Xeon E3-1205 v6 vs Xeon E3-1220 v5

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.

Xeon E3-1205 v6 vs Xeon E3-1220 v5 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.

Xeon E3-1205 v6 vs Xeon E3-1220 v5: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Xeon E3-1205 v6

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 80W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (5,682 vs 5,713).

Xeon E3-1220 v5

2015

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $203 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1205 v6 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌23.1% higher power demand at 80W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1220 v5 better than Xeon E3-1205 v6?

Yes. Xeon E3-1220 v5 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.5% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon E3-1220 v5 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.7% 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 E3-1220 v5 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon E3-1220 v5 is the better buy right now. Xeon E3-1220 v5 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $203 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (28.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon E3-1205 v6 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2015). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Xeon E3-1205 v6 vs Xeon E3-1220 v5 Technical Specifications

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

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 E3-1220 v5

The Xeon E3-1220 v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 5,713 points. Launch price was $203.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Xeon E3-1205 v6 and Xeon E3-1220 v5 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E3-1205 v6 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v5 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220 v5 (base: 3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon E3-1205 v6 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220 v5 uses Skylake-DT (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1205 v6 scores 5,682 against the Xeon E3-1220 v5's 5,713 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1220 v5. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1205 v6 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220 v5.

Feature	Xeon E3-1205 v6	Xeon E3-1220 v5
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	3 GHz	3.5 GHz+17%
Base Clock	3 GHz	3 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)	Skylake-DT (2015)
PassMark	5,682	5,713