A8-3500M vs Xeon E3-1220L v3

A8-3500M vs Xeon E3-1220L v3 Performance Spectrum

A8-3500M

4 / 4

1,391

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Xeon E3-1220L v3

2 / 4

1,407

+1.2%

Celeron B820

Pentium Dual-Core E2180

About PassMark

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.

A8-3500M vs Xeon E3-1220L v3 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A8-3500M vs Xeon E3-1220L v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A8-3500M

2011

Why buy it

✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6620G, while Xeon E3-1220L v3 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,391 vs 1,407).
❌118.8% higher power demand at 35W vs 16W.

Xeon E3-1220L v3

2013

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 16W instead of 35W, a 19W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $193 MSRP, while A8-3500M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while A8-3500M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1220L v3 better than A8-3500M?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1220L v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while A8-3500M is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E3-1220L v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Xeon E3-1220L v3 is the better buy right now. Xeon E3-1220L v3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $193 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1.2% better PassMark. The compromise is that A8-3500M is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.9% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon E3-1220L v3 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A8-3500M vs Xeon E3-1220L v3 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A8-3500M

The A8-3500M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,391 points. Launch price was $90.

Xeon E3-1220L v3

The Xeon E3-1220L v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4096 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,407 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The A8-3500M packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3500M has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the A8-3500M versus 1.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L v3 — a 46.2% clock advantage for the A8-3500M (base: 1.5 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The A8-3500M uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A8-3500M scores 1,391 against the Xeon E3-1220L v3's 1,407 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1220L v3. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A8-3500M vs 4096 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L v3.

Feature	A8-3500M	Xeon E3-1220L v3
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz+60%	1.5 GHz
Base Clock	1.5 GHz+36%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	4096 kB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark	1,391	1,407+1%
Geekbench 6 Single	231	—

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Memory & Platform

The A8-3500M uses the FS1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the A8-3500M versus DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E3-1220L v3 — the Xeon E3-1220L v3 supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E3-1220L v3 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (A8-3500M) vs 16 (Xeon E3-1220L v3) — the A8-3500M offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	A8-3500M	Xeon E3-1220L v3
Socket	FS1	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A8-3500M) vs VT-P (Xeon E3-1220L v3). The A8-3500M includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6620G), while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3500M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A8-3500M rivals Core i3-2310M.