Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs Core i3-12100T
Xeon E5-1660 v3
Core i3-12100T
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. The Xeon E5-1660 v3 is positioned at rank #824 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1660 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-12100T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core i3-12100T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($198) | ✅ More affordable ($90) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core i3-12100T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+118%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($198) | ✅ More affordable ($90) |
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 E5-1660 v3 and Core i3-12100T
Xeon E5-1660 v3
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 12,582 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i3-12100T
The Core i3-12100T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 12,491 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i3-12100T offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-1660 v3 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-1660 v3 versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i3-12100T — a 15.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-12100T (base: 3 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-1660 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-12100T uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1660 v3 scores 12,582 against the Core i3-12100T's 12,491 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5-1660 v3. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1660 v3 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100T.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core i3-12100T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.1 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+36% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+67% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 22 nm | Intel 7 nm-68% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 12,582 | 12,491 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,102 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-12100T uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core i3-12100T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-1660 v3) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100T). The Core i3-12100T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Xeon E5-1660 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100T targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100T rivals Ryzen 3 5300GE.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core i3-12100T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 730 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Low Power Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-1660 v3 launched at $1080 MSRP, while the Core i3-12100T debuted at $125. At current prices ($198 vs $90), the Core i3-12100T is $108 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-1660 v3 delivers 63.5 pts/$ vs 138.8 pts/$ for the Core i3-12100T — making the Core i3-12100T the 74.4% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1660 v3 | Core i3-12100T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1080 | $125-88% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $198 | $90-55% |
| Performance per Dollar | 63.5 | 138.8+119% |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2022 |
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