Xeon E3-1225 vs Core i5-7260U
Xeon E3-1225
Core i5-7260U
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 is positioned at rank 654 and the Core i5-7260U is on rank 297, so the Core i5-7260U 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
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7260U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1225 | Core i5-7260U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($205) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1225 | Core i5-7260U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($205) | ✅ 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 E3-1225 and Core i5-7260U
Xeon E3-1225
The Xeon E3-1225 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,903 points. Launch price was $150.
Core i5-7260U
The Core i5-7260U 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,953 points. Launch price was $304.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1225 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-7260U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E3-1225 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1225 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-7260U — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Xeon E3-1225 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-7260U uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1225 scores 3,903 against the Core i5-7260U's 3,953 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i5-7260U. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1225 vs 4 MB on the Core i5-7260U.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1225 | Core i5-7260U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+41% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,903 | 3,953+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,192 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1225 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-7260U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1225 | Core i5-7260U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 E3-1225) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-7260U). The Core i5-7260U includes integrated graphics (Iris Plus Graphics 640), while the Xeon E3-1225 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7260U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-7260U rivals A12-9720P.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1225 | Core i5-7260U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Plus Graphics 640 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Laptop |
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