
Xeon E3-1275 vs Xeon E3-1226 v3

Xeon E3-1275

Xeon E3-1226 v3
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 E3-1275 is positioned at rank 522 and the Xeon E3-1226 v3 is on rank 521, so the Xeon E3-1226 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 E3-1275
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1226 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1275 | Xeon E3-1226 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1275 | Xeon E3-1226 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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.

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E3-1275 and Xeon E3-1226 v3

Xeon E3-1275
The Xeon E3-1275 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 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,496 points. Launch price was $450.

Xeon E3-1226 v3
The Xeon E3-1226 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,529 points. Launch price was $213.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1275 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1226 v3's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1275 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1226 v3 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1275 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Xeon E3-1275 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1275 scores 5,496 against the Xeon E3-1226 v3's 5,529 — a 0.6% lead for the Xeon E3-1226 v3. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1275 | Xeon E3-1226 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+3% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+3% | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 5,496 | 5,529 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1275 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1275 | Xeon E3-1226 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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