MaxxCobra,

In comparing the Xeon E5-1680 v2 and E5-2690 v2, the  Xeon E5-1680 v2 has two important advantages, one, that of a higher Turbo frequency of 3.9GHz, as compared to the E5-2690 v2, and  the capability of overclocking using the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU).  There is also some performance advantage in a using a single-configuration processor instead of a multiple configuration in that the synchronization of the data stream requires a one cycle parity check- the role or registered RAM and anecdotally, it appears that at the same clock speed in the same system, a multi-CPU design with ECC registered will not perform as well as a single CPU design using unbuffered RAM.

These advantages translate into both a higher single-thread performance and a higher average clock cycles per unit time, even though the E5-2690 v2 has ten cores to the E5-1680 v2's eight core.

The all-core clock speed is important too as, even with overclocking; the E5-1680 v2 will run at 3.4GHz and the E5-2690 v2 will run at 3.24GHz.

Single Thread:  The E5-1680 v2 has Passmark Performance Test Single Thread Mark (STM) = 2078. The average STM for the E5-2690 v2 = 1771.  In the office z420_3, running an E5-1680 v2 at 4.3GHz on all 8-cores, the STM = 2371. Although current applications are rapidly improving the multi-threading, the majority of applications emphasize the single-thread performance. Adobe products for example have been traditionally poorly threaded, and could not utilize multiple processors nor  GPU's.

CPU Mark:  Of the 187, E5-2690 v2 systems tested in Passmark Performance test, the top single processor Hewlett-Packard system (z620) has a CPU = 15125.  Of the 14, z420's tested using the E5-1680 v2, the best CPU, that of the  office z420_3 = 17007, due to the 8-cores @ 4.3Ghz . The  liquid cooling is required for a good all-core clock speed and z420_3  was using the Z420 AIO liquid cooler. Our Forum friend Brian1965 designed and built a special external liquid cooler and was able to run a z620 at 4.7GHz on 6-cores for an STM something over 2500.

HP z420_3 (2014) (Rev 5) > Xeon E5-1680 v2 (8-core@ 4.3GHz) / z420 Liquid Cooling / 64GB DDR3-1866 ECC Reg / Quadro P2000 5GB / HP Z Turbo Drive 256GB AHCI + Intel 730 480GB + HGST 7K6000 4TB / 600W PSU / Windows 7 Prof.’l 64-bit

[ Passmark Rating = 6227 / CPU rating = 17006 / 2D = 826 / 3D= 8877 / Mem = 3025 / Disk = 14577 / Single Thread Mark = 2373 [5.28.18]

By the way, when buying RAM for the subject system, strongly consider only buying matched RAM having the HP part number label on it. For the subject system use, 64GB or more is recommended.

BambiBoomZ