CPU
GPU
Xeon E5-2620
Xeon E3-1225 v3
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 is positioned at rank 722 and the Xeon E3-1225 v3 is on rank 575, so the Xeon E3-1225 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
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1225 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2620 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) | ✅ More affordable ($29) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2620 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+207%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) | ✅ More affordable ($29) |
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 and Xeon E3-1225 v3
Xeon E5-2620
The Xeon E5-2620 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,328 points. Launch price was $36.
Xeon E3-1225 v3
The Xeon E3-1225 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,324 points. Launch price was $384.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2620 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1225 v3 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2620 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2620 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E3-1225 v3 — a 36.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1225 v3 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Xeon E5-2620 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1225 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2620 scores 5,328 against the Xeon E3-1225 v3's 5,324 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2620. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2620 vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1225 v3.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2620 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz+44% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.2 GHz+60% |
| L3 Cache | 15360 kB (total)+88% | 8192 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 5,328 | 5,324 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 2,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,108 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,324 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2620 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1225 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2620 supports up to 384 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2620) vs 2 (Xeon E3-1225 v3). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2620) vs 16 (Xeon E3-1225 v3) — the Xeon E5-2620 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2620) and C226,B85,Q87,H81,Z87 (Xeon E3-1225 v3).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2620 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB+1100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2620) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E3-1225 v3). The Xeon E3-1225 v3 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics P4600), while the Xeon E5-2620 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E3-1225 v3 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon E3-1225 v3 rivals Core i5-4570.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2620 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics P4600 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2620 launched at $360 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1225 v3 debuted at $224. At current prices ($89 vs $29), the Xeon E3-1225 v3 is $60 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2620 delivers 59.9 pts/$ vs 183.6 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1225 v3 — making the Xeon E3-1225 v3 the 101.6% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2620 | Xeon E3-1225 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $360 | $224-38% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $89 | $29-67% |
| Performance per Dollar | 59.9 | 183.6+207% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2013 |
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