Xeon E3-1220 v6 vs Core i7-3720QM
Xeon E3-1220 v6
Core i7-3720QM
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 v6 is positioned at rank 718 and the Core i7-3720QM is on rank 50, so the Core i7-3720QM 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 v6
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3720QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220 v6 | Core i7-3720QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220 v6 | Core i7-3720QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 v6 and Core i7-3720QM
Xeon E3-1220 v6
The Xeon E3-1220 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 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 5,589 points. Launch price was $193.
Core i7-3720QM
The Core i7-3720QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 April 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,591 points. Launch price was $378.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1220 v6 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-3720QM's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v6 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-3720QM — a 2.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-3720QM (base: 3 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Xeon E3-1220 v6 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-3720QM uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1220 v6 scores 5,589 against the Core i7-3720QM's 5,591 — a 0% lead for the Core i7-3720QM. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1220 v6 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-3720QM.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v6 | Core i7-3720QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+15% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,589 | 5,591 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1220 v6 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-3720QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v6 | Core i7-3720QM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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