Xeon X7550 vs Xeon E3-1286 v3
Xeon X7550
Xeon E3-1286 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 X7550 is positioned at rank 985 and the Xeon E3-1286 v3 is on rank 379, so the Xeon E3-1286 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 X7550
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1286 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X7550 | Xeon E3-1286 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,400) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X7550 | Xeon E3-1286 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,400) | ✅ 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 X7550 and Xeon E3-1286 v3
Xeon X7550
The Xeon X7550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB L3 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1567. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-978, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, Speed-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 7,873 points. Launch price was $800.
Xeon E3-1286 v3
The Xeon E3-1286 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 7,879 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Xeon X7550 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E3-1286 v3 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon X7550 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Xeon X7550 versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon E3-1286 v3 — a 52.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1286 v3 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). In PassMark, the Xeon X7550 scores 7,873 against the Xeon E3-1286 v3's 7,879 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1286 v3. L3 cache: 18 MB L3 Cache on the Xeon X7550 vs 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon E3-1286 v3.
| Feature | Xeon X7550 | Xeon E3-1286 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+100% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 4.1 GHz+71% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.7 GHz+85% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB L3 Cache+125% | 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| PassMark | 7,873 | 7,879 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X7550 uses the LGA1567 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Xeon E3-1286 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X7550 | Xeon E3-1286 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1567 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X7550) / not specified (Xeon E3-1286 v3). Primary use case: Xeon X7550 targets Server. Direct competitor: Xeon X7550 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Xeon X7550 | Xeon E3-1286 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
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