Xeon E5-1620 vs Xeon E3-1515M v5
Xeon E5-1620
Xeon E3-1515M v5
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 Xeon E3-1515M v5 is on rank 488, so the Xeon E3-1515M v5 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 Xeon E3-1515M v5
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1620 | Xeon E3-1515M v5 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Skylake-H (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1620 | Xeon E3-1515M v5 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Xeon E3-1515M v5
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.
Xeon E3-1515M v5
The Xeon E3-1515M v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-H (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,925 points. Launch price was $489.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E5-1620 and Xeon E3-1515M v5 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1620 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1515M v5 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E5-1620 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon E5-1620 uses the Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1515M v5 uses Skylake-H (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1620 scores 5,848 against the Xeon E3-1515M v5's 5,925 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E3-1515M v5. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 612 vs 1,017, a 49.7% lead for the Xeon E3-1515M v5 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-1620 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1515M v5.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1620 | Xeon E3-1515M v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+3% | 3.7 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) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-E (2011−2013) | Skylake-H (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 5,848 | 5,925+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,469 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 612 | 1,017+66% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,250 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1620 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1515M v5 uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E5-1620 versus DDR4-2133 on the Xeon E3-1515M v5 — the Xeon E3-1515M v5 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-1620 supports up to 375 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 141.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-1620) vs 2 (Xeon E3-1515M v5). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-1620) vs 16 (Xeon E3-1515M v5) — the Xeon E5-1620 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel C600,Intel X79 (Xeon E5-1620) and SoC (Xeon E3-1515M v5).
| Feature | Xeon E5-1620 | Xeon E3-1515M v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 375 GB+486% | 64 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 (Xeon E3-1515M v5). The Xeon E3-1515M v5 includes integrated graphics (Iris Pro Graphics P580), while the Xeon E5-1620 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E3-1515M v5 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Xeon E3-1515M v5 rivals Core i7-6700HQ.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1620 | Xeon E3-1515M v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Pro Graphics P580 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Productivity |
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