
Xeon E3-1226 v3 vs Xeon W-2104

Xeon E3-1226 v3

Xeon W-2104
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 W-2104 is on rank 640, 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 W-2104
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Xeon W-2104 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($309) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Xeon W-2104 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($309) |
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 W-2104

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 W-2104
The Xeon W-2104 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 5,530 points. Launch price was $255.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1226 v3 and Xeon W-2104 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1226 v3 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon W-2104 — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1226 v3 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon W-2104 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1226 v3 scores 5,529 against the Xeon W-2104's 5,530 — a 0% lead for the Xeon W-2104. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1226 v3 vs 8.25 MB (total) on the Xeon W-2104.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Xeon W-2104 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+16% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+3% | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8.25 MB (total)+3% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 5,529 | 5,530 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W-2104 uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Xeon W-2104 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA2066 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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