Xeon E5472 vs Core i3-3240
Xeon E5472
Core i3-3240
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 E5472 is positioned at rank 822 and the Core i3-3240 is on rank 847, so the Xeon E5472 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5472
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3240
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5472 | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5472 | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 E5472 and Core i3-3240
Xeon E5472
The Xeon E5472 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 November 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,333 points. Launch price was $1,022.
Core i3-3240
The Core i3-3240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,352 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5472 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-3240 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5472 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon E5472 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-3240 — a 12.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-3240 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Xeon E5472 uses the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-3240 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5472 scores 2,333 against the Core i3-3240's 2,352 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i3-3240. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon E5472 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3240.
| Feature | Xeon E5472 | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+13% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB L2 Cache+300% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+2300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Harpertown (2007−2008) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,333 | 2,352 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5472 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3240 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5472 | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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