CPU
GPU
M1
Xeon E3-1280 v5
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 M1 is positioned at rank 1004 and the Xeon E3-1280 v5 is on rank 354, so the Xeon E3-1280 v5 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar M1
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1280 v5
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | M1 | Xeon E3-1280 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 5 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-S (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | M1 | Xeon E3-1280 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 M1 and Xeon E3-1280 v5
M1
The M1 is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 10 November 2020 (5 years ago). It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.064 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Passmark benchmark score: 8,207 points. Launch price was $149.
Xeon E3-1280 v5
The Xeon E3-1280 v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-S (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,254 points. Launch price was $612.
Processing Power
The M1 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E3-1280 v5 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the M1 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the M1 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v5 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 v5 (base: 2.064 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Xeon E3-1280 v5 is built on the Skylake-S (2015) architecture. In PassMark, the M1 scores 8,207 against the Xeon E3-1280 v5's 8,254 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E3-1280 v5. L3 cache: 16 MB on the M1 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1280 v5.
| Feature | M1 | Xeon E3-1280 v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 4 GHz+25% |
| Base Clock | 2.064 GHz | 3.7 GHz+79% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB+100% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 16 MB+6300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 5 nm-64% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | — | Skylake-S (2015) |
| PassMark | 8,207 | 8,254 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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