Xeon E5-2680 vs Core i3-1125G4
Xeon E5-2680
Core i3-1125G4
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 E5-2680 is positioned at rank 1014 and the Core i3-1125G4 is on rank 651, so the Core i3-1125G4 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2680
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-1125G4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i3-1125G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) / 10 nm SuperFin) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i3-1125G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 E5-2680 and Core i3-1125G4
Xeon E5-2680
The Xeon E5-2680 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 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 9,289 points. Launch price was $1,723.
Core i3-1125G4
The Core i3-1125G4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1449. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,284 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-2680 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i3-1125G4 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-2680 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E5-2680 versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-1125G4 — a 5.6% clock advantage for the Core i3-1125G4 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Xeon E5-2680 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-1125G4 uses Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) (10 nm SuperFin). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-2680 scores 9,289 against the Core i3-1125G4's 9,284 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E5-2680. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2680 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i3-1125G4.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i3-1125G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+35% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+150% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 32 nm | 10 nm SuperFin-69% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Tiger Lake-UP3 (2020−2021) |
| PassMark | 9,289 | 9,284 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 5,112 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,560 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 4,770 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-2680 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-1125G4 uses FCBGA1449 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Xeon E5-2680 versus DDR4-3200 on the Core i3-1125G4 — the Core i3-1125G4 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5-2680 supports up to 384 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5-2680) vs 2 (Core i3-1125G4). PCIe lanes: 40 (Xeon E5-2680) vs 16 (Core i3-1125G4) — the Xeon E5-2680 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel X79,Intel C602 (Xeon E5-2680) and SoC (Core i3-1125G4).
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i3-1125G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | FCBGA1449 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR4-3200+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 384 GB+500% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-2680) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-1125G4). The Core i3-1125G4 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics (48 EU)), while the Xeon E5-2680 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-1125G4 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i3-1125G4 rivals Ryzen 3 5300U.
| Feature | Xeon E5-2680 | Core i3-1125G4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics (48 EU) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Productivity |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon E5-2680 and Core i3-1125G4
