Core i3-1215U vs Xeon E5-4640 v3
Core i3-1215U
Xeon E5-4640 v3
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 E5-4640 v3 is on rank 1007, so the Core i3-1215U 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 E5-4640 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-1215U | Xeon E5-4640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-1215U | Xeon E5-4640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) |
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 E5-4640 v3
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 E5-4640 v3
The Xeon E5-4640 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,372 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i3-1215U packs 6 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-4640 v3 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-4640 v3 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-1215U versus 2.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-4640 v3 — a 51.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-1215U (base: 1.2 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Core i3-1215U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon E5-4640 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-1215U scores 10,281 against the Xeon E5-4640 v3's 10,372 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E5-4640 v3. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,079 vs 750, a 94% lead for the Core i3-1215U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Core i3-1215U vs 30 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-4640 v3.
| Feature | Core i3-1215U | Xeon E5-4640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 8 | 12 / 24+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+69% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 1.9 GHz+58% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total) | 30 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-68% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-U (2022) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 10,281 | 10,372 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,079+177% | 750 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 7,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-1215U uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E5-4640 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-5200 on the Core i3-1215U versus DDR4-1866 on the Xeon E5-4640 v3 — the Core i3-1215U supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-4640 v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i3-1215U) vs 4 (Xeon E5-4640 v3). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i3-1215U) vs 40 (Xeon E5-4640 v3) — the Xeon E5-4640 v3 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-1215U | Xeon E5-4640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-5200+25% | DDR4-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 768 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 40+100% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-1215U) vs Yes (Xeon E5-4640 v3). The Core i3-1215U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU)), while the Xeon E5-4640 v3 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 E5-4640 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (64 EU) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | Yes |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
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