Xeon E3-1230 v3 vs Core i7-980
Xeon E3-1230 v3
Core i7-980
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 E3-1230 v3 is positioned at rank 430 and the Core i7-980 is on rank 966, so the Xeon E3-1230 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 E3-1230 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-980
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1230 v3 | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1230 v3 | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 E3-1230 v3 and Core i7-980
Xeon E3-1230 v3
The Xeon E3-1230 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 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): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,837 points. Launch price was $240.
Core i7-980
The Core i7-980 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,890 points. Launch price was $1,109.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1230 v3 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-980 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-980 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1230 v3 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-980 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1230 v3 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Xeon E3-1230 v3 uses the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-980 uses Gulftown (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1230 v3 scores 6,837 against the Core i7-980's 6,890 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-980. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1230 v3 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-980.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1230 v3 | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+3% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.33 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) | Gulftown (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 6,837 | 6,890 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1230 v3 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-980 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1230 v3 | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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