Xeon E5-2658 vs Xeon E3-1265L v3
Xeon E5-2658
Xeon E3-1265L 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 E5-2658 is positioned at rank 699 and the Xeon E3-1265L v3 is on rank 610, so the Xeon E3-1265L 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 E5-2658
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1265L v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2658 | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($398) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2658 | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+0%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($398) |
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 E5-2658 and Xeon E3-1265L v3
Xeon E5-2658
The Xeon E5-2658 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 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: 6,232 points. Launch price was $1,462.
Xeon E3-1265L v3
The Xeon E3-1265L 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,187 points. Launch price was $710.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2658 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E3-1265L v3 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2658 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Xeon E5-2658 versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1265L v3 — a 42.6% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1265L v3 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E5-2658 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1265L v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2658 scores 6,232 against the Xeon E3-1265L v3's 6,187 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5-2658. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2658 vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1265L v3.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2658 | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.7 GHz+54% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.5 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 20480 kB (total)+150% | 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 | 6,232 | 6,187 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 996 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,458 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2658 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon E3-1265L v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2658 | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2658) / Yes (Xeon E3-1265L v3). The Xeon E3-1265L v3 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics P4600), while the Xeon E5-2658 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E3-1265L v3 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2658 | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics P4600 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
| Target Use | — | Server |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2658 launched at $400 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1265L v3 debuted at $294. At current prices ($400 vs $398), the Xeon E3-1265L v3 is $2 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2658 delivers 15.6 pts/$ vs 15.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1265L v3 — making the Xeon E5-2658 the 0.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2658 | Xeon E3-1265L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $400 | $294-27% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $400 | $398 |
| Performance per Dollar | 15.6 | 15.5 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2013 |
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