Table of Contents
The Xeon E5‑2697 v4 is the most capable 18‑core SKU in the family. It only became widely available in 2023–2024; before that it was prohibitively expensive for home use.
Specifications
| Model | Xeon e5 2697 v4 |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 |
| Release Date | Q1 2016 |
| Architecture | Broadwell-EP, 14 nm |
| Cores / Threads | 18 / 36 |
| Memory support | DDR4-2400, 4-channel |
| Base Frequency | 2300 MHz |
| Max Turbo Frequency | 3600 MHz (1-2 Cores) 3400 MHz (3 Cores) 3300 MHz (4 Cores) 3200 MHz (5 Cores) 3100 MHz (6 Cores) 3000 MHz (7 Cores) 2900 MHz (8 Cores) 2800 MHz (9+ Cores) |
| Extensions & Features | MMX instructions SSE / Streaming SIMD Extensions SSE2 / Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 SSE3 / Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 SSSE3 / Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 SSE4 / SSE4.1 + SSE4.2 / Streaming SIMD Extensions 4 AES / Advanced Encryption Standard instructions AVX / Advanced Vector Extensions AVX2 / Advanced Vector Extensions 2.0 BMI / BMI1 + BMI2 / Bit Manipulation instructions F16C / 16-bit Floating-Point conversion instructions FMA3 / 3-operand Fused Multiply-Add instructions EM64T / Extended Memory 64 technology / Intel 64 HT / Hyper-Threading technology VT-x / Virtualization technology VT-d / Virtualization for directed I/O TBT 2.0 / Turbo Boost technology 2.0 TSX / Transactional Synchronization Extensions NX / XD / Execute disable bit ? TXT / Trusted Execution technology Enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology |
| AVX Offset | -1 |
| L3 Cache | 45 Mb |
| PCIe Lanes | 40, Gen 3.0 |
| TDP | 145 W |
| Maximum operating temperature (tcase) | 79°C |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| Integrated Graphics | None |
| CPUID | 0x406F1 |
| Approximate Price | AliExpress: $35 - $50 (Check Price) |
Key advantages in 2025:
- Many cores; excellent multithreaded performance
- Ability to operate in both single‑socket and dual‑socket configurations
- Moderate heat output; works with affordable 4+ heatpipe tower coolers
- Excellent price‑to‑performance ratio
- Wide availability on the used market
- Small AVX offset; cores running AVX instructions lose only 100 MHz
Limitations:
- Aging architecture; lower IPC versus modern CPUs
- Not suitable for budget boards with weak VRM
- Official memory ceiling of 2400 MT/s (quad‑channel helps bandwidth)
Overclocking Capability
The multiplier is locked, so overclocking is limited. A handful of high‑end X99/LGA2011‑3 boards can nudge BCLK, adding roughly 3–4% performance, but it won’t change the overall picture.
Performance and Tests
Eighteen Broadwell‑EP cores deliver an impressive level of multithreaded performance, but like the rest of the series the processor suffers from modest per‑core speed.
Cinebench R20, R23, and 2024
PassMark
Geekbench 6
Corona 1.3
Summary
| Xeon E5 2697a v4 | |
|---|---|
| Cinebench R20 | ~5700 |
| Cinebench R23 | ~14500 |
| Cinebench 2024 | ~890 |
| PassMark Multithread | ~21000 |
| GeekBench6 Multithread | ~9400 |
| Corona 1.3 | ~01:15 |
Even though a dual‑socket configuration is shown here, these tests give an idea of the model’s performance by comparing it with other v3 and v4 processors.
Synthetic and gaming tests, as well as a comparison with the E5‑2697A v4:
Gaming Performance
The E5‑2697 v4 does well in games that can leverage many cores, but don’t expect high frame rates in titles where single‑core performance is critical.
- Games up to 2020: 95% run well (60+ FPS), 5% are playable (40–60 FPS)
- Games 2020–2026: 80% run well (60+ FPS), 10% are playable (40–60 FPS), 10% are unplayable (low FPS, stutter, micro‑stutter)
Best‑matched GPUs for 1080p and 1440p: NVIDIA 1070 (Ti), 1660 (Super/Ti), 2060 (Super), 3060 (Ti); AMD RX 5600 XT, RX 5700 (XT), RX 6600 (XT), RX 7600 (XT).
Gaming performance with RTX 3060 12 GB:
Gaming performance with RTX 4060:
Close Alternatives
V3 series (TBU possible, but hotter and less power‑efficient; Haswell‑EP):
- Xeon E5-2698 v3 (16/32, up to 3.6 GHz, 40 MB L3)
- Xeon E5-2696 v3 / E5-2699 v3 (18/36, up to 3.8 GHz, 45 MB L3)
V4 series (TBU not possible, cooler and more power‑efficient; Broadwell‑EP):
- Xeon E5-2690 v4 (14/28, up to 3.5 GHz, 35 MB L3)
- Xeon E5-2697A v4 (16/32, up to 3.6 GHz, 40 MB L3)
- Xeon E5-2698 v4 (20/40, up to 3.6 GHz, 50 MB L3)
- Xeon E5-2696 v4 / E5-2699 v4 (22/44, up to 3.7 GHz, 55 MB L3)
Revisions
In addition to the final version with S‑spec code SR2JV, at least one pre‑release version QK7L is known. Both versions are stepping B0.
AMIBCP Incompatibility Warning
Be careful if you decide to modify the motherboard BIOS via AMIBCP. In most cases, after flashing a BIOS modified with the utility, systems with the E5‑2697 v4 may fail to boot, stopping at POST code 91.
This behavior is characteristic of many HCC (high core count) v4 processors, but its true causes are unknown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Turbo Boost Unlock (TBU) possible?
No, TBU is only possible on Haswell (v3) processors.
Is undervolting possible?
Typically only for QS models; most retail/OEM versions lock voltage control.
Is there solder or thermal paste under the lid?
There’s solder under the lid, as with the entire Xeon E5 v3/v4 lineup.
Is the processor compatible with Windows 11?
No, the Xeon E5‑2697 v4 is not officially supported by Windows 11, but it works fine if you bypass the CPU and TPM checks during installation.
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