CPU
GPU
Xeon E3-1260L
Core i3-7130U
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 E3-1260L is positioned at rank 750 and the Core i3-7130U is on rank 641, so the Core i3-7130U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1260L
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7130U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1260L | Core i3-7130U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($270) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-U (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1260L | Core i3-7130U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($270) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 E3-1260L and Core i3-7130U
Xeon E3-1260L
The Xeon E3-1260L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,076 points. Launch price was $150.
Core i3-7130U
The Core i3-7130U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-U (2017) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,055 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1260L packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i3-7130U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E3-1260L has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E3-1260L versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i3-7130U — a 20% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1260L (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Xeon E3-1260L uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-7130U uses Kaby Lake-U (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1260L scores 4,076 against the Core i3-7130U's 4,055 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1260L. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1260L vs 3 MB on the Core i3-7130U.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1260L | Core i3-7130U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+22% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 2.7 GHz+13% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+167% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Kaby Lake-U (2017) |
| PassMark | 4,076 | 4,055 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 900 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1260L uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-7130U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1260L | Core i3-7130U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1260L) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-7130U). The Core i3-7130U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 620), while the Xeon E3-1260L requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-7130U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-7130U rivals Ryzen 3 3250U.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1260L | Core i3-7130U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 620 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Laptop |
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