Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2 vs Intel Xeon E3-1240 v2

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2 and Intel Xeon E3-1240 v2 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2

Intel Xeon E3-1240 v2

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 4 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
4 more threads: 12 vs 8
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
Around 88% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
11.7x more maximum memory size: 384 GB vs 32.77 GB
Around 85% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 11745 vs 6364
Around 12% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3249 vs 2913

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2013 vs May 2012
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 8
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 8192 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	384 GB vs 32.77 GB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	11745 vs 6364
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3249 vs 2913

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v2

Around 41% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 2.70 GHz
Around 16% lower typical power consumption: 69 Watt vs 80 Watt
Around 51% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2035 vs 1352
Around 33% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 746 vs 561

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 2.70 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	69 Watt vs 80 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2035 vs 1352
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	746 vs 561

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2
CPU 2: Intel Xeon E3-1240 v2

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1352

2035

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

11745

6364

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

561

746

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

3249

2913

Name	Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2	Intel Xeon E3-1240 v2
PassMark - Single thread mark	1352	2035
PassMark - CPU mark	11745	6364
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	561	746
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3249	2913
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E5-2420 v2	Intel Xeon E3-1240 v2
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge EN	Ivy Bridge
Launch date	September 2013	May 2012
Launch price (MSRP)	$480	$304
Place in performance rating	1960	1972
Price now	$579.95	$539.95
Processor Number	E5-2420V2	E3-1240V2
Series	Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 v2 Family	Intel® Xeon® Processor E3 v2 Family
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.38	4.98
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.20 GHz	3.40 GHz
Bus Speed	7.2 GT/s QPI	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	160 mm	160 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)	8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	22 nm
Maximum core temperature	76°C
Maximum frequency	2.70 GHz	3.80 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of QPI Links	1
Number of threads	12	8
Transistor count	1400 million	1400 million
VID voltage range	0.65-1.30V
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	3	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	38.4 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	384 GB	32.77 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600	DDR3 1333/1600
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	FCLGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt	69 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	24
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	x4, x8, x16	1x16 & 1x4, 2x8 & 1x4 or 1x8 & 3x4
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
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)