Pentium Silver N6005 vs Xeon E3-1225 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 Silver N6005 vs Xeon E3-1225 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 Silver N6005 vs Xeon E3-1225 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 Silver N6005

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 10W instead of 84W, a 74W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E3-1225 v3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (5,253 vs 5,324).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E3-1225 v3, which brings 4 cores / 4 threads and 16 PCIe lanes.
❌No integrated graphics, while Xeon E3-1225 v3 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Xeon E3-1225 v3

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 4 threads, plus 16 PCIe lanes vs 0.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics P4600, while Pentium Silver N6005 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $224 MSRP, while Pentium Silver N6005 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌740% higher power demand at 84W vs 10W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1225 v3 better than Pentium Silver N6005?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1225 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Pentium Silver N6005 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon E3-1225 v3 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 8.6% 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, Xeon E3-1225 v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Xeon E3-1225 v3 is the better buy right now. Xeon E3-1225 v3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $224 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 8.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (23.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 Silver N6005 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2013). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Pentium Silver N6005 vs Xeon E3-1225 v3 Technical Specifications

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

Pentium Silver N6005

The Pentium Silver N6005 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Jasper Lake (2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.5 MB (total). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1338. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,253 points. Launch price was $69.

Xeon E3-1225 v3

The Xeon E3-1225 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 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,324 points. Launch price was $384.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Pentium Silver N6005 and Xeon E3-1225 v3 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Pentium Silver N6005 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E3-1225 v3 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1225 v3 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Pentium Silver N6005 uses the Jasper Lake (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon E3-1225 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Silver N6005 scores 5,253 against the Xeon E3-1225 v3's 5,324 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E3-1225 v3. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Pentium Silver N6005 vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1225 v3.

Feature	Pentium Silver N6005	Xeon E3-1225 v3
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz	3.6 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.2 GHz+60%
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	8192 kB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB (total)+500%	256 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm-55%	22 nm
Architecture	Jasper Lake (2021)	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark	5,253	5,324+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	2,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,108
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	3,324

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Pentium Silver N6005 uses the BGA1338 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon E3-1225 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Pentium Silver N6005	Xeon E3-1225 v3
Socket	BGA1338	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity	—	32 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Pentium Silver N6005) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E3-1225 v3). The Xeon E3-1225 v3 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics P4600), while the Pentium Silver N6005 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E3-1225 v3 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon E3-1225 v3 rivals Core i5-4570.