Core i7-2600 vs Xeon E3-1240
Core i7-2600
Xeon E3-1240
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 E3-1240 is on rank 627, so the Xeon E3-1240 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 E3-1240
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1240 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($39) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+29%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($39) |
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 E3-1240
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 E3-1240
The Xeon E3-1240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,361 points. Launch price was $209.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-2600 and Xeon E3-1240 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-2600 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1240 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-2600 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i7-2600 scores 5,346 against the Xeon E3-1240's 5,361 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E3-1240. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Core i7-2600 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1240.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+3% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+3% | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8192 kB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,346 | 5,361 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,648 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 659 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,169 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1155 socket with PCIe 2.0.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1240 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-2600) / not specified (Xeon E3-1240). The Core i7-2600 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Xeon E3-1240 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-2600 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-2600 rivals FX-8350.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1240 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Productivity | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-2600 launched at $294 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1240 debuted at $273. At current prices ($50 vs $39), the Xeon E3-1240 is $11 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-2600 delivers 106.9 pts/$ vs 137.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1240 — making the Xeon E3-1240 the 25% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-2600 | Xeon E3-1240 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $294 | $273-7% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $39-22% |
| Performance per Dollar | 106.9 | 137.5+29% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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