
Core i3-3250 vs Xeon D-1602

Core i3-3250

Xeon D-1602
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 i3-3250 is positioned at rank 846 and the Xeon D-1602 is on rank 799, so the Xeon D-1602 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3250
Performance Per Dollar Xeon D-1602
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3250 | Xeon D-1602 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3250 | Xeon D-1602 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i3-3250 and Xeon D-1602

Core i3-3250
The Core i3-3250 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 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: DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,460 points. Launch price was $138.

Xeon D-1602
The Xeon D-1602 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1667. Thermal design power (TDP): 27 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,459 points. Launch price was $106.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-3250 and Xeon D-1602 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i3-3250 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon D-1602 — a 9% clock advantage for the Core i3-3250 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i3-3250 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon D-1602 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3250 scores 2,460 against the Xeon D-1602's 2,459 — a 0% lead for the Core i3-3250. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3250 vs 3 MB on the Xeon D-1602.
| Feature | Core i3-3250 | Xeon D-1602 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+9% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+40% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,460 | 2,459 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3250 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon D-1602 uses FCBGA1667 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-3250 | Xeon D-1602 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1667 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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