Xeon E5-2660 v3 vs Core i3-12300T
Xeon E5-2660 v3
Core i3-12300T
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2660 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-12300T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2660 v3 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($150) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($164) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2660 v3 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+8%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($150) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($164) |
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 E5-2660 v3 and Core i3-12300T
Xeon E5-2660 v3
The Xeon E5-2660 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 13,039 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i3-12300T
The Core i3-12300T 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 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 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: 13,162 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2660 v3 packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i3-12300T offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2660 v3 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2660 v3 versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i3-12300T — a 24% clock advantage for the Core i3-12300T (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Xeon E5-2660 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-12300T uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2660 v3 scores 13,039 against the Core i3-12300T's 13,162 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i3-12300T. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2660 v3 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12300T.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2660 v3 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20+150% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 4.2 GHz+27% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+13% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 25 MB (total)+108% | 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 | 13,039 | 13,162 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2660 v3 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-12300T uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2660 v3 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2660 v3) / not specified (Core i3-12300T). Primary use case: Xeon E5-2660 v3 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2660 v3 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-2660 v3 launched at $1445 MSRP, while the Core i3-12300T debuted at $209. At current prices ($150 vs $164), the Xeon E5-2660 v3 is $14 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-2660 v3 delivers 86.9 pts/$ vs 80.3 pts/$ for the Core i3-12300T — making the Xeon E5-2660 v3 the 8% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2660 v3 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1445 | $209-86% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150-9% | $164 |
| Performance per Dollar | 86.9+8% | 80.3 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2022 |
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