Core i7-3720QM vs Xeon E3-1220 v6
Core i7-3720QM
Xeon E3-1220 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. The Core i7-3720QM is positioned at rank 50 and the Xeon E3-1220 v6 is on rank 718, so the Core i7-3720QM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3720QM
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220 v6
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3720QM | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3720QM | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 i7-3720QM and Xeon E3-1220 v6
Core i7-3720QM
The Core i7-3720QM 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 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,591 points. Launch price was $378.
Xeon E3-1220 v6
The Xeon E3-1220 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 5,589 points. Launch price was $193.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3720QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1220 v6's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-3720QM versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v6 — a 2.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-3720QM (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-3720QM uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220 v6 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3720QM scores 5,591 against the Xeon E3-1220 v6's 5,589 — a 0% lead for the Core i7-3720QM. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-3720QM vs 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1220 v6.
| Feature | Core i7-3720QM | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+3% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3 GHz+15% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 5,591 | 5,589 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3720QM uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1220 v6 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3720QM | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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