Core i5-8250U vs Xeon E3-1265L v3
Core i5-8250U
Xeon E3-1265L 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 i5-8250U is positioned at rank 860 and the Xeon E3-1265L v3 is on rank 610, so the Xeon E3-1265L v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8250U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1265L v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8250U | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($398) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8250U | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($398) |
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 i5-8250U and Xeon E3-1265L v3
Core i5-8250U
The Core i5-8250U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 6,158 points. Launch price was $297.
Xeon E3-1265L v3
The Xeon E3-1265L v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,187 points. Launch price was $710.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-8250U and Xeon E3-1265L v3 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-8250U versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1265L v3 — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1265L v3 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-8250U uses the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1265L v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8250U scores 6,158 against the Xeon E3-1265L v3's 6,187 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1265L v3. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,127 vs 996, a 12.3% lead for the Core i5-8250U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-8250U vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1265L v3.
| Feature | Core i5-8250U | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.7 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.5 GHz+56% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8192 kB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 6,158 | 6,187 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,127+13% | 996 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,458 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8250U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1265L v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Core i5-8250U versus DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E3-1265L v3 — the Core i5-8250U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i5-8250U) vs 16 (Xeon E3-1265L v3) — the Xeon E3-1265L v3 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Kaby Lake-R (Core i5-8250U) and C220 Series,Intel 80 Series (Xeon E3-1265L v3).
| Feature | Core i5-8250U | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400+33% | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8250U) vs Yes (Xeon E3-1265L v3). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 620 (Core i5-8250U) and HD Graphics P4600 (Xeon E3-1265L v3) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8250U targets Mainstream Laptop, Xeon E3-1265L v3 targets Server. Direct competitor: Core i5-8250U rivals Ryzen 5 2500U.
| Feature | Core i5-8250U | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 620 | HD Graphics P4600 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | Yes |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | Server |
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