
Xeon E3-1220L vs Core i3-6006U

Xeon E3-1220L

Core i3-6006U
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 Core i3-6006U is on rank 370, so the Core i3-6006U 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 Core i3-6006U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220L | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220L | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($27) | ✅ 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 E3-1220L and Core i3-6006U

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.

Core i3-6006U
The Core i3-6006U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 November 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,273 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1220L and Core i3-6006U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L versus 2 GHz on the Core i3-6006U — a 51.9% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Xeon E3-1220L uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-6006U uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1220L scores 2,263 against the Core i3-6006U's 2,273 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-6006U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L vs 3 MB on the Core i3-6006U.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220L | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+70% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz+10% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,263 | 2,273 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 2,200 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 630 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,313 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1220L uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-6006U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220L | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1220L) / Yes (Core i3-6006U). The Core i3-6006U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 520), while the Xeon E3-1220L requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-6006U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220L | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 520 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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