Xeon E-2124G vs Xeon E3-1280 v3
Xeon E-2124G
Xeon E3-1280 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 E-2124G is positioned at rank 844 and the Xeon E3-1280 v3 is on rank 496, so the Xeon E3-1280 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E-2124G
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1280 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E-2124G | Xeon E3-1280 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($462) | ✅ More affordable ($44) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E-2124G | Xeon E3-1280 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+955%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($462) | ✅ More affordable ($44) |
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 E-2124G and Xeon E3-1280 v3
Xeon E-2124G
The Xeon E-2124G is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 May 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 71 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 7,218 points. Launch price was $213.
Xeon E3-1280 v3
The Xeon E3-1280 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 82 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,252 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon E-2124G packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1280 v3's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Xeon E-2124G versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v3 — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Xeon E-2124G (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E-2124G uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1280 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E-2124G scores 7,218 against the Xeon E3-1280 v3's 7,252 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1280 v3. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E-2124G vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1280 v3.
| Feature | Xeon E-2124G | Xeon E3-1280 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz+13% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.6 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8192 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 7,218 | 7,252 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E-2124G uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1280 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E-2124G | Xeon E3-1280 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E-2124G launched at $667 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1280 v3 debuted at $250. At current prices ($462 vs $44), the Xeon E3-1280 v3 is $418 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E-2124G delivers 15.6 pts/$ vs 164.8 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1280 v3 — making the Xeon E3-1280 v3 the 165.4% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E-2124G | Xeon E3-1280 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $667 | $250-63% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $462 | $44-90% |
| Performance per Dollar | 15.6 | 164.8+956% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2013 |
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