Xeon E3-1205 v6 vs Xeon D-1521
Xeon E3-1205 v6
Xeon D-1521
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 E3-1205 v6 is positioned at rank 507 and the Xeon D-1521 is on rank 505, 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 E3-1205 v6
Performance Per Dollar Xeon D-1521
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1205 v6 | Xeon D-1521 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1205 v6 | Xeon D-1521 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) |
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 E3-1205 v6 and Xeon D-1521
Xeon E3-1205 v6
The Xeon E3-1205 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 5,682 points. Launch price was $193.
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.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1205 v6 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon D-1521's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E3-1205 v6 versus 2.7 GHz on the Xeon D-1521 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1205 v6 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon E3-1205 v6 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon D-1521 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1205 v6 scores 5,682 against the Xeon D-1521's 5,703 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon D-1521. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1205 v6 vs 1.5 MB (per core) on the Xeon D-1521.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1205 v6 | Xeon D-1521 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+11% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+25% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB+433% | 1.5 MB (per core) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 5,682 | 5,703 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1205 v6 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon D-1521 uses FCBGA1667 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1205 v6 | Xeon D-1521 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FCBGA1667 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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