
Xeon E3-1225 v2 vs Core i5-6600

Xeon E3-1225 v2

Core i5-6600
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 E3-1225 v2 is positioned at rank 480 and the Core i5-6600 is on rank 641, so the Xeon E3-1225 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1225 v2
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1225 v2 | Core i5-6600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / Standard Node) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1225 v2 | Core i5-6600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) |
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 E3-1225 v2 and Core i5-6600

Xeon E3-1225 v2
The Xeon E3-1225 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Passmark benchmark score: 6,015 points. Launch price was $800.

Core i5-6600
The Core i5-6600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,058 points. Launch price was $224.
Processing Power
The Core i5-6600 is built on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1225 v2 scores 6,015 against the Core i5-6600's 6,058 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-6600.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1225 v2 | Core i5-6600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | — | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | — | 3.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | — | 14 nm |
| Architecture | — | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 6,015 | 6,058 |
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