Core i5-8500 vs Xeon E3-1285 v6
Core i5-8500
Xeon E3-1285 v6
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 i5-8500
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1285 v6
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8500 | Xeon E3-1285 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($450) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-DT (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8500 | Xeon E3-1285 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+464%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($450) |
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 i5-8500 and Xeon E3-1285 v6
Core i5-8500
The Core i5-8500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,521 points. Launch price was $202.
Xeon E3-1285 v6
The Xeon E3-1285 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-DT (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 79 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 9,502 points. Launch price was $450.
Processing Power
The Core i5-8500 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Xeon E3-1285 v6 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-8500 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8500 versus 4.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1285 v6 — a 9.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1285 v6 (base: 3 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Core i5-8500 uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1285 v6 uses Kaby Lake-DT (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8500 scores 9,521 against the Xeon E3-1285 v6's 9,502 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-8500. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8500 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1285 v6.
| Feature | Core i5-8500 | Xeon E3-1285 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz | 4.5 GHz+10% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 4.1 GHz+37% |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total)+13% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) | Kaby Lake-DT (2017) |
| PassMark | 9,521 | 9,502 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1151 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i5-8500 | Xeon E3-1285 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-8500 launched at $192 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1285 v6 debuted at $450.
| Feature | Core i5-8500 | Xeon E3-1285 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $192-57% | $450 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80 | — |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2017 |
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