Xeon W3690 vs Xeon E3-1241 v3
Xeon W3690
Xeon E3-1241 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 W3690 is positioned at rank 798 and the Xeon E3-1241 v3 is on rank 535, so the Xeon E3-1241 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 W3690
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1241 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon W3690 | Xeon E3-1241 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) | ✅ More affordable ($27) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Gulftown (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon W3690 | Xeon E3-1241 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+417%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) | ✅ More affordable ($27) |
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 W3690 and Xeon E3-1241 v3
Xeon W3690
The Xeon W3690 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.46 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,191 points. Launch price was $450.
Xeon E3-1241 v3
The Xeon E3-1241 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 7,169 points. Launch price was $273.
Processing Power
The Xeon W3690 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1241 v3 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon W3690 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.73 GHz on the Xeon W3690 versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1241 v3 — a 4.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1241 v3 (base: 3.46 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon W3690 uses the Gulftown (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1241 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon W3690 scores 7,191 against the Xeon E3-1241 v3's 7,169 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon W3690. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Xeon W3690 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1241 v3.
| Feature | Xeon W3690 | Xeon E3-1241 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz | 3.9 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 3.46 GHz | 3.5 GHz+1% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Gulftown (2010−2011) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 7,191 | 7,169 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon W3690 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1241 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon W3690 | Xeon E3-1241 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Value Analysis
The Xeon W3690 launched at $583 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1241 v3 debuted at $273. At current prices ($140 vs $27), the Xeon E3-1241 v3 is $113 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon W3690 delivers 51.4 pts/$ vs 265.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1241 v3 — making the Xeon E3-1241 v3 the 135.2% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon W3690 | Xeon E3-1241 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $583 | $273-53% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $140 | $27-81% |
| Performance per Dollar | 51.4 | 265.5+417% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2014 |
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