Xeon E3-1535M v6 vs Xeon E5-2660

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 E3-1535M v6 vs Xeon E5-2660 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 E3-1535M v6 vs Xeon E5-2660: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Xeon E3-1535M v6

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.1% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 45W instead of 95W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-2660 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 20 MB).

Xeon E5-2660

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,067 vs 8,077).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,329 MSRP, while Xeon E3-1535M v6 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌111.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1535M v6 better than Xeon E5-2660?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Xeon E5-2660 is ahead with a 5.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E3-1535M v6 pulls ahead with 0.1% better PassMark. Xeon E5-2660 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 E3-1535M v6 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Xeon E3-1535M v6 is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-2660 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Xeon E3-1535M v6 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,329 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-2660 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 5.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-2660 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (6.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Xeon E3-1535M v6 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2012) 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 E3-1535M v6 vs Xeon E5-2660 Technical Specifications

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

Xeon E3-1535M v6

The Xeon E3-1535M v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,077 points. Launch price was $623.

Xeon E5-2660

The Xeon E5-2660 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,067 points. Launch price was $85.

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Processing Power

The Xeon E3-1535M v6 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2660 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2660 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Xeon E3-1535M v6 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2660 — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1535M v6 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Xeon E3-1535M v6 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2660 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1535M v6 scores 8,077 against the Xeon E5-2660's 8,067 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1535M v6. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1535M v6 vs 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2660.

Feature	Xeon E3-1535M v6	Xeon E5-2660
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+40%	3 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+41%	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB	20480 kB (total)+150%
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)	Sandy Bridge-EP (2012)
PassMark	8,077	8,067

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Memory & Platform

The Xeon E3-1535M v6 uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2660 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Xeon E3-1535M v6	Xeon E5-2660
Socket	BGA1440	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR3-1600
Max RAM Capacity	—	384 GB
RAM Channels	—	4
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	40