Pentium 3825U vs Xeon E3-1220L v3

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.

Pentium 3825U vs Xeon E3-1220L 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.

Pentium 3825U vs Xeon E3-1220L v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Pentium 3825U

2015

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,396 vs 1,407).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 4 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E3-1220L v3, which brings 2 cores / 4 threads and 16 PCIe lanes.
❌3100% higher power demand at 512W vs 16W.

Xeon E3-1220L v3

2013

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 2 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 2 cores / 4 threads, plus 16 PCIe lanes vs 0.
✅Draws 16W instead of 512W, a 496W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $193 MSRP, while Pentium 3825U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1220L v3 better than Pentium 3825U?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1220L v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Pentium 3825U is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E3-1220L v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 2 MB).

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

Xeon E3-1220L v3 is the better buy right now. Xeon E3-1220L v3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $193 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.8% better PassMark. The compromise is that Pentium 3825U is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.3% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Pentium 3825U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2013). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Pentium 3825U vs Xeon E3-1220L v3 Technical Specifications

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

Pentium 3825U

The Pentium 3825U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,396 points. Launch price was $161.

Xeon E3-1220L v3

The Xeon E3-1220L v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4096 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,407 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Pentium 3825U and Xeon E3-1220L v3 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Pentium 3825U versus 1.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L v3 — a 23.5% clock advantage for the Pentium 3825U (base: 1.9 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Pentium 3825U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 3825U scores 1,396 against the Xeon E3-1220L v3's 1,407 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E3-1220L v3. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 3825U vs 4096 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L v3.

Feature	Pentium 3825U	Xeon E3-1220L v3
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	1.9 GHz+27%	1.5 GHz
Base Clock	1.9 GHz+73%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	2 MB (total)	4096 kB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Broadwell-U (2015)	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark	1,396	1,407

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Pentium 3825U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Pentium 3825U	Xeon E3-1220L v3
Socket	FCBGA1168	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity	—	32 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	16