Opteron 6272 vs Xeon E3-1220 v3

Opteron 6272 vs Xeon E3-1220 v3 Performance Spectrum

Opteron 6272

16 / 16

5,240

+1.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Xeon E3-1220 v3

4 / 4

5,178

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 6272 vs Xeon E3-1220 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.

Opteron 6272 vs Xeon E3-1220 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Opteron 6272

2011

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +23.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.0 vs 25.5 PassMark/$ ($523 MSRP vs $203 MSRP).
❌43.8% higher power demand at 115W vs 80W.

Xeon E3-1220 v3

2013

Why buy it

✅Costs $320 less on MSRP ($203 MSRP vs $523 MSRP).
✅Delivers 154.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 25.5 vs 10.0 PassMark/$ ($203 MSRP vs $523 MSRP).
✅Draws 80W instead of 115W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Opteron 6272 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (5,178 vs 5,240).

Quick Answers

So, is Opteron 6272 better than Xeon E3-1220 v3?

Yes. Opteron 6272 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 23.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Opteron 6272 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 23.1% 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, Opteron 6272 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 16 threads.

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

Opteron 6272 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E3-1220 v3 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Opteron 6272 comes in 157.6% more expensive on MSRP at $523 MSRP versus $203 MSRP, and it still gives you a 23.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E3-1220 v3 is also 154.6% better value on MSRP (25.5 vs 10.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Xeon E3-1220 v3 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Opteron 6272 vs Xeon E3-1220 v3 Technical Specifications

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

Opteron 6272

The Opteron 6272 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 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 8.00391 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,240 points. Launch price was $325.

Xeon E3-1220 v3

The Xeon E3-1220 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,178 points. Launch price was $239.

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Processing Power

The Opteron 6272 packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Opteron 6272 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Opteron 6272 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v3 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220 v3 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Opteron 6272 uses the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6272 scores 5,240 against the Xeon E3-1220 v3's 5,178 — a 1.2% lead for the Opteron 6272. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Opteron 6272 vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220 v3.

Feature	Opteron 6272	Xeon E3-1220 v3
Cores / Threads	16 / 16+300%	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3 GHz	3.5 GHz+17%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.1 GHz+48%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8192 kB (total)
L2 Cache	8.00391 MB (per core)+3102%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Interlagos (2011−2012)	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark	5,240+1%	5,178

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Opteron 6272 uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Opteron 6272	Xeon E3-1220 v3
Socket	G34	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Opteron 6272 was priced at $523, while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 came in at $203. On launch pricing ($523 vs $203), Xeon E3-1220 v3 was $320 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Opteron 6272 delivers 10.0 pts/$ vs 25.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1220 v3 — making the Xeon E3-1220 v3 the 87.2% better value option.

Feature	Opteron 6272	Xeon E3-1220 v3
MSRP	$523	$203-61%
Performance per Dollar	10.0	25.5+155%
Release Date	2011	2013

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