Intel Xeon E5-2420 vs Intel Xeon E3-1240

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E5-2420 and Intel Xeon E3-1240 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 E3-1240

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

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

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E3-1240

Around 54% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 2.40 GHz
Around 19% lower typical power consumption: 80 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 56% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1723 vs 1108
Around 76% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5403 vs 3065
Around 57% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 714 vs 454
Around 4% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2746 vs 2647

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 2.40 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1723 vs 1108
PassMark - CPU mark	5403 vs 3065
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	714 vs 454
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2746 vs 2647

Compare benchmarks

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

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1108

1723

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3065

5403

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

454

714

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2647

2746

Name	Intel Xeon E5-2420	Intel Xeon E3-1240
PassMark - Single thread mark	1108	1723
PassMark - CPU mark	3065	5403
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	454	714
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2647	2746
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		4.497
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		76.242
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.537
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		0.514
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		4.798

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E5-2420	Intel Xeon E3-1240
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge EN	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	May 2012	April 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$390	$209
Place in performance rating	2347	2375
Price now	$390.02	$244
Processor Number	E5-2420	E3-1240
Series	Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 Family	Intel® Xeon® Processor E3 Family
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	5.32	9.61
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	1.90 GHz	3.30 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	3.70 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		69.1°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	80 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
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Graphics interfaces
Wireless Display (WiDi) support