Core i7-7660U vs Xeon E3-1260L
Core i7-7660U
Xeon E3-1260L
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 i7-7660U is positioned at rank 550 and the Xeon E3-1260L is on rank 750, so the Core i7-7660U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-7660U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1260L
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-7660U | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($270) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-7660U | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($270) |
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 i7-7660U and Xeon E3-1260L
Core i7-7660U
The Core i7-7660U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,059 points. Launch price was $415.
Xeon E3-1260L
The Xeon E3-1260L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,076 points. Launch price was $150.
Processing Power
The Core i7-7660U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1260L offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E3-1260L has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-7660U versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E3-1260L — a 19.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-7660U (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-7660U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1260L uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7660U scores 4,059 against the Xeon E3-1260L's 4,076 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon E3-1260L. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-7660U vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1260L.
| Feature | Core i7-7660U | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+21% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+4% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 8 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 4,059 | 4,076 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,759 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,150 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,285 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-7660U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1260L uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-7660U | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-7660U) / not specified (Xeon E3-1260L). The Core i7-7660U includes integrated graphics (Iris Plus 640), while the Xeon E3-1260L requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-7660U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-7660U rivals Core i5-8250U.
| Feature | Core i7-7660U | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Iris Plus 640 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Productivity | — |
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