Opteron 6386 SE vs Xeon E3-1260L v5

Opteron 6386 SE vs Xeon E3-1260L v5 Performance Spectrum

Opteron 6386 SE

16 / 16

8,291

+0.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Xeon E3-1260L v5

4 / 8

8,237

0.0%

Core 2 Extreme QX9770

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 6386 SE vs Xeon E3-1260L v5 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 6386 SE vs Xeon E3-1260L v5: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Opteron 6386 SE

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $1,392 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1260L v5 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌211.1% higher power demand at 140W vs 45W.

Xeon E3-1260L v5

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 140W, a 95W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Opteron 6386 SE across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (8,237 vs 8,291).

Quick Answers

So, is Opteron 6386 SE better than Xeon E3-1260L v5?

Yes. Opteron 6386 SE is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 7.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.7% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Opteron 6386 SE is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 7.1% 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 6386 SE is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 16 threads.

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

Opteron 6386 SE is the better buy right now. Opteron 6386 SE comes in at an unclear MSRP at $1,392 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (6.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon E3-1260L v5 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Opteron 6386 SE vs Xeon E3-1260L v5 Technical Specifications

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

Opteron 6386 SE

The Opteron 6386 SE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Abu Dhabi (2012) architecture. It features 16 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 16 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,291 points. Launch price was $2,408.

Xeon E3-1260L v5

The Xeon E3-1260L v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 8,237 points. Launch price was $294.

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Processing Power

The Opteron 6386 SE packs 16 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E3-1260L v5 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Opteron 6386 SE has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Opteron 6386 SE versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1260L v5 — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1260L v5 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Opteron 6386 SE uses the Abu Dhabi (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1260L v5 uses Skylake-DT (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Opteron 6386 SE scores 8,291 against the Xeon E3-1260L v5's 8,237 — a 0.7% lead for the Opteron 6386 SE. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Opteron 6386 SE	Xeon E3-1260L v5
Cores / Threads	16 / 16+300%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	3.9 GHz+11%
Base Clock	2.8 GHz	2.9 GHz+4%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	16 MB+6300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Abu Dhabi (2012)	Skylake-DT (2015)
PassMark	8,291	8,237

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Memory & Platform

The Opteron 6386 SE uses the G34 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1260L v5 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.