CPU Comparison

# Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 vs Intel Xeon W-2140B

The Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 and Intel Xeon W-2140B are two end-of-life server/workstation processors that land nearly identically in aggregate performance, despite fundamentally different designs. The E5-4669 v3 averages 4285 points across benchmark suites, while the W-2140B sits at 4272, a delta of just 0.3%. Both occupy the 58th percentile of all CPUs tested. However, their architectures tell opposite stories: the E5-4669 v3 is an 18-core Haswell-EP part built on 22nm, while the W-2140B is an 8-core Skylake-W chip on 14nm. The benchmark data reveals that the E5-4669 v3 edges out the W-2140B in every single head-to-head test, but the margins are remarkably thin, never exceeding 0.9%. This is a matchup where raw core count meets higher clock speeds, and the results are closer than the specifications suggest.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark table shows a clean sweep: the Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 wins all six recorded comparisons against the Intel Xeon W-2140B. That includes every Cinebench iteration from R15 through R23, in both multi-core and single-core variants. The largest advantage comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the E5-4669 v3 scores 1493 against 1480 for the W-2140B, a 0.9% lead. In single-core R15, the margin narrows to just 0.5% (210 vs 209). The other four tests, R20 multi-core (6222 vs 6170), R20 single-core (878 vs 871), R23 multi-core (14815 vs 14692), and R23 single-core (2091 vs 2074), all show a consistent 0.8% advantage for the E5-4669 v3.

This means the E5-4669 v3 wins in every measured category, but the practical significance is minimal. A 0.8% to 0.9% difference is within run-to-run variance for most benchmark workloads. The real takeaway is that these CPUs are performance peers in Cinebench, despite the E5-4669 v3 having 18 cores and 36 threads versus 8 cores and 16 threads for the W-2140B. The W-2140B compensates for its core deficit with substantially higher clock speeds, a 3.20 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost compared to 2.10 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost on the E5-4669 v3. Neither chip shows a decisive advantage in any workload category; instead, they trade blows within a narrow band.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two Intel Xeon parts is generational and process-related. The E5-4669 v3 uses the Haswell architecture (Haswell-EP codename) built on Intel's 22nm process, with a die size of 662 mm². The W-2140B uses the newer Skylake architecture (Skylake-W codename) on a 14nm process, with a smaller die of 484 mm². This process shrink allows the W-2140B to reach much higher clock speeds while consuming less power, 120W TDP versus 135W for the E5-4669 v3, even though the E5-4669 v3 has more than twice the cores.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The E5-4669 v3 offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a large 45 MB shared L3 cache. The W-2140B matches the 64 KB L1 per core but quadruples L2 to 1 MB per core, while its shared L3 is only 11 MB. This reflects different design philosophies: the Haswell part leans on a massive L3 pool to feed 18 cores, while the Skylake part uses larger per-core L2 to support high-frequency single-thread performance. Both support DDR4 memory in quad-channel configuration, but the W-2140B has higher memory bandwidth at 85.3 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s for the E5-4669 v3.

PCIe connectivity also differs: the E5-4669 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the W-2140B offers 48 lanes. Both use different sockets, Socket 2011-3 for the E5-4669 v3 and Socket 2066 for the W-2140B, meaning they are not interchangeable in existing platforms. Neither chip includes integrated graphics, and both support ECC memory. The release dates span over two years: the E5-4669 v3 launched on May 31, 2015, while the W-2140B arrived December 20, 2017.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Looking at the six head-to-head results, the E5-4669 v3 wins every test, but the margins tell a story of near-parity. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E5-4669 v3 posts 1493 against 1480 for the W-2140B, a 0.9% edge, the largest gap in the entire comparison. Single-core R15 is the tightest race at 0.5%, with scores of 210 and 209. The remaining four tests all land at exactly 0.8%: R20 multi-core (6222 vs 6170), R20 single-core (878 vs 871), R23 multi-core (14815 vs 14692), and R23 single-core (2091 vs 2074).

The consistency of these margins is notable. Across three generations of Cinebench (R15, R20, R23), the relative performance gap between these two CPUs barely moves. This suggests the 18-core Haswell design and the 8-core Skylake design achieve equilibrium in rendering workloads, the extra cores of the E5-4669 v3 offset the clock speed advantage of the W-2140B. In multi-core tests, the E5-4669 v3's 18 cores at 2.90 GHz boost essentially match the W-2140B's 8 cores at 4.20 GHz boost. In single-core tests, the E5-4669 v3's older architecture still manages to edge out the newer Skylake core by 0.5% to 0.8%, which is surprising given the W-2140B's 1.30 GHz higher boost clock.

The W-2140B does have one benchmark the E5-4669 v3 lacks: Geekbench results of 7381 multi-core and 1299 single-core are recorded for the W-2140B, but no Geekbench scores appear in the E5-4669 v3's benchmark list. This omission means the head-to-head comparison is limited to Cinebench tests, where the E5-4669 v3 holds a perfect 6-0 record.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet reveals stark contrasts between these two processors. Core and thread counts differ dramatically: the E5-4669 v3 has 18 cores and 36 threads, while the W-2140B has 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds reverse the hierarchy: the W-2140B runs at 3.20 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, compared to 2.10 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost on the E5-4669 v3. TDP favors the W-2140B at 120W versus 135W for the E5-4669 v3, despite the latter having far more cores.

Process technology separates them by a full node: 22nm for the Haswell-based E5-4669 v3, 14nm for the Skylake-based W-2140B. Die size also differs, 662 mm² for the E5-4669 v3, 484 mm² for the W-2140B. Cache hierarchies diverge in L2 and L3: the E5-4669 v3 has 256 KB L2 per core and 45 MB shared L3, while the W-2140B has 1 MB L2 per core and 11 MB shared L3. L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core.

Memory bandwidth favors the W-2140B at 85.3 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s for the E5-4669 v3, though both use quad-channel DDR4. PCIe lane counts differ: 40 lanes for the E5-4669 v3, 48 for the W-2140B, both Gen 3 and CPU-only. Sockets are incompatible: Socket 2011-3 for the E5-4669 v3, Socket 2066 for the W-2140B. Release dates are over two years apart, May 2015 versus December 2017. The E5-4669 v3 carries a launch MSRP of $7007, while the W-2140B has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The E5-4669 v3's part number is SR22M QH9B, while the W-2140B's is SR3LK.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 has 18 cores and 36 threads, compared to 8 cores and 16 threads on the Intel Xeon W-2140B.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The W-2140B runs at 3.20 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, while the E5-4669 v3 runs at 2.10 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. The W-2140B is 1.10 GHz higher at base and 1.30 GHz higher at boost.

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench benchmarks?

A: The E5-4669 v3 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 0.5% in R15 single-core to 0.9% in R15 multi-core. The other four tests (R20 and R23, both single and multi-core) show a 0.8% advantage.

Q: What are the architecture and process node differences?

A: The E5-4669 v3 uses Haswell architecture on a 22nm process with a 662 mm² die, while the W-2140B uses Skylake architecture on a 14nm process with a 484 mm² die.

Q: How does memory bandwidth differ between the two?

A: The W-2140B offers 85.3 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 68.3 GB/s for the E5-4669 v3. Both support quad-channel DDR4 memory with ECC.

Q: What are the socket and PCIe differences?

A: The E5-4669 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3 with 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the W-2140B uses Intel Socket 2066 with 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. Both have CPU-only PCIe and no integrated graphics.