Xeon E3-1220 v3 vs Core i5-12400F

Xeon E3-1220 v3

4 Cores4 Thrd80 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2013

Core i5-12400F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Xeon E3-1220 v3

4 / 4

5,178

0.0%

19,532

+277.2%

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. The Xeon E3-1220 v3 is positioned at rank #548 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220 v3

Xeon Platinum 8454H

MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A

8147%

Xeon Gold 6240R

MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A

1538%

#10

Xeon 6337P

MSRP: $60|Avg: $5

1367%

#15

EPYC 9174F

MSRP: $194|Avg: $30

1056%

#333

Xeon Gold 5317

MSRP: $1088|Avg: $1100

99%

#334

Xeon W-2275

MSRP: $1112|Avg: $500

99%

#335

Xeon Gold 6430

MSRP: $2128|Avg: $1850

98%

#336

Xeon Gold 6421N

MSRP: $2368|Avg: $2427

97%

#337

EPYC 7F72

MSRP: $2131|Avg: $2131

97%

#338

Xeon W-2265

MSRP: $1039|Avg: $663

97%

#339

Xeon w7-3555

MSRP: $2749|Avg: $2199

97%

#340

Xeon w7-3445

MSRP: $1989|Avg: $2596

97%

#548

Xeon E3-1220 v3

MSRP: $203|Avg: $89

100%

#551

Xeon W-2102

MSRP: $202|Avg: $286

99%

#553

Xeon E3-1265L v2

MSRP: $265|Avg: N/A

99%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400F

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

121%

#16

Core Ultra 5 225F

MSRP: $231|Avg: $150

118%

#17

Core Ultra 7 265K

MSRP: $309|Avg: $285

116%

#18

Ryzen 9 3900

MSRP: $499|Avg: $150

115%

#19

Ryzen 5 3600X

MSRP: $249|Avg: $90

113%

#20

Core i7-14700KF

MSRP: $384|Avg: $260

113%

#21

Core i7-14700K

MSRP: $409|Avg: $270

109%

#22

Ryzen 5 4500

MSRP: $129|Avg: $85

106%

#23

Ryzen 5 5600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $115

106%

#24

Celeron G5925

MSRP: $62|Avg: $15

105%

#25

Ryzen 5 7500F

MSRP: $179|Avg: $145

104%

#26

Core Ultra 5 245

MSRP: $319|Avg: $220

103%

#27

Ryzen 7 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $86

102%

#28

Core Ultra 7 265KF

MSRP: $379|Avg: $323

102%

#29

Core Ultra 7 265F

MSRP: $369|Avg: $276

100%

#30

Core i5-12400F

MSRP: $174|Avg: $110

100%

#31

Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G

MSRP: $130|Avg: $80

99%

#32

Ryzen 7 2700X

MSRP: $329|Avg: $100

98%

#33

Core i3-10100F

MSRP: $88|Avg: $50

98%

#34

Ryzen 5 7400F

MSRP: $150|Avg: $147

98%

#35

Ryzen 5 9600X

MSRP: $279|Avg: $178

95%

#36

Ryzen 7 3800X

MSRP: $399|Avg: $140

93%

#37

Ryzen 3 5300G

MSRP: $130|Avg: $80

92%

#38

Ryzen 9 7900X

MSRP: $549|Avg: $316

91%

#39

Ryzen 5 5600X

MSRP: $299|Avg: $135

91%

#40

Core i5-14600KF

MSRP: $304|Avg: $239

91%

#41

Ryzen 7 5800

MSRP: $349|Avg: $160

91%

#42

Core i3-14100F

MSRP: $109|Avg: $96

90%

#43

Ryzen 7 3700X

MSRP: $329|Avg: $140

90%

#44

Ryzen 5 7600X

MSRP: $299|Avg: $178

90%

#45

Ryzen 3 3100

MSRP: $99|Avg: $75

90%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Core i5-12400F (2022) utilizes Intel 7 nm technology and DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Xeon E3-1220 v3	Core i5-12400F
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($89)	⚠️ Higher cost ($110)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm)	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Xeon E3-1220 v3 (2013) relies on 22 nm technology and DDR3, DDR4, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Xeon E3-1220 v3	Core i5-12400F
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+205%)
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($89)	⚠️ Higher cost ($110)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Xeon E3-1220 v3 Benchmark Check

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E3-1220 v3 and Core i5-12400F

Xeon E3-1220 v3

The Xeon E3-1220 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,178 points. Launch price was $239.

Core i5-12400F

The Core i5-12400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.

⚡

Processing Power

The Xeon E3-1220 v3 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-12400F offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12400F has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v3 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F — a 22.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E3-1220 v3 uses the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-12400F uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1220 v3 scores 5,178 against the Core i5-12400F's 19,532 — a 116.2% lead for the Core i5-12400F. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220 v3 vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F.

Feature	Xeon E3-1220 v3	Core i5-12400F
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	4.4 GHz+26%
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+24%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	8192 kB (total)	18 MB (total)+125%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	22 nm	Intel 7 nm-68%
Architecture	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	5,178	19,532+277%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,380
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,700
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	657

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Xeon E3-1220 v3 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12400F uses LGA1700 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Xeon E3-1220 v3	Core i5-12400F
Socket	LGA1150	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	❌
PCIe Lanes	—	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1220 v3) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Xeon E3-1220 v3	Core i5-12400F
Integrated GPU	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	—	Gaming Performance/Value

💰

Value Analysis

The Xeon E3-1220 v3 launched at $203 MSRP, while the Core i5-12400F debuted at $174. At current prices ($89 vs $110), the Xeon E3-1220 v3 is $21 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1220 v3 delivers 58.2 pts/$ vs 177.6 pts/$ for the Core i5-12400F — making the Core i5-12400F the 101.3% better value option.