Core i3-3220 vs Xeon E3-1220L
Core i3-3220
Xeon E3-1220L
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 i3-3220 is positioned at rank 804 and the Xeon E3-1220L is on rank 812, so the Core i3-3220 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3220
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220L
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($27) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3220 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+224%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($88) | ✅ More affordable ($27) |
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 i3-3220 and Xeon E3-1220L
Core i3-3220
The Core i3-3220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,276 points. Launch price was $117.
Xeon E3-1220L
The Xeon E3-1220L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,263 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-3220 and Xeon E3-1220L share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-3220 versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L — a 3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i3-3220 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3220 scores 2,276 against the Xeon E3-1220L's 2,263 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-3220. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+50% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,276 | 2,263 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 503 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1155 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3220) / not specified (Xeon E3-1220L). The Core i3-3220 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2500), while the Xeon E3-1220L requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3220 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3220 rivals FX-4300.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2500 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-3220 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1220L debuted at $189. At current prices ($88 vs $27), the Xeon E3-1220L is $61 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-3220 delivers 25.9 pts/$ vs 83.8 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1220L — making the Xeon E3-1220L the 105.7% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-3220 | Xeon E3-1220L |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117-38% | $189 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $88 | $27-69% |
| Performance per Dollar | 25.9 | 83.8+224% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2011 |
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