
Xeon E3-1225 v5 vs Microsoft SQ1

Xeon E3-1225 v5

Microsoft SQ1
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 v5 is positioned at rank 485 and the Microsoft SQ1 is on rank 877, so the Xeon E3-1225 v5 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 v5
Performance Per Dollar Microsoft SQ1
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1225 v5 | Microsoft SQ1 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-DT (2015) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 495) (2019) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1225 v5 | Microsoft SQ1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) |
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 v5 and Microsoft SQ1

Xeon E3-1225 v5
The Xeon E3-1225 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 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 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: 5,953 points. Launch price was $224.
Microsoft SQ1
The Microsoft SQ1 is manufactured by Microsoft. It was released in 2 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 495) (2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Max frequency: 3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. Built on 7 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): + 2 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 6,039 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1225 v5 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Microsoft SQ1 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Microsoft SQ1 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1225 v5 versus 3 GHz on the Microsoft SQ1 — a 20.9% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1225 v5. The Xeon E3-1225 v5 uses the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Microsoft SQ1 uses Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 495) (2019) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1225 v5 scores 5,953 against the Microsoft SQ1's 6,039 — a 1.4% lead for the Microsoft SQ1. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1225 v5 vs 2 MB on the Microsoft SQ1.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1225 v5 | Microsoft SQ1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 8 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+23% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+300% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Skylake-DT (2015) | Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 495) (2019) |
| PassMark | 5,953 | 6,039+1% |
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