Core i7-6700 vs Xeon E3-1285L v4

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.

Core i7-6700 vs Xeon E3-1285L v4 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-6700 vs Xeon E3-1285L v4: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-6700

2015

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E3-1285L v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (8,048 vs 8,092).
❌Launch MSRP is still $303 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1285L v4 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E3-1285L v4

2015

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1285L v4 better than Core i7-6700?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1285L v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-6700 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon E3-1285L v4 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E3-1285L v4 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon E3-1285L v4 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Xeon E3-1285L v4 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $303 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-6700 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2015 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (26.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon E3-1285L v4 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-6700 vs Xeon E3-1285L v4 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i7-6700

The Core i7-6700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,048 points. Launch price was $303.

Xeon E3-1285L v4

The Xeon E3-1285L v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 8,092 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-6700 and Xeon E3-1285L v4 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-6700 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1285L v4 — a 5.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-6700 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-6700 uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1285L v4 uses Broadwell-DT (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6700 scores 8,048 against the Xeon E3-1285L v4's 8,092 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1285L v4. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-6700 vs 6 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1285L v4.

Feature	Core i7-6700	Xeon E3-1285L v4
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4 GHz+5%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.4 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)+33%	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Broadwell-DT (2015)
PassMark	8,048	8,092

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-6700 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1285L v4 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.