
Core i7-3612QE vs Xeon D-1520

Core i7-3612QE

Xeon D-1520
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 i7-3612QE is positioned at rank 1042 and the Xeon D-1520 is on rank 565, so the Xeon D-1520 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3612QE
Performance Per Dollar Xeon D-1520
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3612QE | Xeon D-1520 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3612QE | Xeon D-1520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ 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 i7-3612QE and Xeon D-1520

Core i7-3612QE
The Core i7-3612QE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: unknown Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,929 points. Launch price was $69.

Xeon D-1520
The Xeon D-1520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (per core). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1667. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,917 points. Launch price was $199.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-3612QE and Xeon D-1520 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i7-3612QE versus 2.6 GHz on the Xeon D-1520 — a 17.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-3612QE (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-3612QE uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon D-1520 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3612QE scores 4,929 against the Xeon D-1520's 4,917 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-3612QE. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i7-3612QE vs 1.5 MB (per core) on the Xeon D-1520.
| Feature | Core i7-3612QE | Xeon D-1520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+19% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.2 GHz+5% |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total)+300% | 1.5 MB (per core) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,929 | 4,917 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 640 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,200 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3612QE uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon D-1520 uses FCBGA1667 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3612QE | Xeon D-1520 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | FCBGA1667 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-3612QE) / not specified (Xeon D-1520). The Core i7-3612QE includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Xeon D-1520 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-3612QE targets Industrial/Embedded.
| Feature | Core i7-3612QE | Xeon D-1520 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Industrial/Embedded | — |
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