Xeon E3-1265L v4 vs Core i7-980
Xeon E3-1265L v4
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 E3-1265L v4 is positioned at rank 674 and the Core i7-980 is on rank 966, so the Xeon E3-1265L v4 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 v4
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-980
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-DT (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+59%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($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 E3-1265L v4 and Core i7-980
Xeon E3-1265L v4
The Xeon E3-1265L v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 6,954 points. Launch price was $800.
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 E3-1265L v4 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 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E3-1265L v4 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-980 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-980 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Xeon E3-1265L v4 uses the Broadwell-DT (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-980 uses Gulftown (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1265L v4 scores 6,954 against the Core i7-980's 6,890 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E3-1265L v4. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1265L v4 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-980.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.33 GHz+45% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-DT (2015) | Gulftown (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 6,954 | 6,890 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 4,500 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 900 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 3,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1265L v4 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-980 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+150% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E3-1265L v4) / not specified (Core i7-980). The Xeon E3-1265L v4 includes integrated graphics (Iris Pro Graphics P6300), while the Core i7-980 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E3-1265L v4 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Iris Pro Graphics P6300 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E3-1265L v4 launched at $417 MSRP, while the Core i7-980 debuted at $583. At current prices ($80 vs $50), the Core i7-980 is $30 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1265L v4 delivers 86.9 pts/$ vs 137.8 pts/$ for the Core i7-980 — making the Core i7-980 the 45.3% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1265L v4 | Core i7-980 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $417-28% | $583 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80 | $50-38% |
| Performance per Dollar | 86.9 | 137.8+59% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2011 |
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