
Xeon Silver 4108 vs Xeon E3-1280 v6

Xeon Silver 4108

Xeon E3-1280 v6
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 Silver 4108 is positioned at rank 306 and the Xeon E3-1280 v6 is on rank 477, so the Xeon Silver 4108 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Silver 4108
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1280 v6
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Silver 4108 | Xeon E3-1280 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($46) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Silver 4108 | Xeon E3-1280 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($46) | ✅ 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 Silver 4108 and Xeon E3-1280 v6

Xeon Silver 4108
The Xeon Silver 4108 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 9,177 points. Launch price was $417.

Xeon E3-1280 v6
The Xeon E3-1280 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 9,093 points. Launch price was $612.
Processing Power
The Xeon Silver 4108 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E3-1280 v6 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon Silver 4108 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4108 versus 4.2 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v6 — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1280 v6 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Xeon Silver 4108 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1280 v6 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Silver 4108 scores 9,177 against the Xeon E3-1280 v6's 9,093 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon Silver 4108. L3 cache: 11 MB on the Xeon Silver 4108 vs 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1280 v6.
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4108 | Xeon E3-1280 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 4.2 GHz+40% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 3.9 GHz+117% |
| L3 Cache | 11 MB+38% | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | 8 MB+700% | 1 MB |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 9,177 | 9,093 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Silver 4108 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1280 v6 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Silver 4108 | Xeon E3-1280 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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