CPU
GPU
Core i7-980
Xeon E3-1265L v4
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 i7-980 is positioned at rank 966 and the Xeon E3-1265L v4 is on rank 674, so the Xeon E3-1265L v4 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-980
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1265L v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-980 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-DT (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-980 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+59%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 i7-980 and Xeon E3-1265L v4
Core i7-980
The Core i7-980 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,890 points. Launch price was $1,109.
Xeon E3-1265L v4
The Xeon E3-1265L 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 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 6,954 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-980 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1265L v4 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-980 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-980 versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E3-1265L v4 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-980 (base: 3.33 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i7-980 uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1265L v4 uses Broadwell-DT (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-980 scores 6,890 against the Xeon E3-1265L v4's 6,954 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E3-1265L v4. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-980 vs 6 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1265L v4.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+9% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.33 GHz+45% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+100% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Broadwell-DT (2015) |
| PassMark | 6,890 | 6,954 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 4,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 900 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-980 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1265L v4 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 5.0+150% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-980) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E3-1265L v4). The Xeon E3-1265L v4 includes integrated graphics (Iris Pro Graphics P6300), while the Core i7-980 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E3-1265L v4 targets Server.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Pro Graphics P6300 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-980 launched at $583 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1265L v4 debuted at $417. At current prices ($50 vs $80), the Core i7-980 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-980 delivers 137.8 pts/$ vs 86.9 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1265L v4 — making the Core i7-980 the 45.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-980 | Xeon E3-1265L v4 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $583 | $417-28% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-38% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 137.8+59% | 86.9 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2015 |
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