Core i3-1215U vs Xeon E5-1660 v2
Core i3-1215U
Xeon E5-1660 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 Core i3-1215U is positioned at rank 606 and the Xeon E5-1660 v2 is on rank 352, so the Xeon E5-1660 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-1215U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1660 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-1215U | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-E (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-1215U | Xeon E5-1660 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 Core i3-1215U and Xeon E5-1660 v2
Core i3-1215U
The Core i3-1215U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,281 points. Launch price was $149.
Xeon E5-1660 v2
The Xeon E5-1660 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-E (2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 10,332 points. Launch price was $1,809.
Processing Power
The Core i3-1215U packs 6 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E5-1660 v2's 6 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-1215U versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v2 — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-1215U (base: 1.2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i3-1215U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-E (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-1215U scores 10,281 against the Xeon E5-1660 v2's 10,332 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-1660 v2. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Core i3-1215U vs 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660 v2.
| Feature | Core i3-1215U | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 8 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+10% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz+208% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total) | 15 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-68% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-U (2022) | Ivy Bridge-E (2013) |
| PassMark | 10,281 | 10,332 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,079 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-1215U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-1215U | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-5200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-1215U) / not specified (Xeon E5-1660 v2). The Core i3-1215U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU)), while the Xeon E5-1660 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-1215U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-1215U rivals Ryzen 3 5425U.
| Feature | Core i3-1215U | Xeon E5-1660 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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