Xeon E3-1268L v5 vs Core i5-6600K
Xeon E3-1268L v5
Core i5-6600K
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 E3-1268L v5 is positioned at rank 455 and the Core i5-6600K is on rank 662, so the Xeon E3-1268L 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 E3-1268L v5
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6600K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1268L v5 | Core i5-6600K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($93) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($105) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-DT (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1268L v5 | Core i5-6600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+13%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($93) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($105) |
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 E3-1268L v5 and Core i5-6600K
Xeon E3-1268L v5
The Xeon E3-1268L 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,334 points. Launch price was $377.
Core i5-6600K
The Core i5-6600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 August 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,301 points. Launch price was $242.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1268L v5 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-6600K's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1268L v5 versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-6600K — a 13.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-6600K (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon E3-1268L v5 uses the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-6600K uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1268L v5 scores 6,334 against the Core i5-6600K's 6,301 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1268L v5. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1268L v5 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-6600K.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1268L v5 | Core i5-6600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.9 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.5 GHz+46% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake-DT (2015) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 6,334 | 6,301 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1151 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1268L v5 | Core i5-6600K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E3-1268L v5 launched at $377 MSRP, while the Core i5-6600K debuted at $242. At current prices ($93 vs $105), the Xeon E3-1268L v5 is $12 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1268L v5 delivers 68.1 pts/$ vs 60.0 pts/$ for the Core i5-6600K — making the Xeon E3-1268L v5 the 12.6% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1268L v5 | Core i5-6600K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $377 | $242-36% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $93-11% | $105 |
| Performance per Dollar | 68.1+13% | 60.0 |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2015 |
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