
Xeon D-1521 vs Xeon E3-1240L v3

Xeon D-1521

Xeon E3-1240L v3
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 D-1521 is positioned at rank 505 and the Xeon E3-1240L v3 is on rank 507, so the Xeon D-1521 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon D-1521
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1240L v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon D-1521 | Xeon E3-1240L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon D-1521 | Xeon E3-1240L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 D-1521 and Xeon E3-1240L v3

Xeon D-1521
The Xeon D-1521 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 November 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (per core). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1667. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,703 points. Launch price was $199.

Xeon E3-1240L v3
The Xeon E3-1240L 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 5,681 points. Launch price was $278.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon D-1521 and Xeon E3-1240L v3 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Xeon D-1521 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E3-1240L v3 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1240L v3 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Xeon D-1521 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1240L v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon D-1521 scores 5,703 against the Xeon E3-1240L v3's 5,681 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon D-1521. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (per core) on the Xeon D-1521 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1240L v3.
| Feature | Xeon D-1521 | Xeon E3-1240L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+20% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 1.5 MB (per core) | 8 MB (total)+433% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 5,703 | 5,681 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon D-1521 uses the FCBGA1667 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1240L v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon D-1521 | Xeon E3-1240L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1667 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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