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.

Xeon 6517P

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.6% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+92% larger total L3 cache (72 MB vs 38 MB).
✅Costs $5,424 less on MSRP ($1,195 MSRP vs $6,619 MSRP).
✅Delivers 458.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 40.8 vs 7.3 PassMark/$ ($1,195 MSRP vs $6,619 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA4710 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2011 and older memory support.

Trade-offs

❌46.2% higher power demand at 190W vs 130W.

Xeon E7-4880 v2

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 130W instead of 190W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon 6517P across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (48,435 vs 48,810).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (38 MB vs 72 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.3 vs 40.8 PassMark/$ ($6,619 MSRP vs $1,195 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA2011, while Xeon 6517P moves to LGA4710 and DDR5.

Xeon 6517P

2025

Xeon E7-4880 v2

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.6% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+92% larger total L3 cache (72 MB vs 38 MB).
✅Costs $5,424 less on MSRP ($1,195 MSRP vs $6,619 MSRP).
✅Delivers 458.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 40.8 vs 7.3 PassMark/$ ($1,195 MSRP vs $6,619 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA4710 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2011 and older memory support.

Why buy it

✅Draws 130W instead of 190W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌46.2% higher power demand at 190W vs 130W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon 6517P across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (48,435 vs 48,810).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (38 MB vs 72 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.3 vs 40.8 PassMark/$ ($6,619 MSRP vs $1,195 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on LGA2011, while Xeon 6517P moves to LGA4710 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon 6517P better than Xeon E7-4880 v2?

Yes. Xeon 6517P is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 15.6% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon 6517P is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 15.6% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon 6517P is the better fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 92% larger total L3 cache (72 MB vs 38 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon 6517P is the smarter buy today. Xeon 6517P is $5,424 cheaper on MSRP at $1,195 MSRP versus $6,619 MSRP, and it gives you a 15.6% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 458.2% better value on MSRP (40.8 vs 7.3 PassMark/$), 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?

Xeon 6517P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2014), a healthier platform with LGA4710 and DDR5 instead of LGA2011, 92% larger total L3 cache (72 MB vs 38 MB), more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 32 threads instead of 15/30, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. 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.

Xeon 6517P Benchmark Check

Xeon E7-4880 v2 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Xeon 6517P	Xeon E7-4880 v2
1080p
low	192 FPS	182 FPS
medium	153 FPS	145 FPS
high	123 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	97 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	157 FPS	150 FPS
medium	122 FPS	116 FPS
high	95 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	72 FPS	70 FPS
medium	60 FPS	58 FPS
high	47 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	37 FPS

Open Xeon 6517P Open Xeon E7-4880 v2

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Xeon 6517P	Xeon E7-4880 v2
1080p
low	559 FPS	368 FPS
medium	488 FPS	324 FPS
high	396 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	353 FPS	215 FPS
1440p
low	483 FPS	317 FPS
medium	426 FPS	282 FPS
high	357 FPS	237 FPS
ultra	299 FPS	183 FPS
4K
low	302 FPS	198 FPS
medium	270 FPS	178 FPS
high	244 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	220 FPS	121 FPS

Open Xeon 6517P Open Xeon E7-4880 v2

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Xeon 6517P	Xeon E7-4880 v2
1080p
low	1025 FPS	912 FPS
medium	986 FPS	797 FPS
high	910 FPS	755 FPS
ultra	824 FPS	671 FPS
1440p
low	859 FPS	732 FPS
medium	755 FPS	631 FPS
high	697 FPS	597 FPS
ultra	626 FPS	531 FPS
4K
low	541 FPS	472 FPS
medium	442 FPS	372 FPS
high	389 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	319 FPS	271 FPS

Open Xeon 6517P Open Xeon E7-4880 v2

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Xeon 6517P	Xeon E7-4880 v2
1080p
low	1022 FPS	1088 FPS
medium	916 FPS	960 FPS
high	782 FPS	813 FPS
ultra	672 FPS	677 FPS
1440p
low	788 FPS	876 FPS
medium	689 FPS	750 FPS
high	586 FPS	632 FPS
ultra	504 FPS	521 FPS
4K
low	563 FPS	634 FPS
medium	501 FPS	552 FPS
high	441 FPS	476 FPS
ultra	377 FPS	397 FPS

Open Xeon 6517P Open Xeon E7-4880 v2

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon 6517P and Xeon E7-4880 v2

Xeon 6517P

The Xeon 6517P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 72 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 3 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4710. Thermal design power (TDP): 190 Watt. Memory support: DDR5(6400MT/s). Passmark benchmark score: 48,810 points. Launch price was $1,195.

Xeon E7-4880 v2

The Xeon E7-4880 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 15 cores and 30 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 37.5 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 48,435 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Xeon 6517P packs 16 cores / 32 threads, while the Xeon E7-4880 v2 offers 15 cores / 30 threads — the Xeon 6517P has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Xeon 6517P versus 3.1 GHz on the Xeon E7-4880 v2 — a 30.1% clock advantage for the Xeon 6517P (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon 6517P is built on the Granite Rapids (2024−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon 6517P scores 48,810 against the Xeon E7-4880 v2's 48,435 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon 6517P. L3 cache: 72 MB (total) on the Xeon 6517P vs 37.5 MB on the Xeon E7-4880 v2.

Feature	Xeon 6517P	Xeon E7-4880 v2
Cores / Threads	16 / 32+7%	15 / 30
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+35%	3.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+28%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	72 MB (total)+92%	37.5 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	—
Process	Intel 3 nm-86%	22 nm
Architecture	Granite Rapids (2024−2025)	—
PassMark	48,810	48,435

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon 6517P uses the LGA4710 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E7-4880 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 6400 on the Xeon 6517P versus 1600 on the Xeon E7-4880 v2 — the Xeon 6517P supports 120% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon 6517P supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 1536 — 90.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (Xeon 6517P) vs 4 (Xeon E7-4880 v2). PCIe lanes: 88 (Xeon 6517P) vs 40 (Xeon E7-4880 v2) — the Xeon 6517P offers 48 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Granite Rapids-SP (Xeon 6517P) and C602-J (Xeon E7-4880 v2).

Feature	Xeon 6517P	Xeon E7-4880 v2
Socket	LGA4710	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	6400+300%	1600
Max RAM Capacity	4096+167%	1536
RAM Channels	8+100%	4
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	88+120%	40

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon 6517P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Direct competitor: Xeon 6517P rivals EPYC 9554; Xeon E7-4880 v2 rivals AMD Opteron 6380.

Feature	Xeon 6517P	Xeon E7-4880 v2
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	None	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Xeon 6517P launched at $1195 MSRP, while the Xeon E7-4880 v2 debuted at $6619. On MSRP ($1195 vs $6619), the Xeon 6517P is $5424 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon 6517P delivers 40.8 pts/$ vs 7.3 pts/$ for the Xeon E7-4880 v2 — making the Xeon 6517P the 139.2% better value option.