Xeon E5-4620 vs Xeon E3-1280 v2
Xeon E5-4620
Xeon E3-1280 v2
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 E5-4620 is positioned at rank 1013 and the Xeon E3-1280 v2 is on rank 612, so the Xeon E3-1280 v2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-4620
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1280 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-4620 | Xeon E3-1280 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-4620 | Xeon E3-1280 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+698%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
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 E5-4620 and Xeon E3-1280 v2
Xeon E5-4620
The Xeon E5-4620 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16384 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: 6,635 points. Launch price was $400.
Xeon E3-1280 v2
The Xeon E3-1280 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 69 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,619 points. Launch price was $645.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-4620 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E3-1280 v2 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5-4620 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Xeon E5-4620 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v2 — a 42.4% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 v2 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E5-4620 uses the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1280 v2 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-4620 scores 6,635 against the Xeon E3-1280 v2's 6,619 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E5-4620. L3 cache: 16384 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-4620 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1280 v2.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4620 | Xeon E3-1280 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 4 GHz+54% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+64% |
| L3 Cache | 16384 kB (total)+100% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 6,635 | 6,619 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-4620 uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1280 v2 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4620 | Xeon E3-1280 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-4620 launched at $2141 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1280 v2 debuted at $315. At current prices ($400 vs $50), the Xeon E3-1280 v2 is $350 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-4620 delivers 16.6 pts/$ vs 132.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1280 v2 — making the Xeon E3-1280 v2 the 155.5% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-4620 | Xeon E3-1280 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2141 | $315-85% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $400 | $50-88% |
| Performance per Dollar | 16.6 | 132.4+698% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2012 |
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