Xeon E3-1265L v3 vs Core i5-8250U
Xeon E3-1265L v3
Core i5-8250U
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 E3-1265L v3 is positioned at rank 610 and the Core i5-8250U is on rank 860, so the Xeon E3-1265L 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 E3-1265L v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8250U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1265L v3 | Core i5-8250U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($398) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1265L v3 | Core i5-8250U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($398) | ✅ 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 E3-1265L v3 and Core i5-8250U
Xeon E3-1265L v3
The Xeon E3-1265L 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,187 points. Launch price was $710.
Core i5-8250U
The Core i5-8250U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 6,158 points. Launch price was $297.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1265L v3 and Core i5-8250U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1265L v3 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-8250U — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1265L v3 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Xeon E3-1265L v3 uses the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-8250U uses Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1265L v3 scores 6,187 against the Core i5-8250U's 6,158 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1265L v3. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 996 vs 1,127, a 12.3% lead for the Core i5-8250U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1265L v3 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-8250U.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1265L v3 | Core i5-8250U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+9% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+56% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8192 kB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 6,187 | 6,158 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 996 | 1,127+13% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 3,458 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1265L v3 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-8250U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E3-1265L v3 versus DDR4-2400 on the Core i5-8250U — the Core i5-8250U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Xeon E3-1265L v3) vs 12 (Core i5-8250U) — the Xeon E3-1265L v3 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C220 Series,Intel 80 Series (Xeon E3-1265L v3) and Kaby Lake-R (Core i5-8250U).
| Feature | Xeon E3-1265L v3 | Core i5-8250U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR4-2400+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon E3-1265L v3) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8250U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics P4600 (Xeon E3-1265L v3) and UHD Graphics 620 (Core i5-8250U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E3-1265L v3 targets Server, Core i5-8250U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-8250U rivals Ryzen 5 2500U.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1265L v3 | Core i5-8250U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics P4600 | UHD Graphics 620 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Server | Mainstream Laptop |
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