Xeon E3-1240 v5 vs Core i7-3930K
Xeon E3-1240 v5
Core i7-3930K
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 E3-1240 v5 is positioned at rank 353 and the Core i7-3930K is on rank 917, so the Xeon E3-1240 v5 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1240 v5
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3930K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1240 v5 | Core i7-3930K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-DT (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1240 v5 | Core i7-3930K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 E3-1240 v5 and Core i7-3930K
Xeon E3-1240 v5
The Xeon E3-1240 v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151, LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 8,258 points. Launch price was $282.
Core i7-3930K
The Core i7-3930K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 November 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,204 points. Launch price was $611.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1240 v5 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-3930K offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-3930K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1240 v5 versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-3930K — a 2.6% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1240 v5 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Xeon E3-1240 v5 uses the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-3930K uses Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1240 v5 scores 8,258 against the Core i7-3930K's 8,204 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E3-1240 v5. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1240 v5 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-3930K.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1240 v5 | Core i7-3930K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+3% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+9% | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake-DT (2015) | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 8,258 | 8,204 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 731 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1240 v5 uses the LGA1151, LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-3930K uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1240 v5 | Core i7-3930K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151, LGA2011 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1240 v5) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-3930K). Primary use case: Core i7-3930K targets HEDT Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-3930K rivals FX-8350.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1240 v5 | Core i7-3930K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | HEDT Desktop |
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