Xeon E5-1620 vs Core i7-3840QM
Xeon E5-1620
Core i7-3840QM
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 E5-1620 is positioned at rank 953 and the Core i7-3840QM is on rank 238, so the Core i7-3840QM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1620
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3840QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1620 | Core i7-3840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1620 | Core i7-3840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ 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 E5-1620 and Core i7-3840QM
Xeon E5-1620
The Xeon E5-1620 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,848 points. Launch price was $313.
Core i7-3840QM
The Core i7-3840QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,871 points. Launch price was $568.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-1620 and Core i7-3840QM share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1620 versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-3840QM — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon E5-1620 uses the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-3840QM uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1620 scores 5,848 against the Core i7-3840QM's 5,871 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-3840QM. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 612 vs 676, a 9.9% lead for the Core i7-3840QM that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-1620 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-3840QM.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1620 | Core i7-3840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+29% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10240 kB (total)+25% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,848 | 5,871 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,469 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 612 | 676+10% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,250 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1620 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-3840QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Xeon E5-1620 supports up to 375 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 168.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-1620) vs 2 (Core i7-3840QM). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-1620) vs 16 (Core i7-3840QM) — the Xeon E5-1620 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel C600,Intel X79 (Xeon E5-1620) and HM75,HM76,HM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i7-3840QM).
| Feature | Xeon E5-1620 | Core i7-3840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 375 GB+1072% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: true (Xeon E5-1620) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-3840QM). The Core i7-3840QM includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Xeon E5-1620 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-3840QM targets Mobile Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-3840QM rivals A10-5750M.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1620 | Core i7-3840QM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Mobile Workstation |
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