Core i7-8557U vs Xeon E3-1280 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.

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 i7-8557U is positioned at rank 802 and the Xeon E3-1280 v3 is on rank 496, so the Xeon E3-1280 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8557U

#790

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

1212%

#791

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

1195%

#792

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

1097%

#793

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

1092%

#794

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

1082%

#796

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

1045%

#797

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

1002%

#798

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

1000%

#799

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

973%

#802

Core i7-8557U

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#803

Core i7-1365UE

MSRP: $429|Avg: $429

100%

#805

3020e

MSRP: $100|Avg: $25

99%

#809

Athlon II M320

MSRP: $75|Avg: $15

99%

#810

Celeron B800

MSRP: $80|Avg: $5

99%

#811

Celeron B710

MSRP: $86|Avg: $10

99%

#813

Athlon II Neo K345

MSRP: $50|Avg: $10

98%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1280 v3

#1

Xeon Platinum 8454H

MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A

7164%

#6

Xeon Gold 6240R

MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A

1353%

#10

Xeon 6337P

MSRP: $60|Avg: $5

1202%

#15

EPYC 9174F

MSRP: $194|Avg: $30

928%

#309

Xeon W-2255

MSRP: $778|Avg: $350

100%

#310

Xeon Silver 4316

MSRP: $1126|Avg: $1200

100%

#311

Xeon w7-3545

MSRP: $2039|Avg: $2039

99%

#312

EPYC 7643P

MSRP: $2722|Avg: $2722

98%

#313

Xeon w5-3435X

MSRP: $1589|Avg: $163

98%

#314

Xeon Gold 6312U

MSRP: $1645|Avg: N/A

98%

#496

Xeon E3-1280 v3

MSRP: $250|Avg: $44

100%

#497

Xeon W-2123

MSRP: $294|Avg: $342

100%

#500

Xeon E3-1230 v2

MSRP: $215|Avg: $268

99%

#505

Xeon D-1521

MSRP: $199|Avg: $241

99%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Core i7-8557U (2019) utilizes 14 nm technology and DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Core i7-8557U	Xeon E3-1280 v3
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($44)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Xeon E3-1280 v3 (2013) relies on 22 nm technology and DDR3, DDR4, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Core i7-8557U	Xeon E3-1280 v3
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($44)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i7-8557U Benchmark Check

Xeon E3-1280 v3 Benchmark Check

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Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-8557U and Xeon E3-1280 v3

Core i7-8557U

The Core i7-8557U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,309 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon E3-1280 v3

The Xeon E3-1280 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 82 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,252 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-8557U and Xeon E3-1280 v3 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-8557U versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v3 — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-8557U (base: 1.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-8557U uses the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1280 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8557U scores 7,309 against the Xeon E3-1280 v3's 7,252 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-8557U. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i7-8557U vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1280 v3.

Feature	Core i7-8557U	Xeon E3-1280 v3
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+13%	4 GHz
Base Clock	1.7 GHz	3.6 GHz+112%
L3 Cache	8 MB	8192 kB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark	7,309	7,252

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-8557U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1280 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.