Xeon Bronze 3106 vs Xeon E5-1620
Xeon Bronze 3106
Xeon E5-1620
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Xeon Bronze 3106 is positioned at rank 730 and the Xeon E5-1620 is on rank 953, so the Xeon Bronze 3106 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Bronze 3106
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1620
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Bronze 3106 | Xeon E5-1620 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($395) | ✅ More affordable ($70) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Bronze 3106 | Xeon E5-1620 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+474%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($395) | ✅ More affordable ($70) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Bronze 3106 and Xeon E5-1620
Xeon Bronze 3106
The Xeon Bronze 3106 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 5,753 points. Launch price was $306.
Xeon E5-1620
The Xeon E5-1620 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,848 points. Launch price was $313.
Processing Power
The Xeon Bronze 3106 packs 8 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-1620 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon Bronze 3106 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon Bronze 3106 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1620 — a 23.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-1620 (base: 1.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon Bronze 3106 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1620 uses Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Bronze 3106 scores 5,753 against the Xeon E5-1620's 5,848 — a 1.6% lead for the Xeon E5-1620. L3 cache: 11 MB (total) on the Xeon Bronze 3106 vs 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-1620.
| Feature | Xeon Bronze 3106 | Xeon E5-1620 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 8+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.8 GHz+27% |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz | 3.6 GHz+112% |
| L3 Cache | 11 MB (total)+10% | 10240 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,753 | 5,848+2% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 3,469 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 612 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,250 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Bronze 3106 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1620 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2133 on the Xeon Bronze 3106 versus DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E5-1620 — the Xeon Bronze 3106 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Bronze 3106 supports up to 768 of RAM compared to 375 GB — 68.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Bronze 3106) vs 4 (Xeon E5-1620). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Bronze 3106) vs 40 (Xeon E5-1620) — the Xeon Bronze 3106 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon Bronze 3106) and Intel C600,Intel X79 (Xeon E5-1620).
| Feature | Xeon Bronze 3106 | Xeon E5-1620 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2133+71000% | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 | 375 GB+51199900% |
| RAM Channels | 6+50% | 4 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48+20% | 40 |
Advanced Features
Only the Xeon Bronze 3106 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Bronze 3106) vs true (Xeon E5-1620).
| Feature | Xeon Bronze 3106 | Xeon E5-1620 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | true |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Bronze 3106 launched at $395 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-1620 debuted at $885. At current prices ($395 vs $70), the Xeon E5-1620 is $325 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Bronze 3106 delivers 14.6 pts/$ vs 83.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1620 — making the Xeon E5-1620 the 140.6% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Bronze 3106 | Xeon E5-1620 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $395-55% | $885 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $395 | $70-82% |
| Performance per Dollar | 14.6 | 83.5+472% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2012 |
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