Core i7-6820HK vs Xeon E3-1231 v3

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 i7-6820HK vs Xeon E3-1231 v3 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 i7-6820HK vs Xeon E3-1231 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-6820HK

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 80W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E3-1231 v3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (7,012 vs 7,031).
❌Launch MSRP is still $378 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1231 v3 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon E3-1231 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌77.8% higher power demand at 80W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1231 v3 better than Core i7-6820HK?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1231 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-6820HK 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 E3-1231 v3 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 7.9% 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 E3-1231 v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Xeon E3-1231 v3 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Xeon E3-1231 v3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $378 MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-6820HK only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 7.9% in the shared gaming data.

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

Core i7-6820HK makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i7-6820HK vs Xeon E3-1231 v3 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-6820HK

The Core i7-6820HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,012 points. Launch price was $378.

Xeon E3-1231 v3

The Xeon E3-1231 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,031 points. Launch price was $240.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-6820HK and Xeon E3-1231 v3 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-6820HK versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1231 v3 — a 5.4% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1231 v3 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-6820HK uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1231 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6820HK scores 7,012 against the Xeon E3-1231 v3's 7,031 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E3-1231 v3. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i7-6820HK vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1231 v3.

Feature	Core i7-6820HK	Xeon E3-1231 v3
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	3.8 GHz+6%
Base Clock	2.7 GHz	3.4 GHz+26%
L3 Cache	8 MB	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark	7,012	7,031

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-6820HK uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1231 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.