Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4

The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 is an 8-core, 16-thread Broadwell-EP processor designed for the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform. Released in mid-2016, this desktop-market Xeon carries a 140 W TDP and a launch MSRP of $1723, positioning it as a high-end workstation part that has since reached end-of-life status. The benchmark data shows a processor that remains competitive for multi-threaded workloads despite its age, sitting at the 57th percentile among all CPUs.

Benchmark Performance

The E5-1680 v4 delivers an average benchmark score of 3502, placing it in a tight cluster with several newer Xeon E-series parts. The nearest rival, the Intel Xeon E-2186G, scores 3511, which is a 0.3% advantage for the E-2186G. The Intel Xeon E-2246G matches at 3503, a negligible 0% difference. The Intel Xeon D-1732TE trails by a hair at 3504, representing a 0.1% deficit. The only rival that the E5-1680 v4 outperforms is the Intel Xeon E-2176G, which scores 3492, a 0.3% gap in favor of the older chip. These deltas are remarkably small, indicating that the E5-1680 v4 trades blows with much newer silicon in aggregate performance.

Looking at Cinebench scores, the multi-core results tell a story of sustained throughput. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the processor scores 1220 points. Cinebench R20 multi-core yields 5085 points, while Cinebench R23 multi-core reaches 12109 points. These numbers show a linear scaling pattern across the three benchmark versions, as expected from a consistent 8-core/16-thread configuration. The single-core scores are 172 in R15, 717 in R20, and 1709 in R23. Relative to the multi-core results, the single-threaded performance is adequate for a 3.40 GHz base clock part with a 4.00 GHz boost, but it does not stand out against newer architectures.

The percentile ranking of 57 places this processor in the upper-middle range of all tested CPUs. The data suggests that for multi-threaded rendering tasks, the E5-1680 v4 remains a viable option, as the 16 threads allow it to keep pace with the surrounding Xeon rivals. The near-zero deltas against the E-2246G and E-2186G imply that in mixed workloads, users would find no meaningful performance difference between this 2016 part and those newer offerings.

Platform and Compatibility

The E5-1680 v4 uses the Intel Socket 2011-3, which is the high-end desktop and workstation platform for the Broadwell-EP generation. The architecture is Broadwell, built on Intel's 14 nm process node, containing 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. Memory support is DDR4 in a quad-channel configuration, providing a theoretical memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported, which is a critical feature for workstation reliability and data integrity in long-running compute tasks.

PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 with 40 lanes available directly from the CPU. This lane count is substantial, allowing for multiple discrete GPUs or high-speed storage devices without requiring a chipset to provide additional lanes. The 40-lane allocation is a defining characteristic of the Socket 2011-3 platform, separating it from mainstream sockets that typically offer fewer direct CPU lanes.

The upgrade path is limited by the end-of-life production status. Being a Broadwell-EP part, it is compatible with other Socket 2011-3 processors from the same generation, but no architectural improvements are available on this platform. Users seeking newer features such as PCIe Gen 4 or Gen 5, DDR5 memory, or higher core counts would need to move to a different socket entirely. The platform does offer quad-channel memory as a genuine advantage over dual-channel consumer chips, which contributes to the memory bandwidth figure of 76.8 GB/s.

Power and Thermals

The TDP for the E5-1680 v4 is 140 W, which is a substantial power envelope that requires a capable cooling solution. This TDP class is typical for 8-core processors on the Socket 2011-3 platform, where the large die size and high boost clock of 4.00 GHz demand robust thermal management. A high-end air cooler or a liquid cooling solution would be appropriate to maintain sustained boost clocks under load.

The 14 nm process node helps mitigate power consumption, but the 3.40 GHz base clock and 4.00 GHz boost clock still generate significant heat. In a workstation environment with adequate case airflow, the 140 W TDP is manageable, but it is not a low-power part. The data does not include specific thermal measurements, but the TDP alone indicates that users should plan for a cooling solution that can dissipate 140 W of continuous heat.

