Opteron 6238 vs Xeon E3-1280

Opteron 6238 vs Xeon E3-1280 Performance Spectrum

Opteron 6238

12 / 12

5,625

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Xeon E3-1280

4 / 8

5,612

0.0%

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.

Opteron 6238 vs Xeon E3-1280 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.

Opteron 6238 vs Xeon E3-1280: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Opteron 6238

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.3% higher average FPS across 34 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $455 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1280 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌21.1% higher power demand at 115W vs 95W.

Xeon E3-1280

2011

Why buy it

✅Draws 95W instead of 115W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Opteron 6238 across 34 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (5,612 vs 5,625).

Quick Answers

So, is Opteron 6238 better than Xeon E3-1280?

Yes. Opteron 6238 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 9.3% average FPS lead across 34 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Opteron 6238 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 9.3% more average FPS across 34 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Opteron 6238 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Opteron 6238 is the better buy right now. Opteron 6238 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $455 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 9.3% average FPS lead across 34 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (12.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Opteron 6238 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Opteron 6238 vs Xeon E3-1280 Technical Specifications

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

Opteron 6238

The Opteron 6238 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 November 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture. It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,625 points. Launch price was $455.

Xeon E3-1280

The Xeon E3-1280 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 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,612 points. Launch price was $450.

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Processing Power

The Opteron 6238 packs 12 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1280 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Opteron 6238 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Opteron 6238 versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 — a 19.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Opteron 6238 uses the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1280 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6238 scores 5,625 against the Xeon E3-1280's 5,612 — a 0.2% lead for the Opteron 6238. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Opteron 6238	Xeon E3-1280
Cores / Threads	12 / 12+200%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz	3.9 GHz+22%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	3.5 GHz+35%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per module)+700%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Interlagos (2011−2012)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	5,625	5,612

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Memory & Platform

The Opteron 6238 uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1280 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.