Xeon E3-1270L v4 vs Xeon E5-2640 v2
Xeon E3-1270L v4
Xeon E5-2640 v2
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 E3-1270L v4 is positioned at rank 768 and the Xeon E5-2640 v2 is on rank 1023, so the Xeon E3-1270L 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 E3-1270L v4
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2640 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1270L v4 | Xeon E5-2640 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($636) | ✅ More affordable ($530) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-DT (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1270L v4 | Xeon E5-2640 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+19%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($636) | ✅ More affordable ($530) |
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 E3-1270L v4 and Xeon E5-2640 v2
Xeon E3-1270L v4
The Xeon E3-1270L 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 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 7,662 points. Launch price was $800.
Xeon E5-2640 v2
The Xeon E5-2640 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,625 points. Launch price was $728.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1270L v4 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2640 v2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2640 v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E3-1270L v4 versus 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2640 v2 — a 36.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1270L v4 (base: 3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Xeon E3-1270L v4 uses the Broadwell-DT (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2640 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1270L v4 scores 7,662 against the Xeon E5-2640 v2's 7,625 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1270L v4. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1270L v4 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2640 v2.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270L v4 | Xeon E5-2640 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+44% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+50% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 20 MB (total)+233% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-DT (2015) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 7,662 | 7,625 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,289 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,271 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1270L v4 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2640 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2640 v2 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 184% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Xeon E3-1270L v4) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2640 v2). PCIe lanes: 16 (Xeon E3-1270L v4) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2640 v2) — the Xeon E5-2640 v2 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C226 (Xeon E3-1270L v4) and Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2640 v2).
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270L v4 | Xeon E5-2640 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 768 GB+2300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 40+150% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E3-1270L v4) / not specified (Xeon E5-2640 v2). Primary use case: Xeon E3-1270L v4 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon E3-1270L v4 rivals Core i7-4790T.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270L v4 | Xeon E5-2640 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Workstation | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E3-1270L v4 launched at $581 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2640 v2 debuted at $4115. At current prices ($636 vs $530), the Xeon E5-2640 v2 is $106 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1270L v4 delivers 12.0 pts/$ vs 14.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2640 v2 — making the Xeon E5-2640 v2 the 17.7% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270L v4 | Xeon E5-2640 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $581-86% | $4115 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $636 | $530-17% |
| Performance per Dollar | 12.0 | 14.4+20% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2013 |
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