Core i7-3930K vs Xeon E3-1280 v5
Core i7-3930K
Xeon E3-1280 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 i7-3930K is positioned at rank 917 and the Xeon E3-1280 v5 is on rank 354, so the Xeon E3-1280 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 i7-3930K
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1280 v5
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3930K | Xeon E3-1280 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-S (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3930K | Xeon E3-1280 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) | ✅ 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 i7-3930K and Xeon E3-1280 v5
Core i7-3930K
The Core i7-3930K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 November 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,204 points. Launch price was $611.
Xeon E3-1280 v5
The Xeon E3-1280 v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-S (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,254 points. Launch price was $612.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3930K packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1280 v5 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-3930K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-3930K versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v5 — a 5.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 v5 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i7-3930K uses the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1280 v5 uses Skylake-S (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3930K scores 8,204 against the Xeon E3-1280 v5's 8,254 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E3-1280 v5. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-3930K vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1280 v5.
| Feature | Core i7-3930K | Xeon E3-1280 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz+16% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) | Skylake-S (2015) |
| PassMark | 8,204 | 8,254 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 731 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3930K uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1280 v5 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3930K | Xeon E3-1280 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-3930K) / not specified (Xeon E3-1280 v5). Primary use case: Core i7-3930K targets HEDT Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3930K rivals FX-8350.
| Feature | Core i7-3930K | Xeon E3-1280 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | HEDT Desktop | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i7-3930K and Xeon E3-1280 v5
