Xeon E3-1220L vs Celeron G3930
Xeon E3-1220L
Celeron G3930
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 E3-1220L is positioned at rank 812 and the Celeron G3930 is on rank 395, so the Celeron G3930 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220L
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3930
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220L | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220L | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+8%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
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 E3-1220L and Celeron G3930
Xeon E3-1220L
The Xeon E3-1220L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 20 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,263 points. Launch price was $800.
Celeron G3930
The Celeron G3930 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 2133, DDR3L 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,259 points. Launch price was $42.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1220L packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron G3930's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L versus 2.9 GHz on the Celeron G3930 — a 15.9% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Xeon E3-1220L uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron G3930 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1220L scores 2,263 against the Celeron G3930's 2,259 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E3-1220L. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G3930.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220L | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+17% | 2.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.9 GHz+32% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,263 | 2,259 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 750 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,100 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1220L uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G3930 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220L | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1220L) / VT-x (Celeron G3930). The Celeron G3930 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 610), while the Xeon E3-1220L requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3930 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G3930 rivals Pentium G4560.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220L | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 610 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E3-1220L launched at $189 MSRP, while the Celeron G3930 debuted at $42. At current prices ($27 vs $25), the Celeron G3930 is $2 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1220L delivers 83.8 pts/$ vs 90.4 pts/$ for the Celeron G3930 — making the Celeron G3930 the 7.5% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220L | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $189 | $42-78% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $27 | $25-7% |
| Performance per Dollar | 83.8 | 90.4+8% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2017 |
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