Intel Xeon E5-2420 vs Intel Xeon E3-1235

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E5-2420 and Intel Xeon E3-1235 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), 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5-2420

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 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
  • 12x more maximum memory size: 384 GB vs 32 GB
  • Around 3% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2647 vs 2563
Specifications (specs)
Launch date May 2012 vs April 2011
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 GB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 2 vs 1
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2647 vs 2563

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E3-1235

  • Around 50% higher clock speed: 3.60 GHz vs 2.40 GHz
  • Around 45% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1607 vs 1108
  • Around 65% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5053 vs 3065
  • Around 55% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 703 vs 454
Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency 3.60 GHz vs 2.40 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1607 vs 1108
PassMark - CPU mark 5053 vs 3065
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 703 vs 454

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E5-2420
CPU 2: Intel Xeon E3-1235

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1108
1607
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
3065
5053
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
454
703
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
2647
2563
Name Intel Xeon E5-2420 Intel Xeon E3-1235
PassMark - Single thread mark 1108 1607
PassMark - CPU mark 3065 5053
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 454 703
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2647 2563
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 13.214
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 15.561
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.493
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 2.788
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 4.62

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Xeon E5-2420 Intel Xeon E3-1235

Essentials

Architecture codename Sandy Bridge EN Sandy Bridge
Launch date May 2012 April 2011
Launch price (MSRP) $390 $287
Place in performance rating 2347 2351
Price now $390.02 $244
Processor Number E5-2420 E3-1235
Series Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 Family Intel® Xeon® Processor E3 Family
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 5.32 9.27
Vertical segment Server Server

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 1.90 GHz 3.20 GHz
Bus Speed 7.2 GT/s QPI 5 GT/s DMI
Die size 294 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) 8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 32 nm
Maximum frequency 2.40 GHz 3.60 GHz
Number of cores 6 4
Number of QPI Links 1
Number of threads 12 8
Transistor count 1270 million 1160 million
VID voltage range 0.6V-1.35V
Maximum core temperature 72.6°C

Memory

ECC memory support
Max memory channels 3 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 32 GB/s 21 GB/s
Maximum memory size 384 GB 32 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 800/1066/1333 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) 95 Watt 95 Watt

Peripherals

Max number of PCIe lanes 24 20
PCI Express revision 3.0 2.0
Scalability 2S Only

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® 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® Turbo Boost technology
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