Xeon E3 and E5 Immortal monuments in the Workstation segment

Xeon E3 and E5 are two immortal monuments in the current CPU Workstation village. Even though they are old, they still assert their value. Today, let’s learn about their parameters and answer the question “What makes them legendary?”

Xeon E3 and E5: Why are they called legends?

Intel started using the names E3, E5, E7 along with their respective versions in 2011 under the Sandy Bridge and Westmere architectures. To explain further, Intel uses those names to classify Xeon CPU codes as follows:

E3: For Xeon CPUs that only support 1 socket

E5: For Xeon CPU codes that support 2-4 sockets

This classification was used until 2017. After that, Intel switched to names such as Xeon E, Xeon W, Xeon Bronze… Although those names have gone into the past, users will always remember the names call it, like a legend in the Xeon CPU village

Specifications of Xeon E3 and E5 CPUs

Before starting, I have a few small notes to send to readers:

I will only mention CPU models sold on the market. No mention of OEM codes

CPUs will be classified by architecture and arranged in order from few cores -> many cores.

Any box that says N/A means that criterion is not in the CPU code.

All of the CPUs below are capable of supporting ECC RAM

Sandy Bridge

Xeon E3 series

Process: 32nm

Codename: Sandy Bridge

Supported RAM standard: DDR3-1333, dual channel (all codes)

Supports installation on popular LGA1155 socket mainboards with 60-series, 70-series, C202, C204 and C206 chipsets

Only supports 1 socket configuration

Some models have iGPU Intel HD Graphics 2000 and P3000

Xeon E5 Series

In this section, I will only mention Sandy Bridge-EP because Sandy Bridge-EN is quite unknown and to save time.

 Code name: Sandy Bridge-EP

 Process: 32nm

 Maximum number of cores/threads: 8/16

 No iGPU

 Supported RAM standard: DDR3-1066/1333/1600, quad-channel

 Use LGA2011 socket mainboard, compatible with X79 and C602 mainboards

 E5-16xx can only be installed in a maximum of 1 socket. E5-26xx supports installation in up to 2 sockets. E5-46xx installs up to 4 sockets

E5-16xx

E5-26xx

E5-46xx

Ivy Bridge

Xeon E3 v2 series

 Process: 22nm

 Code name: Ivy Bridge

 RAM standard supported: DDR3-1600, dual channel (all codes are the same)

 Supports installation on popular LGA1155 socket mainboards with 60-series, 70-series and C216 chipsets

 Only supports 1 socket configuration

Some models have iGPU Intel HD Graphics 2500 and P4000

Xeon E5 v2 Series

Like the previous part, in this part I will only mention Ivy Bridge-EP because Ivy Bridge-EN is quite unknown and to save time.

 Code name: Ivy Bridge-EP

 Process: 22nm

 No iGPU

 Maximum number of cores/threads: 12/24

 Supported RAM standard: DDR3-1333/1600/1866, quad channel.

 Use LGA2011 mainboard, compatible with X79 and C602 mainboards

 E5-16xx v2 can only be installed in a maximum of 1 socket. E5-26xx v2 supports installation in up to 2 sockets. E5-46xx v2 fits up to 4 sockets

E5-16xx v2

E5-26xx v2

E5-46xx v2

Haswell

Xeon E3 v3 series

 Process: 22nm

 Code name: Haswell-WS

 Supported RAM standards: DDR3-1600 and DDR3L-1600, dual channel (all codes are the same)

 Supports installation on popular LGA1150 socket mainboards with 80-series, 90-series, C222, C224 and C226 chipsets

 Only supports 1 socket configuration

Some models have iGPU Intel HD Graphics P4600 and P4700

Xeon E5 v3 Series

Like the previous part, in this part I will only mention Haswell-EP because Haswell-EN is quite unknown and to save time.

 Code name: Haswell-EP

 Process: 22nm

 No iGPU

 Maximum number of cores/threads: 18/36

 Supported RAM standard: DDR4-1600/1866/2133, quad channel.

 Use mainboard LGA2011v3 (LGA2011-3), compatible with mainboards X99 and C612

 E5-16xx v3 can only be installed in a maximum of 1 socket. E5-26xx v3 supports installation in up to 2 sockets. E5-46xx v3 fits up to 4 sockets

E5-16xx v3

E5-26xx v3

Xeon 46xx v3

Broadwell

Xeon E3 v4 Series

 Process: 14nm

 Code name: Broadwell-H

 RAM standard supported: DDR3/DDR3L-1866, dual channel (all codes are the same)

 Supports installation on popular LGA1150 socket mainboards with 90-series chipset

 Only supports 1 socket configuration

All 3 models have iGPU Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300

Xeon E5 v4 series

 Code name: Broadwell-EP

 Process: 14 nm

 No iGPU

 Maximum number of cores/threads: 22/44

 Supported RAM standard: DDR4-1866/2133/2400, quad channel.

 Use mainboard LGA2011v3 (LGA2011-3), compatible with mainboards X99 and C612

 E5-16xx v4 can only be installed in a maximum of 1 socket. E5-26xx v4 supports installation in up to 2 sockets. E5-46xx v4 fits up to 4 sockets

E5-16xx v4

E5-26xx v4

E5-46xx v4

Skylake

Xeon E3 v5 series

 Code name: Skylake-S

 Process: 14nm+

 Supported RAM standard: DDR3L-1600 or DDR4-2133

 Supports LGA1151 socket mainboards using C232 and C236 chipsets. Not compatible with 100 and 200-series chipset motherboards

Some models support the Intel HD Graphics P530 iGPU

Kaby Lake

Xeon E3 v6 series

 Code name: Kaby Lake-S

 Process: 14nm++

 Supported RAM standard: DDR3L-1866 or DDR4-2400

 Supports LGA1151 socket mainboards using C232 and C236 chipsets. Not compatible with 100 and 200-series chipset motherboards

Some models support Intel HD Graphics P630 iGPU

The end of the Xeon E3 and E5 names

Starting from Coffee Lake architecture onwards, Intel officially abandoned the name Xeon E3. Instead, they simply call it Xeon E. As for the E5 series, it ends earlier. From Skylake architecture onwards, Intel has dropped the name Xeon E5. Replacing the Xeon E5 series (and E7) will be the Xeon W series (Skylake-W, socket LGA2066) and Xeon Scalable (Skylake-SP, socket LGA3647)

Epilogue

So we have learned everything about the life of two CPU lines that are considered “legendary” in the hearts of the PC enthusiast community. Even though those names are gone, their influence will live forever in our minds.