CPU
GPU
Xeon E3-1280 v2
Ryzen 5 3450U
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. The Xeon E3-1280 v2 is positioned at rank #612 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1280 v2
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1280 v2 | Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) / 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1280 v2 | Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ 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 E3-1280 v2 and Ryzen 5 3450U
Xeon E3-1280 v2
The Xeon E3-1280 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 69 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,619 points. Launch price was $645.
Ryzen 5 3450U
The Ryzen 5 3450U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 May 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 4 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,550 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1280 v2 and Ryzen 5 3450U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v2 versus 3.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3450U — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 v2 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Xeon E3-1280 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3450U uses Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1280 v2 scores 6,619 against the Ryzen 5 3450U's 6,550 — a 1% lead for the Xeon E3-1280 v2. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1280 v2 vs 4 MB on the Ryzen 5 3450U.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1280 v2 | Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+14% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+71% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+100% | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 22 nm | 12 nm-45% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 6,619+1% | 6,550 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1280 v2 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3450U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1280 v2 | Ryzen 5 3450U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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