Core i7-990X vs Xeon E3-1245 v3
Core i7-990X
Xeon E3-1245 v3
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 i7-990X is positioned at rank 1046 and the Xeon E3-1245 v3 is on rank 737, so the Xeon E3-1245 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-990X
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1245 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-990X | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($225) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($490) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-990X | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+121%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($225) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($490) |
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 i7-990X and Xeon E3-1245 v3
Core i7-990X
The Core i7-990X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.46 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 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: 7,135 points. Launch price was $1,104.
Xeon E3-1245 v3
The Xeon E3-1245 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 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,036 points. Launch price was $320.
Processing Power
The Core i7-990X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1245 v3 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-990X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.73 GHz on the Core i7-990X versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1245 v3 — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1245 v3 (base: 3.46 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-990X uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1245 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-990X scores 7,135 against the Xeon E3-1245 v3's 7,036 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i7-990X. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-990X vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1245 v3.
| Feature | Core i7-990X | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz | 3.8 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.46 GHz+2% | 3.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8192 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 7,135+1% | 7,036 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,203 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,820 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-990X uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1245 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-990X | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-990X) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E3-1245 v3). The Xeon E3-1245 v3 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics P4600), while the Core i7-990X requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-990X | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics P4600 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-990X launched at $999 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1245 v3 debuted at $490. At current prices ($225 vs $490), the Core i7-990X is $265 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-990X delivers 31.7 pts/$ vs 14.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1245 v3 — making the Core i7-990X the 75.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-990X | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $999 | $490-51% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $225-54% | $490 |
| Performance per Dollar | 31.7+120% | 14.4 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2013 |
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