Core i3-8300T vs Xeon E3-1290
Core i3-8300T
Xeon E3-1290
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8300T
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1290
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-8300T | Xeon E3-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-8300T | Xeon E3-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ 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 i3-8300T and Xeon E3-1290
Core i3-8300T
The Core i3-8300T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 5,378 points. Launch price was $138.
Xeon E3-1290
The Xeon E3-1290 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,429 points. Launch price was $885.
Processing Power
The Core i3-8300T packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1290's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-8300T versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1290 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1290 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i3-8300T uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1290 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8300T scores 5,378 against the Xeon E3-1290's 5,429 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E3-1290. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i3-8300T | Xeon E3-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 4 GHz+25% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,378 | 5,429 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-8300T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1290 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-8300T | Xeon E3-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-8300T) / not specified (Xeon E3-1290). The Core i3-8300T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E3-1290 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8300T targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i3-8300T | Xeon E3-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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