
Xeon E3-1226 v3 vs Xeon E3-1220 v6

Xeon E3-1226 v3

Xeon E3-1220 v6
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 E3-1226 v3 is positioned at rank 521 and the Xeon E3-1220 v6 is on rank 718, so the Xeon E3-1226 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1226 v3
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220 v6
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 E3-1226 v3 and Xeon E3-1220 v6

Xeon E3-1226 v3
The Xeon E3-1226 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) 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: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,529 points. Launch price was $213.

Xeon E3-1220 v6
The Xeon E3-1220 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 5,589 points. Launch price was $193.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1226 v3 and Xeon E3-1220 v6 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1226 v3 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v6 — a 5.6% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1226 v3 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220 v6 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1226 v3 scores 5,529 against the Xeon E3-1220 v6's 5,589 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1220 v6. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1226 v3 vs 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1220 v6.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+6% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+10% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 5,529 | 5,589+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1220 v6 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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