Xeon E3-1220 v5 vs Xeon D-1521
Xeon E3-1220 v5
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 E3-1220 v5 is positioned at rank 513 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 E3-1220 v5
Performance Per Dollar Xeon D-1521
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220 v5 | Xeon D-1521 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($100) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-DT (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220 v5 | Xeon D-1521 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+141%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($100) | ⚠️ 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 E3-1220 v5 and Xeon D-1521
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.
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 E3-1220 v5 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon D-1521's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v5 versus 2.7 GHz on the Xeon D-1521 — a 25.8% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220 v5 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon E3-1220 v5 uses the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon D-1521 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1220 v5 scores 5,713 against the Xeon D-1521's 5,703 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E3-1220 v5. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220 v5 vs 1.5 MB (per core) on the Xeon D-1521.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v5 | Xeon D-1521 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+30% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+25% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+433% | 1.5 MB (per core) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake-DT (2015) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 5,713 | 5,703 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1220 v5 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 E3-1220 v5 | Xeon D-1521 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FCBGA1667 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E3-1220 v5 launched at $203 MSRP, while the Xeon D-1521 debuted at $199. At current prices ($100 vs $241), the Xeon E3-1220 v5 is $141 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1220 v5 delivers 57.1 pts/$ vs 23.7 pts/$ for the Xeon D-1521 — making the Xeon E3-1220 v5 the 82.8% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v5 | Xeon D-1521 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $203 | $199-2% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $100-59% | $241 |
| Performance per Dollar | 57.1+141% | 23.7 |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2015 |
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