A8-3850 vs Xeon E3-1220L v2
A8-3850
Xeon E3-1220L v2
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The A8-3850 is positioned at rank 497 and the Xeon E3-1220L v2 is on rank 810, so the A8-3850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A8-3850
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220L v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A8-3850 | Xeon E3-1220L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A8-3850 | Xeon E3-1220L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of A8-3850 and Xeon E3-1220L v2
A8-3850
The A8-3850 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 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,421 points. Launch price was $90.
Xeon E3-1220L v2
The Xeon E3-1220L v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,397 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The A8-3850 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the A8-3850 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L v2 — a 18.8% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L v2 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The A8-3850 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A8-3850 scores 2,421 against the Xeon E3-1220L v2's 2,397 — a 1% lead for the A8-3850. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A8-3850 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L v2.
| Feature | A8-3850 | Xeon E3-1220L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3.5 GHz+21% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+26% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,421+1% | 2,397 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 363 | — |
Memory & Platform
The A8-3850 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | A8-3850 | Xeon E3-1220L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (A8-3850) / not specified (Xeon E3-1220L v2). The A8-3850 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6550D), while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3850 targets Mainstream Desktop. Direct competitor: A8-3850 rivals Core i3-2105.
| Feature | A8-3850 | Xeon E3-1220L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 6550D | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Desktop | — |
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