Intel Xeon E5 E5-2696 V4 22-core LGA2011-3
The 22-core Broadwell-EP chip delivers strong multi-threaded throughput with a 55MB L3 cache, making it a cost-effective option for dense compute on the LGA2011-3 platform. It is functionally identical to the retail E5-2699 V4, offering the same 2.2GHz base and 3.6GHz boost clocks but was originally sold as an OEM-only part, which now provides a value advantage on the used market. This processor is best for homelab operators and small businesses upgrading dual-socket servers for virtualization or high-thread-count productivity workloads.
Resumen
The 30-Second Version
22 cores of Broadwell fury for pocket change. Buy it for servers and rendering, skip it for gaming.
Pros & Cons
Ventajas
- 22 cores and 44 threads for under $300 used is absurd value 84th
- 55MB of L3 cache keeps heavily threaded workloads fed 79th
- ECC DDR4 support means real server reliability 71st
- Identical to the E5-2699v4, so you're not missing anything
Desventajas
- Single-thread performance is painfully average
- 150W TDP needs serious cooling and a beefy PSU
- LGA2011-3 motherboards are getting harder to find
- PCIe 3.0 only, no modern NVMe bandwidth
Opinión de los propietarios
The Word on the Street
Las pruebas
Performance
The multi-thread score of 24,517 in PassMark puts this chip in the top 20% of everything we track, and that's the story here. 22 cores and 44 threads chew through renders, VMs, and AI inference tasks without breaking a sweat. Single-thread is a different story, 2,113 is about average, and that 2.2GHz base clock means lightly threaded apps feel sluggish compared to anything modern. The 3.6GHz boost helps, but this is a workhorse, not a sprinter.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Brand | Intel |
| Series | Xeon |
| Model | E5-2696 V4 |
| Codename | Broadwell |
| Class | server |
| Process | 14 |
Cores & Clocks
| Cores | 22 |
| Threads | 44 |
| Base Clock | 2200 |
| Boost Clock | 3600 |
Cache
| L2 Cache | 5.5 |
| L3 Cache | 55 MB |
Performance
| PassMark Multi | 24517 |
| PassMark Single | 2113 |
Memory
| Memory Type | DDR4 |
| ECC | Yes |
Platform & Power
| Socket | LGA2011-3 |
| PCIe | 3 |
| TDP | 150 |
vs Competition
Against the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the Xeon wins on core count and multi-threaded throughput, but loses badly on single-thread and gaming. The 9800X3D is a gaming monster with modern platform features, while the Xeon is a productivity workhorse. The Lenovo Ryzen 5 spare part is a different animal entirely, a budget OEM chip that can't touch the Xeon's core count. For pure threaded workloads like rendering or virtualization, the Xeon is the better buy. For anything interactive or gaming, get the Ryzen.
| Spec | Intel Xeon E5 E5-2696 V4 | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | SMC EPYC 9555P | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Xeon P67080-B21 | D&H Core i9 BX80673I99960X | MICRO CENTER 9950X3DMAGX870ETMKWF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 22 | 8 | 64 | 16 | 16 | - |
| Threads | 44 | 16 | 128 | 32 | 32 | - |
| Boost Clock Mhz | 3600 | 5200 | 4400 | 3900 | 4400 | - |
| L3 Cache Mb | 55 | 96 | 256 | 37.5 | 22 | - |
| Tdp W | 150 | 120 | 360 | 195 | 165 | - |
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | AM5 | AMD Socket SP5 | LGA 4677 | LGA 2066 | - |
| Integrated Graphics | - | AMD Radeon Graphics | - | No | - | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Producto | AI | Feature | Platform | Efficiency | Multi Thread | Valoración social | Affordability | Single Thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Xeon E5 E5-2696 V4 | 83.6 | 46.7 | 50.6 | 70.8 | 78.9 | 49.7 | 29.1 | 58.4 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Compare | 91.3 | 98.5 | 95.2 | 88.1 | 88.7 | 96.5 | 23.6 | 94.7 |
| SMC EPYC 9555P Compare | 99.3 | 77.1 | 96.8 | 88.9 | 99.4 | 0 | 0.4 | 85.2 |
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise Xeon P67080-B21 Compare | 91.8 | 77.1 | 90.7 | 78.1 | 89.4 | 0 | 2.7 | 79.7 |
| D&H Core i9 BX80673I99960X Compare | 88.6 | 62.6 | 81.4 | 73.8 | 84.2 | 70.6 | 17.5 | 73 |
| MICRO CENTER 9950X3DMAGX870ETMKWF Compare | 85.2 | 20.4 | 17.9 | 65.7 | 96.9 | 0 | 6.5 | 98.2 |
Precio
Value & Pricing
If you can find one around $250 USD, this is a no-brainer for a home lab or budget workstation. You're getting flagship server silicon from a few years ago for the price of a mid-range Ryzen 5. The catch is the platform cost, X99 boards aren't cheap, and you'll need quad-channel DDR4 to feed 22 cores properly. Still, for raw multi-threaded performance per dollar, this is hard to beat.
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Price History
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Overview
The Intel Xeon E5-2696v4 is a 22-core Broadwell monster that still makes sense in 2025 if you need cheap, massive multi-threaded grunt on the LGA2011-3 platform. This is the OEM twin of the E5-2699v4, same cores, same cache, same clocks, just a different part number. At around $250 USD used, you're getting server-grade muscle that absolutely crushes modern budget chips in heavily threaded workloads, as long as you can live with old PCIe 3.0 and DDR4.
Common Questions
Q: Is the E5-2696v4 the same as the E5-2699v4?
Yes, they're identical silicon. Intel just used different part numbers for retail versus OEM channels. Same cores, cache, clocks, everything.
Q: Can I game on this processor?
You can, but it's not great. The low base clock and average single-thread performance will hold back modern GPUs in most games. This is a productivity chip first.
Q: What motherboard do I need?
Any LGA2011-3 board with X99 or C612 chipset. Make sure it supports 22-core Broadwell-EP chips with a BIOS update, and plan for quad-channel DDR4 to get the most out of it.
Who Should Skip This
If you're building a gaming PC or a general-use desktop, this isn't it. The single-thread performance is mediocre and the platform is old. Go get a Ryzen 5 or Core i5 instead, you'll be much happier with snappy everyday performance and modern features.
Verdict
The E5-2696v4 is a fantastic buy for the right person. If you're building a budget server, a virtualization box, or a rendering rig and you don't care about single-thread speed, this is one of the best values on the used market. Just know what you're getting into: old platform, high power draw, and mediocre single-core performance. For the price, though, it's hard to complain.
