FX-8100 vs Xeon E3-1260L
FX-8100
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 FX-8100 is positioned at rank 928 and the Xeon E3-1260L is on rank 750, so the Xeon E3-1260L offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FX-8100
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1260L
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | FX-8100 | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($270) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Zambezi (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | FX-8100 | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+443%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($50) | ⚠️ 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 FX-8100 and Xeon E3-1260L
FX-8100
The FX-8100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,095 points. Launch price was $69.
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 FX-8100 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E3-1260L offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the FX-8100 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the FX-8100 versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E3-1260L — a 11.4% clock advantage for the FX-8100 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The FX-8100 uses the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1260L uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the FX-8100 scores 4,095 against the Xeon E3-1260L's 4,076 — a 0.5% lead for the FX-8100. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | FX-8100 | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+12% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+17% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+3100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Zambezi (2011−2012) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 4,095 | 4,076 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 455 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,621 | — |
Memory & Platform
The FX-8100 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1260L uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | FX-8100 | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3+ | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (FX-8100) / not specified (Xeon E3-1260L).
| Feature | FX-8100 | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
Value Analysis
The FX-8100 launched at $300 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1260L debuted at $294. At current prices ($50 vs $270), the FX-8100 is $220 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the FX-8100 delivers 81.9 pts/$ vs 15.1 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1260L — making the FX-8100 the 137.7% better value option.
| Feature | FX-8100 | Xeon E3-1260L |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $300 | $294-2% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-81% | $270 |
| Performance per Dollar | 81.9+442% | 15.1 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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