Xeon E5-2403 vs Xeon E3-1220L v2
Xeon E5-2403
Xeon E3-1220L v2
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 E5-2403 is positioned at rank 816 and the Xeon E3-1220L v2 is on rank 810, so the Xeon E3-1220L v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2403
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220L v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2403 | Xeon E3-1220L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2403 | Xeon E3-1220L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 E5-2403 and Xeon E3-1220L v2
Xeon E5-2403
The Xeon E5-2403 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,367 points. Launch price was $230.
Xeon E3-1220L v2
The Xeon E3-1220L v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,397 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2403 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2403 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2403 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220L v2 — a 64.2% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1220L v2 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Xeon E5-2403 uses the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2403 scores 2,367 against the Xeon E3-1220L v2's 2,397 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E3-1220L v2. L3 cache: 10240 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2403 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220L v2.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2403 | Xeon E3-1220L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.5 GHz+94% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.3 GHz+28% |
| L3 Cache | 10240 kB (total)+25% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,367 | 2,397+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2403 uses the LGA1356 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1220L v2 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2403 | Xeon E3-1220L v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1356 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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