Xeon E3-1220 v2 vs Core i5-6500T
Xeon E3-1220 v2
Core i5-6500T
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 E3-1220 v2 is positioned at rank 581 and the Core i5-6500T is on rank 493, so the Core i5-6500T offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220 v2
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6500T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220 v2 | Core i5-6500T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220 v2 | Core i5-6500T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) |
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 E3-1220 v2 and Core i5-6500T
Xeon E3-1220 v2
The Xeon E3-1220 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 69 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,680 points. Launch price was $220.
Core i5-6500T
The Core i5-6500T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 July 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,764 points. Launch price was $192.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1220 v2 and Core i5-6500T share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v2 versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-6500T — a 12.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220 v2 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E3-1220 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-6500T uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1220 v2 scores 4,680 against the Core i5-6500T's 4,764 — a 1.8% lead for the Core i5-6500T. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220 v2 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-6500T.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v2 | Core i5-6500T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+13% | 3.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+24% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 4,680 | 4,764+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1220 v2 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-6500T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v2 | Core i5-6500T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1220 v2) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-6500T). The Core i5-6500T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), while the Xeon E3-1220 v2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-6500T targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v2 | Core i5-6500T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 530 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
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