Intel Xeon E3-1280 v2 vs Intel Core i5-2500K

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E3-1280 v2 and Intel Core i5-2500K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Xeon E3-1280 v2

Intel Core i5-2500K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E3-1280 v2

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 3 month(s) later
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 8% higher clock speed: 4.00 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 2% higher maximum memory size: 32.77 GB vs 32 GB
Around 38% lower typical power consumption: 69 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 28% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2167 vs 1698
Around 60% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 6595 vs 4129
Around 6% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 852 vs 806
Around 21% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3205 vs 2657
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 7.106 vs 3.325

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	May 2012 vs January 2011
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	32.77 GB vs 32 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	69 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2167 vs 1698
PassMark - CPU mark	6595 vs 4129
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	852 vs 806
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3205 vs 2657
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	7.106 vs 3.325

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-2500K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking

Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E3-1280 v2
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-2500K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2167

1698

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

6595

4129

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

852

806

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3205

2657

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

7.106

3.325

Name	Intel Xeon E3-1280 v2	Intel Core i5-2500K
PassMark - Single thread mark	2167	1698
PassMark - CPU mark	6595	4129
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	852	806
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3205	2657
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	7.106	3.325
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		1575
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		78.071
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.384
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		1.818
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		4.627

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E3-1280 v2	Intel Core i5-2500K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	May 2012	January 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$645	$289
Place in performance rating	1717	2447
Price now	$1,512.82	$123.99
Processor Number	E3-1280V2	i5-2500K
Series	Intel® Xeon® Processor E3 v2 Family	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	1.84	15.38
Vertical segment	Server	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.60 GHz	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	160 mm	216 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared)	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum frequency	4.00 GHz	3.70 GHz
Number of cores	4	4
Number of threads	8	4
Transistor count	1400 million	1160 million
Maximum core temperature		72.6°C
Unlocked
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32.77 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	69 Watt	95 Watt
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x16 & 1x4, 2x8 & 1x4 or 1x8 & 3x4
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Device ID		0x112
Graphics base frequency		850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.1 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics		Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support