FX-8370E vs Xeon E3-1230L v3

AMD

FX-8370E

8 Cores8 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2014
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Xeon E3-1230L v3

4 Cores8 Thrd25 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2013
Similar parts
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FX-8370E vs Xeon E3-1230L v3 Performance Spectrum

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.

FX-8370E vs Xeon E3-1230L v3 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

FX-8370E vs Xeon E3-1230L v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

FX-8370E

2014

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +15.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Xeon E3-1230L v3.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1230L v3 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 280% higher power demand at 95W vs 25W.

Xeon E3-1230L v3

2013

Why buy it

  • Draws 25W instead of 95W, a 70W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than FX-8370E across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (5,297 vs 5,324).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike FX-8370E.

Quick Answers

So, is FX-8370E better than Xeon E3-1230L v3?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1230L v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while FX-8370E is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, FX-8370E is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 15.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, FX-8370E is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 8 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
FX-8370E is the better buy right now. FX-8370E comes in at an unclear MSRP at $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 15.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (26.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
FX-8370E makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2013) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

FX-8370E vs Xeon E3-1230L v3 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

FX-8370E

The FX-8370E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 September 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L2 cache: 8192 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,324 points. Launch price was $199.

Intel

Xeon E3-1230L v3

The Xeon E3-1230L 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 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,297 points. Launch price was $289.

Processing Power

The FX-8370E packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E3-1230L v3 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the FX-8370E has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the FX-8370E versus 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1230L v3 — a 42.3% clock advantage for the FX-8370E (base: 3.3 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The FX-8370E uses the Vishera (2012−2015) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1230L v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the FX-8370E scores 5,324 against the Xeon E3-1230L v3's 5,297 — a 0.5% lead for the FX-8370E.

FeatureFX-8370EXeon E3-1230L v3
Cores / Threads
8 / 8+100%
4 / 8
Boost Clock
4.3 GHz+54%
2.8 GHz
Base Clock
3.3 GHz+83%
1.8 GHz
L3 Cache
8192 kB (total)
L2 Cache
8192 kB+3100%
256 kB (per core)
Process
32 nm
22 nm-31%
Architecture
Vishera (2012−2015)
Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark
5,324
5,297
Geekbench 6 Single
512
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,878
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Memory & Platform

The FX-8370E uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1230L v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureFX-8370EXeon E3-1230L v3
Socket
AM3+
LGA1150
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
0
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (FX-8370E) / not specified (Xeon E3-1230L v3).

FeatureFX-8370EXeon E3-1230L v3
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V