Ryzen 3 2300U vs Xeon E3-1226 v3

Ryzen 3 2300U vs Xeon E3-1226 v3 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 3 2300U

4 / 4

5,484

0.0%

Athlon X4 830

Athlon X4 880K

Ryzen Embedded R1606G

FX-8140

Ryzen 7 5700

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Xeon E3-1226 v3

4 / 4

5,529

+0.8%

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.

Ryzen 3 2300U vs Xeon E3-1226 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.

Ryzen 3 2300U vs Xeon E3-1226 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Ryzen 3 2300U

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 84W, a 69W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E3-1226 v3 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (5,484 vs 5,529).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 8 MB).

Xeon E3-1226 v3

2014

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌460% higher power demand at 84W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1226 v3 better than Ryzen 3 2300U?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1226 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 3 2300U 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 E3-1226 v3 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 10.4% 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 E3-1226 v3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% 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 E3-1226 v3 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon E3-1226 v3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 10.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Ryzen 3 2300U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Ryzen 3 2300U vs Xeon E3-1226 v3 Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 3 2300U

The Ryzen 3 2300U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 5,484 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon E3-1226 v3

The Xeon E3-1226 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,529 points. Launch price was $213.

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Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 3 2300U and Xeon E3-1226 v3 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 2300U versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1226 v3 — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1226 v3 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Ryzen 3 2300U uses the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 2300U scores 5,484 against the Xeon E3-1226 v3's 5,529 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E3-1226 v3. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 2300U vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1226 v3.

Feature	Ryzen 3 2300U	Xeon E3-1226 v3
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	3.7 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.3 GHz+65%
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Raven Ridge (2017−2019)	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark	5,484	5,529

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 3 2300U uses the FP5 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.