Xeon E3-1280 v6 vs Xeon E5-2450 v2

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.

Xeon E3-1280 v6 vs Xeon E5-2450 v2 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Xeon E3-1280 v6 vs Xeon E5-2450 v2: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Xeon E3-1280 v6

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 72W instead of 95W, a 23W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2450 v2 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 20 MB).

Xeon E5-2450 v2

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (9,057 vs 9,093).
❌31.9% higher power demand at 95W vs 72W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1280 v6 better than Xeon E5-2450 v2?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-2450 v2 is ahead with a 3.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E3-1280 v6 pulls ahead with 0.4% better PassMark. Xeon E5-2450 v2 also has the bigger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E3-1280 v6 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon E3-1280 v6 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon E3-1280 v6 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon E3-1280 v6 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2013) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Xeon E3-1280 v6 vs Xeon E5-2450 v2 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Xeon E3-1280 v6

The Xeon E3-1280 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 9,093 points. Launch price was $612.

Xeon E5-2450 v2

The Xeon E5-2450 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,057 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E3-1280 v6 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2450 v2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2450 v2 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v6 versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2450 v2 — a 24% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 v6 (base: 3.9 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E3-1280 v6 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2450 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1280 v6 scores 9,093 against the Xeon E5-2450 v2's 9,057 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon E3-1280 v6. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1280 v6 vs 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2450 v2.

Feature	Xeon E3-1280 v6	Xeon E5-2450 v2
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+27%	3.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.9 GHz+56%	2.5 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB	20 MB (total)+150%
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)	Ivy Bridge-EN (2013−2014)
PassMark	9,093	9,057

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon E3-1280 v6 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2450 v2 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.