Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2 vs Intel Xeon E3-1225

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2 and Intel Xeon E3-1225 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.

Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2

Intel Xeon E3-1225

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 5 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
8 more threads: 12 vs 4
Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 76°C vs 72.6°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.5x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
12x more maximum memory size: 384 GB vs 32 GB
Around 19% lower typical power consumption: 80 Watt vs 95 Watt
3x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 11745 vs 3912
Around 51% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3249 vs 2145

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2013 vs April 2011
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 4
Maximum core temperature	76°C vs 72.6°C
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	15360 KB (shared) vs 6144 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	384 GB vs 32 GB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	11745 vs 3912
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3249 vs 2145

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E3-1225

Around 26% higher clock speed: 3.40 GHz vs 2.70 GHz
Around 17% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1582 vs 1352
Around 17% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 659 vs 561

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3.40 GHz vs 2.70 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1582 vs 1352
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	659 vs 561

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2
CPU 2: Intel Xeon E3-1225

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1352

1582

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

11745

3912

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

561

659

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3249

2145

Name	Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2	Intel Xeon E3-1225
PassMark - Single thread mark	1352	1582
PassMark - CPU mark	11745	3912
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	561	659
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3249	2145

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2	Intel Xeon E3-1225
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge EN	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	September 2013	April 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$480	$150
Place in performance rating	1992	2007
Price now	$579.95	$175
Processor Number	E5-2420V2	E3-1225
Series	Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 v2 Family	Intel® Xeon® Processor E3 Family
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.38	9.95
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.20 GHz	3.10 GHz
Bus Speed	7.2 GT/s QPI	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	15360 KB (shared)	6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	76°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	2.70 GHz	3.40 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of QPI Links	1
Number of threads	12	4
Transistor count	1400 million	1160 million
VID voltage range	0.65-1.30V
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	3	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	38.4 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	384 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2	1
Package Size	45mm x 42.5mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1356	LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt	95 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	24	20
PCI Express revision	3.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	x4, x8, x16
Scalability	2S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	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® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)	46-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Graphics base frequency		850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.35 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.35 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 P3000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support