Xeon X5690 vs Xeon E3-1245 v3
Xeon X5690
Xeon E3-1245 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 X5690 is positioned at rank 514 and the Xeon E3-1245 v3 is on rank 737, so the Xeon X5690 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5690
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1245 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X5690 | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($250) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($490) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X5690 | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+96%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($250) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($490) |
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 X5690 and Xeon E3-1245 v3
Xeon X5690
The Xeon X5690 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (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: 12288 kB (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: 7,031 points. Launch price was $205.
Xeon E3-1245 v3
The Xeon E3-1245 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,036 points. Launch price was $320.
Processing Power
The Xeon X5690 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1245 v3 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon X5690 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X5690 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1245 v3 — a 1.9% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1245 v3 (base: 3.46 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Xeon X5690 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Xeon E3-1245 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X5690 scores 7,031 against the Xeon E3-1245 v3's 7,036 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1245 v3. L3 cache: 12288 kB (total) on the Xeon X5690 vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1245 v3.
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.73 GHz | 3.8 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.46 GHz+2% | 3.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12288 kB (total)+50% | 8192 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 7,031 | 7,036 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,203 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,820 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X5690 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1245 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Memory channels: 3 (Xeon X5690) vs 2 (Xeon E3-1245 v3). Chipset compatibility: Intel X58,Intel 5520 (Xeon X5690) and LGA1150 (Xeon E3-1245 v3).
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 3+50% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5690) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E3-1245 v3). The Xeon E3-1245 v3 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics P4600), while the Xeon X5690 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon X5690 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5690 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics P4600 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Workstation | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon X5690 launched at $250 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1245 v3 debuted at $490. At current prices ($250 vs $490), the Xeon X5690 is $240 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon X5690 delivers 28.1 pts/$ vs 14.4 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1245 v3 — making the Xeon X5690 the 64.8% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon X5690 | Xeon E3-1245 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $250-49% | $490 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $250-49% | $490 |
| Performance per Dollar | 28.1+95% | 14.4 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2013 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon X5690 and Xeon E3-1245 v3
