Pentium D 820 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 D 820 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 D 820 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 D 820

2005

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 16W, a 14W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E3-1220L v3, which brings 2 cores / 4 threads and 16 PCIe lanes.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 5.9 vs 7.3 PassMark/$ ($241 MSRP vs $193 MSRP).

Xeon E3-1220L v3

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 2 cores / 4 threads, plus 16 PCIe lanes vs 0.
✅Costs $48 less on MSRP ($193 MSRP vs $241 MSRP).
✅Delivers 24.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 7.3 vs 5.9 PassMark/$ ($193 MSRP vs $241 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,407 vs 1,412).
❌700% higher power demand at 16W vs 2W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium D 820 better than Xeon E3-1220L v3?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1220L v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Pentium D 820 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium D 820 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.3% more average FPS across 48 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium D 820 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium D 820 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E3-1220L v3 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Pentium D 820 comes in 24.9% more expensive on MSRP at $241 MSRP versus $193 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E3-1220L v3 is also 24.4% better value on MSRP (7.3 vs 5.9 PassMark/$), 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 E3-1220L v3 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2005). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Pentium D 820 vs Xeon E3-1220L v3 Technical Specifications

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

Pentium D 820

The Pentium D 820 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,412 points. Launch price was $69.

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.

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Processing Power

The Pentium D 820 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1220L v3's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Pentium D 820 versus 1.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L v3 — a 60.5% clock advantage for the Pentium D 820 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Pentium D 820 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium D 820 scores 1,412 against the Xeon E3-1220L v3's 1,407 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium D 820. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium D 820 vs 4096 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L v3.

Feature	Pentium D 820	Xeon E3-1220L v3
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz+87%	1.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+155%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	4096 kB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB+700%	256 kB (per core)
Process	90 nm	22 nm-76%
Architecture	NetBurst (2000−2006)	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark	1,412	1,407
Geekbench 6 Single	166	—

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Memory & Platform

The Pentium D 820 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Pentium D 820 versus DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E3-1220L v3 — the Xeon E3-1220L v3 supports 139.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E3-1220L v3 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Pentium D 820) vs 16 (Xeon E3-1220L v3) — the Xeon E3-1220L v3 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 945,Intel 955 (Pentium D 820) and C222,C224,C226 (Xeon E3-1220L v3).

Feature	Pentium D 820	Xeon E3-1220L v3
Socket	LGA775	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	DDR3-1600+140%
Max RAM Capacity	4 GB	32 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization support: No (Pentium D 820) vs VT-P (Xeon E3-1220L v3).

Feature	Pentium D 820	Xeon E3-1220L v3
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	No	VT-P

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Pentium D 820 was priced at $241, while the Xeon E3-1220L v3 came in at $193. On launch pricing ($241 vs $193), Xeon E3-1220L v3 was $48 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium D 820 delivers 5.9 pts/$ vs 7.3 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1220L v3 — making the Xeon E3-1220L v3 the 21.8% better value option.

Feature	Pentium D 820	Xeon E3-1220L v3
MSRP	$241	$193-20%
Performance per Dollar	5.9	7.3+24%
Release Date	2005	2013

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