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).

Intel Xeon E5-2420

Intel Xeon E3-1235

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