For comparison, the rival Xeon parts in the nearestRivals list likely fall into lower or similar TDP classes, but the fact pack does not specify their power figures. The E5-1680 v4's 140 W envelope means it is not suited for compact or passively cooled systems. The trade-off for the 16 threads and 20 MB of shared L3 cache is a higher power draw, which is acceptable for a workstation processor.

Who Should Consider It

Based on the benchmark scores, the E5-1680 v4 is best suited for multi-threaded content creation workloads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12109 demonstrates strong parallel performance, making it suitable for 3D rendering, video encoding, and simulation tasks that can utilize all 16 threads. The 57th percentile ranking indicates that it outperforms a majority of all CPUs, even though it is an older design.

For gaming, the single-core scores are less compelling. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1709 is adequate for many titles, but modern games increasingly favor higher single-thread performance, which this chip does not lead in. The 4.00 GHz boost clock helps, but the architecture's IPC is lower than newer designs. Gamers would likely find the E5-1680 v4 acceptable for CPU-bound titles but not optimal.

Office and productivity tasks, such as spreadsheet manipulation, web browsing, and document editing, are not demanding enough to stress this processor. The single-core performance is more than sufficient for such workloads, but the 140 W TDP and lack of integrated graphics mean that users must pair it with a discrete GPU, adding system cost and complexity. The ECC memory support makes it attractive for users who require data integrity, such as those running financial models or scientific computations.

The near-identical average scores against the E-2246G and E-2186G suggest that users upgrading from those newer parts to the E5-1680 v4 would see no benefit, and vice versa. However, for users already on the Socket 2011-3 platform, this processor offers a viable upgrade path for multi-threaded tasks without changing motherboards.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread performance is instructive. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score of 12109 is 7.08 times the single-core score of 1709. This scaling factor is below the theoretical 8x maximum, indicating that the processor loses some efficiency when all 16 threads are active, likely due to power and thermal limits. The 4.00 GHz boost clock applies to single-core operation, while all-core boost is lower, which explains the sub-linear scaling.

In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score of 5085 is 7.09 times the single-core score of 717, a nearly identical ratio. The Cinebench R15 results show a similar pattern: 1220 divided by 172 equals 7.09. This consistent ratio across three benchmark versions confirms that the multi-threading efficiency is stable and predictable.

For real workloads, this means that tasks which scale well with multiple threads, such as rendering or compiling, will see substantial speedups from the E5-1680 v4. Conversely, workloads that rely heavily on single-thread performance, such as legacy applications or certain game engines, will be limited by the 1709 single-core score in Cinebench R23. The 20 MB of shared L3 cache helps mitigate some of the latency penalties in multi-threaded scenarios, but the single-thread results show that this is not a leader in that domain.

The 0.3% advantage over the E-2176G in average score suggests that the E5-1680 v4's extra threads (16 vs. presumably fewer on the E-2176G) offset any single-thread deficits. The data indicates that users should prioritize multi-threaded workloads when considering this processor.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 compare to the Intel Xeon E-2186G?

A: The E-2186G has an average score of 3511, which is 0.3% higher than the E5-1680 v4's 3502. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the E5-1680 v4 scores 12109, but the rival's specific per-test scores are not in the data.

Q: Does the E5-1680 v4 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, ECC memory is supported. The processor supports DDR4 memory in a quad-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

Q: What is the socket type and PCIe configuration?

A: The processor uses Intel Socket 2011-3. It provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes directly from the CPU.

Q: Is the E5-1680 v4 a good choice for modern gaming?

A: The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 1709, which is adequate but not exceptional. The 57th percentile overall ranking and multi-core focus suggest it is better suited for productivity than high-refresh-rate gaming.

Q: What is the production status and release date?

A: The E5-1680 v4 is end-of-life. It was released on 2016-06-19 and has a launch MSRP of $1723.

Q: How does the multi-core performance scale relative to single-core?

A: The multi-core to single-core ratio is approximately 7.08x in Cinebench R23 (12109 vs 1709), and similar ratios of 7.09x in R20 and 7.09x in R15, indicating consistent scaling across 16 threads.