Xeon Platinum 8260L vs Xeon E3-1220 v3
Xeon Platinum 8260L
Xeon E3-1220 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 Platinum 8260L is positioned at rank 1030 and the Xeon E3-1220 v3 is on rank 548, so the Xeon E3-1220 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 Platinum 8260L
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Platinum 8260L | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($750) | ✅ More affordable ($89) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Platinum 8260L | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+755%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($750) | ✅ More affordable ($89) |
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 Platinum 8260L and Xeon E3-1220 v3
Xeon Platinum 8260L
The Xeon Platinum 8260L is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 35.75 MB. L2 cache: 24 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 165 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 5,103 points. Launch price was $12,599.
Xeon E3-1220 v3
The Xeon E3-1220 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,178 points. Launch price was $239.
Processing Power
The Xeon Platinum 8260L packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon Platinum 8260L has 20 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon Platinum 8260L versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v3 — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Xeon Platinum 8260L (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Xeon Platinum 8260L uses the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Platinum 8260L scores 5,103 against the Xeon E3-1220 v3's 5,178 — a 1.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1220 v3. L3 cache: 35.75 MB on the Xeon Platinum 8260L vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220 v3.
| Feature | Xeon Platinum 8260L | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 24 / 48+500% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+11% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.1 GHz+29% |
| L3 Cache | 35.75 MB+347% | 8192 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 24 MB+9500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 5,103 | 5,178+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Platinum 8260L uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Platinum 8260L | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2933 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4608 | — |
| RAM Channels | 6 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Xeon Platinum 8260L) / not specified (Xeon E3-1220 v3).
| Feature | Xeon Platinum 8260L | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Platinum 8260L launched at $7500 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 debuted at $203. At current prices ($750 vs $89), the Xeon E3-1220 v3 is $661 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Platinum 8260L delivers 6.8 pts/$ vs 58.2 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1220 v3 — making the Xeon E3-1220 v3 the 158.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Platinum 8260L | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $7500 | $203-97% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $750 | $89-88% |
| Performance per Dollar | 6.8 | 58.2+756% |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2013 |
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