CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2620 v3
Xeon E3-1285 v4
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 E5-2620 v3 is positioned at rank 643 and the Xeon E3-1285 v4 is on rank 748, so the Xeon E5-2620 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2620 v3
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1285 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2620 v3 | Xeon E3-1285 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-DT (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2620 v3 | Xeon E3-1285 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+150%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 E5-2620 v3 and Xeon E3-1285 v4
Xeon E5-2620 v3
The Xeon E5-2620 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 7,734 points. Launch price was $800.
Xeon E3-1285 v4
The Xeon E3-1285 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,735 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2620 v3 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1285 v4 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2620 v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon E5-2620 v3 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1285 v4 — a 17.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1285 v4 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-2620 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1285 v4 uses Broadwell-DT (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2620 v3 scores 7,734 against the Xeon E3-1285 v4's 7,735 — a 0% lead for the Xeon E3-1285 v4. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2620 v3 vs 6 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1285 v4.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2620 v3 | Xeon E3-1285 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.8 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.5 GHz+46% |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+150% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Broadwell-DT (2015) |
| PassMark | 7,734 | 7,735 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2620 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1285 v4 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2620 v3 | Xeon E3-1285 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-1866 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2620 v3) / not specified (Xeon E3-1285 v4). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2620 v3 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2620 v3 | Xeon E3-1285 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2620 v3 launched at $417 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1285 v4 debuted at $556. At current prices ($80 vs $200), the Xeon E5-2620 v3 is $120 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2620 v3 delivers 96.7 pts/$ vs 38.7 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1285 v4 — making the Xeon E5-2620 v3 the 85.7% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2620 v3 | Xeon E3-1285 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $417-25% | $556 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80-60% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 96.7+150% | 38.7 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2015 |
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