Xeon E3-1280 vs Opteron 6238
Xeon E3-1280
Opteron 6238
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 is positioned at rank 517 and the Opteron 6238 is on rank 61, so the Opteron 6238 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
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 6238
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1280 | Opteron 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($118) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Interlagos (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1280 | Opteron 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($118) |
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 and Opteron 6238
Xeon E3-1280
The Xeon E3-1280 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 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 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: 5,612 points. Launch price was $450.
Opteron 6238
The Opteron 6238 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 November 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Interlagos (2011−2012) architecture. It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per module). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G34. Thermal design power (TDP): 115 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,625 points. Launch price was $455.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1280 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Opteron 6238 offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the Opteron 6238 has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 versus 3.2 GHz on the Opteron 6238 — a 19.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Xeon E3-1280 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Opteron 6238 uses Interlagos (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1280 scores 5,612 against the Opteron 6238's 5,625 — a 0.2% lead for the Opteron 6238. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1280 | Opteron 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 12 / 12+200% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+22% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+35% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (per module)+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Interlagos (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 5,612 | 5,625 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1280 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Opteron 6238 uses G34 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1280 | Opteron 6238 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | G34 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
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