CPU
GPU
Core i7-3740QM
Xeon E3-1220 v5
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 i7-3740QM is positioned at rank 761 and the Xeon E3-1220 v5 is on rank 513, so the Xeon E3-1220 v5 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3740QM
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220 v5
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3740QM | Xeon E3-1220 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-DT (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3740QM | Xeon E3-1220 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) |
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 i7-3740QM and Xeon E3-1220 v5
Core i7-3740QM
The Core i7-3740QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 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: 5,710 points. Launch price was $378.
Xeon E3-1220 v5
The Xeon E3-1220 v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 5,713 points. Launch price was $203.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3740QM packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1220 v5's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-3740QM versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v5 — a 5.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-3740QM (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-3740QM uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220 v5 uses Skylake-DT (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3740QM scores 5,710 against the Xeon E3-1220 v5's 5,713 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1220 v5. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-3740QM vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220 v5.
| Feature | Core i7-3740QM | Xeon E3-1220 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+6% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Skylake-DT (2015) |
| PassMark | 5,710 | 5,713 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3740QM uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1220 v5 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3740QM | Xeon E3-1220 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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