CPU
GPU
Core i7-2600
Xeon E3-1225 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 i7-2600 is positioned at rank 835 and the Xeon E3-1225 v3 is on rank 575, so the Xeon E3-1225 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 i7-2600
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1225 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($29) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+72%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($29) |
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 i7-2600 and Xeon E3-1225 v3
Core i7-2600
The Core i7-2600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (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: 5,346 points. Launch price was $247.
Xeon E3-1225 v3
The Xeon E3-1225 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,324 points. Launch price was $384.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2600 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1225 v3's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-2600 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E3-1225 v3 — a 5.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-2600 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i7-2600 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1225 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2600 scores 5,346 against the Xeon E3-1225 v3's 5,324 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-2600. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 3,648 vs 2,000 (58.4% advantage for the Core i7-2600). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 659 vs 1,108, a 50.8% lead for the Xeon E3-1225 v3 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,169 vs 3,324 (42.1% advantage for the Xeon E3-1225 v3). Both processors carry 8192 kB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+6% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+6% | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8192 kB (total) | 8192 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 5,346 | 5,324 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,648+82% | 2,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 659 | 1,108+68% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,169 | 3,324+53% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2600 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1225 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H61,H67,P67,Z68,H77,Z77 (Core i7-2600) and C226,B85,Q87,H81,Z87 (Xeon E3-1225 v3).
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 2000 (Core i7-2600) and HD Graphics P4600 (Xeon E3-1225 v3) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2600 targets Productivity, Xeon E3-1225 v3 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-2600 rivals FX-8350; Xeon E3-1225 v3 rivals Core i5-4570.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | HD Graphics P4600 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Productivity | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-2600 launched at $294 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1225 v3 debuted at $224. At current prices ($50 vs $29), the Xeon E3-1225 v3 is $21 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-2600 delivers 106.9 pts/$ vs 183.6 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1225 v3 — making the Xeon E3-1225 v3 the 52.8% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $294 | $224-24% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $29-42% |
| Performance per Dollar | 106.9 | 183.6+72% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2013 |
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