Core i7-3615QE vs Xeon E3-1280
Core i7-3615QE
Xeon E3-1280
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 i7-3615QE is positioned at rank 997 and the Xeon E3-1280 is on rank 517, so the Xeon E3-1280 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3615QE
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1280
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3615QE | Xeon E3-1280 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3615QE | Xeon E3-1280 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ 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 i7-3615QE and Xeon E3-1280
Core i7-3615QE
The Core i7-3615QE 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 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: unknown Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 5,617 points. Launch price was $149.
Xeon E3-1280
The Xeon E3-1280 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 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (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: 5,612 points. Launch price was $450.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-3615QE and Xeon E3-1280 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-3615QE versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-3615QE uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1280 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3615QE scores 5,617 against the Xeon E3-1280's 5,612 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-3615QE. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i7-3615QE vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1280.
| Feature | Core i7-3615QE | Xeon E3-1280 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.9 GHz+18% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.5 GHz+52% |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total) | 8 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,617 | 5,612 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3615QE uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1280 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3615QE | Xeon E3-1280 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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