Ryzen Z2 Go vs Xeon E5-2687W v2

AMD

Ryzen Z2 Go

4 Cores8 Thrd2 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2025

Popular choices:

VS
Intel

Xeon E5-2687W v2

8 Cores16 Thrd150 WWMax: 4 GHz2013

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen Z2 Go

2025

Why buy it

  • Draws 2W instead of 150W, a 148W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 680M, while Xeon E5-2687W v2 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2687W v2 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (12,188 vs 12,301).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 20 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2687W v2, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads.

Xeon E5-2687W v2

2013

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +7.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $2,112 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Go mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 7400% higher power demand at 150W vs 2W.
  • No integrated graphics, while Ryzen Z2 Go can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2687W v2 better than Ryzen Z2 Go?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E5-2687W v2 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen Z2 Go is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Xeon E5-2687W v2 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.1% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2687W v2 is the better fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Xeon E5-2687W v2 is the smarter buy today. Xeon E5-2687W v2 is at an unclear MSRP at $2,112 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 7.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (5.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen Z2 Go is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2013) and a healthier platform with a newer socket and DDR5 instead of LGA2011. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetRyzen Z2 GoXeon E5-2687W v2
1080p
low176 FPS174 FPS
medium139 FPS147 FPS
high112 FPS119 FPS
ultra89 FPS97 FPS
1440p
low145 FPS147 FPS
medium113 FPS121 FPS
high91 FPS96 FPS
ultra73 FPS77 FPS
4K
low77 FPS67 FPS
medium65 FPS59 FPS
high52 FPS46 FPS
ultra40 FPS37 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetRyzen Z2 GoXeon E5-2687W v2
1080p
low286 FPS308 FPS
medium241 FPS308 FPS
high216 FPS278 FPS
ultra184 FPS233 FPS
1440p
low249 FPS308 FPS
medium213 FPS290 FPS
high194 FPS246 FPS
ultra163 FPS204 FPS
4K
low195 FPS205 FPS
medium172 FPS188 FPS
high143 FPS170 FPS
ultra119 FPS139 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetRyzen Z2 GoXeon E5-2687W v2
1080p
low305 FPS308 FPS
medium305 FPS308 FPS
high305 FPS308 FPS
ultra305 FPS308 FPS
1440p
low305 FPS308 FPS
medium305 FPS308 FPS
high305 FPS308 FPS
ultra305 FPS308 FPS
4K
low305 FPS308 FPS
medium305 FPS308 FPS
high277 FPS308 FPS
ultra220 FPS308 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetRyzen Z2 GoXeon E5-2687W v2
1080p
low305 FPS308 FPS
medium305 FPS308 FPS
high305 FPS308 FPS
ultra305 FPS308 FPS
1440p
low305 FPS308 FPS
medium305 FPS308 FPS
high305 FPS308 FPS
ultra305 FPS308 FPS
4K
low305 FPS308 FPS
medium305 FPS308 FPS
high305 FPS308 FPS
ultra305 FPS308 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen Z2 Go and Xeon E5-2687W v2

AMD

Ryzen Z2 Go

The Ryzen Z2 Go is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Rembrandt R (2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 6 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 8 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 12,188 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Xeon E5-2687W v2

The Xeon E5-2687W v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 12,301 points. Launch price was $1,605.

Processing Power

The Ryzen Z2 Go packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2687W v2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2687W v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Go versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2687W v2 — a 7.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen Z2 Go (base: 3 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Ryzen Z2 Go uses the Rembrandt R (2025) architecture (6 nm), while the Xeon E5-2687W v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen Z2 Go scores 12,188 against the Xeon E5-2687W v2's 12,301 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5-2687W v2. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Go vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2687W v2.

FeatureRyzen Z2 GoXeon E5-2687W v2
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz+7%
4 GHz
Base Clock
3 GHz
3.4 GHz+13%
L3 Cache
8 MB
20 MB (total)+150%
L2 Cache
2 MB+700%
256 kB (per core)
Process
6 nm-73%
22 nm
Architecture
Rembrandt R (2025)
Ivy Bridge-EP (2013)
PassMark
12,188
12,301
Cinebench R23 Multi
5,802
Geekbench 6 Single
1,842
Geekbench 6 Multi
6,073
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: SVM (Ryzen Z2 Go) / not specified (Xeon E5-2687W v2). The Ryzen Z2 Go includes integrated graphics (Radeon 680M), while the Xeon E5-2687W v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen Z2 Go targets Budget. Direct competitor: Ryzen Z2 Go rivals Core Ultra 5 135U.

FeatureRyzen Z2 GoXeon E5-2687W v2
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon 680M
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
SVM
Target Use
Budget