Xeon E3-1240 v2 vs Xeon E5-2608L V3

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.

Xeon E3-1240 v2 vs Xeon E5-2608L V3 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Xeon E3-1240 v2 vs Xeon E5-2608L V3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Xeon E3-1240 v2

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,385 vs 6,415).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 15 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $250 MSRP, while Xeon E5-2608L V3 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌32.7% higher power demand at 69W vs 52W.

Xeon E5-2608L V3

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 52W instead of 69W, a 17W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E3-1240 v2 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-2608L V3 better than Xeon E3-1240 v2?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E3-1240 v2 is ahead with a 10.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2608L V3 pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark. Xeon E5-2608L V3 also has the bigger cache pool with 87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2608L V3 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon E5-2608L V3 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E3-1240 v2 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon E5-2608L V3 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.5% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E3-1240 v2 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 10.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E3-1240 v2 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (25.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon E5-2608L V3 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2012), 87.5% larger total L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 6 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon E3-1240 v2 vs Xeon E5-2608L V3 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Xeon E3-1240 v2

The Xeon E3-1240 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 69 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,385 points. Launch price was $304.

Xeon E5-2608L V3

The Xeon E5-2608L V3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 52 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 6,415 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E3-1240 v2 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2608L V3 offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Xeon E5-2608L V3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1240 v2 versus 2 GHz on the Xeon E5-2608L V3 — a 62.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1240 v2. The Xeon E3-1240 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-2608L V3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1240 v2 scores 6,385 against the Xeon E5-2608L V3's 6,415 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E5-2608L V3. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1240 v2 vs 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2608L V3.

Feature	Xeon E3-1240 v2	Xeon E5-2608L V3
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 6+50%
Boost Clock	3.8 GHz+90%	2 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	—
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	15 MB (total)+88%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm	22 nm
Architecture	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Haswell-EP (2014−2015)
PassMark	6,385	6,415

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon E3-1240 v2 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2608L V3 uses LGA2011-3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.