%), and the Core i5-9500F (delta -0.2%). The W-2125's nearest rivals are the Core i7-1195G7 (delta -0.6%), Core i9-8950HK (delta -0.7%), and Core i7-5820K (delta -0.7%).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks in the direct comparison?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks. It takes Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both multi-core and single-core variants, leaving the W-2125 with zero wins.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-core workloads?

A: The E5-4650 v3 leads by 8.2% in every multi-core test. Cinebench R15 shows 928 versus 852, R20 shows 3869 versus 3551, and R23 shows 9212 versus 8455.

Q: Does the W-2125's higher clock speed translate to single-core wins?

A: No. Despite a 4.00 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost, the W-2125 loses every single-core test. The E5-4650 v3 wins R15 single-core 131 to 120, R20 single-core 546 to 501, and R23 single-core 1300 to 1193, with margins between 8.2% and 8.4%.

Q: How do the two compare in overall benchmark averages?

A: The E5-4650 v3 has an average benchmark score of 2664, while the W-2125 averages 2623. The E5-4650 v3 sits in the 50th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the W-2125's 49th percentile.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each processor?

A: For the E5-4650 v3, the nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-9750HF with a delta of +0.1%, followed by the Core i7-9700T at -0.1%. For the W-2125, the nearest rival is the Core i5-9500F territory, with the Core i7-1195G7 at -0.6% and the Core i9-8950HK at -0.7%.

Q: Is the W-2125 competitive in any benchmark category?

A: Based on the data, the W-2125 does not win a single benchmark against the E5-4650 v3. Its closest margin is in single-core tests, but it still trails by roughly 8%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 wins everywhere the data measures. It dominates in multi-threaded workloads by 8.2% across all three Cinebench versions. This makes it the clear choice for heavily parallel workloads that scale across many cores. The E5-4650 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, triple the W-2125's 4 cores and 8 threads. Even with the older Haswell architecture and lower clock speeds, the core count advantage carries the day.

The E5-4650 v3 also wins in single-threaded performance, which is more surprising given the W-2125's clock speed advantage. The W-2125 runs at 4.00 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost, while the E5-4650 v3 runs at 2.10 GHz base and 2.80 GHz boost. Despite this 1.7 GHz to 1.9 GHz clock deficit, the E5-4650 v3 still manages to outperform in single-core tests. This suggests the older Haswell core design has an efficiency edge in these specific workloads, or that the benchmark conditions favor it for reasons not captured by clock speed alone.

The W-2125 offers no benchmark wins in this comparison. However, it does have attributes that might matter outside raw scores. It features a smaller process node (14 nm versus 22 nm), a larger die size (484 mm² versus 356 mm²), and higher memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s). These factors do not translate into benchmark victories in the measured tests, but they may influence other aspects of system performance.

For workloads that are not represented in this benchmark suite, the W-2125's higher clock speeds and newer architecture might prove beneficial. The data cannot confirm this, but the specification differences suggest potential advantages in latency-sensitive or lightly threaded applications that are not captured by Cinebench's rendering workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. The W-2125 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the E5-4650 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 4.00 GHz versus 2.10 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.50 GHz versus 2.80 GHz. The W-2125 has a higher TDP at 120 watts, compared to 105 watts for the E5-4650 v3.

Memory bandwidth differs substantially, with the W-2125 offering 85.3 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s for the E5-4650 v3. Both support DDR4 memory with quad-channel buses and ECC capability. PCIe lane counts also differ: the W-2125 provides 48 lanes (Gen 3, CPU only), while the E5-4650 v3 provides 40 lanes (Gen 3, CPU only).

Cache configurations are markedly different. The W-2125 has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the E5-4650 v3 has 256 KB per core. The L3 cache is 8.25 MB shared on the W-2125, versus 30 MB shared on the E5-4650 v3. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core.

Sockets are incompatible: the W-2125 uses Intel Socket 2066, while the E5-4650 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. Release dates differ by over two years, with the W-2125 launching later. The E5-4650 v3 carries a launch MSRP of $2838. The W-2125 carries a launch MSRP of $444.

Architecture Differences

The W-2125 is built on Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-W codename, using a 14 nm process node. The E5-4650 v3 uses Haswell architecture with the Haswell-EP codename, built on a 22 nm process. Both are manufactured by Intel, but the process node difference represents a full generation of manufacturing advancement.

The transistor counts differ significantly. The E5-4650 v3 contains 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The W-2125's transistor count is not listed, but its die size is larger at 484 mm². This is notable because the W-2125 uses a newer, denser process node yet still has a larger physical die.

Core architecture differences are substantial. The Skylake-W design in the W-2125 is newer and features a different microarchitecture compared to the Haswell-EP design in the E5-4650 v3. The per-core L2 cache is larger on the W-2125 (1 MB versus 256 KB), while the shared L3 cache is much larger on the E5-4650 v3 (30 MB versus 8.25 MB).

Both processors support DDR4 memory with quad-channel buses and ECC memory. Both lack integrated graphics. Both feature Gen 3 PCIe, but with different lane counts. The W-2125 has 48 lanes versus 40 lanes for the E5-4650 v3.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either platform. Both are classified as Server/Workstation parts and are end-of-life products. The part numbers are SR3LM for the W-2125 and SR22J for the E5-4650 v3.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner: the Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 outperforms the Intel Xeon W-2125 in every measured benchmark. The 12-core, 24-thread Haswell part beats the 4-core, 8-thread Skylake part by 8.2% in all multi-core tests and by 8.2% to 8.4% in single-core tests. This sweep is decisive.

For workloads that are heavily threaded and can utilize 12 cores and 24 threads, the E5-4650 v3 is the obvious choice based purely on benchmark performance. Its 30 MB of shared L3 cache and higher core count give it a structural advantage in parallel rendering tasks. The 50th percentile ranking versus the W-2125's 49th percentile reinforces this positioning.

For lightly threaded workloads that depend on clock speed, the W-2125 might seem attractive on paper with its 4.50 GHz boost clock. However, the benchmark data contradicts this expectation. The E5-4650 v3 wins every single-core test despite having a 1.7 GHz lower base clock and 1.7 GHz lower boost clock. Users who prioritize single-threaded performance should note that the data does not support choosing the W-2125 on that basis.

The W-2125 does offer higher memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s) and more PCIe lanes (48 versus 40). These characteristics could matter for memory-intensive or I/O-intensive workloads that are not represented in the Cinebench suite. The newer 14 nm process node and larger die size may also bring unspecified benefits.

The E5-4650 v3 carries a significantly higher launch MSRP of $2838, compared to $444 for the W-2125. Both are end-of-life server/workstation parts. Given that the more expensive processor wins every benchmark, the performance-per-dollar ratio strongly favors the E5-4650 v3, though pricing analysis is outside the scope of this benchmark review.

The verdict is straightforward: pick the E5-4650 v3 for any workload that resembles the Cinebench rendering tests. Pick the W-2125 only if the specific application benefits from its higher memory bandwidth, additional PCIe lanes, or other architectural features that are not captured in the benchmark data. In purely measured performance, the E5-4650 v3 is the superior processor across the board.