
Xeon E3-1280 v6 vs Xeon Silver 4108

Xeon E3-1280 v6

Xeon Silver 4108
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 E3-1280 v6 is positioned at rank 477 and the Xeon Silver 4108 is on rank 306, so the Xeon Silver 4108 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1280 v6
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Silver 4108
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1280 v6 | Xeon Silver 4108 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($46) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1280 v6 | Xeon Silver 4108 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($46) |
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 v6 and Xeon Silver 4108

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 Silver 4108
The Xeon Silver 4108 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 9,177 points. Launch price was $417.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1280 v6 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon Silver 4108 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Silver 4108 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v6 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4108 — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 v6 (base: 3.9 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Xeon E3-1280 v6 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Silver 4108 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1280 v6 scores 9,093 against the Xeon Silver 4108's 9,177 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon Silver 4108. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1280 v6 vs 11 MB on the Xeon Silver 4108.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1280 v6 | Xeon Silver 4108 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+40% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.9 GHz+117% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 11 MB+38% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 8 MB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 9,093 | 9,177 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1280 v6 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Silver 4108 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1280 v6 | Xeon Silver 4108 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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