Intel Xeon E5-2603 vs Intel Xeon E3-1220L

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E5-2603 and Intel Xeon E3-1220L 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 E5-2603

Intel Xeon E3-1220L

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E5-2603

CPU is newer: launch date 10 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
3.3x 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 93% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4433 vs 2295

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	March 2012 vs April 2011
Number of cores	4 vs 2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	10240 KB (shared) vs 3072 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	384 GB vs 32 GB
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2 vs 1
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	4433 vs 2295

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E3-1220L

Around 89% higher clock speed: 3.40 GHz vs 1.8 GHz
Around 11% higher maximum core temperature: 77.5°C vs 70.0°C
4x lower typical power consumption: 20 Watt vs 80 Watt
Around 84% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1604 vs 873

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3.40 GHz vs 1.8 GHz
Maximum core temperature	77.5°C vs 70.0°C
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	20 Watt vs 80 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1604 vs 873

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E5-2603
CPU 2: Intel Xeon E3-1220L

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

873

1604

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4433

2295

Name	Intel Xeon E5-2603	Intel Xeon E3-1220L
PassMark - Single thread mark	873	1604
PassMark - CPU mark	4433	2295
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1771
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	5271

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E5-2603	Intel Xeon E3-1220L
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge EP	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	March 2012	April 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$207
Place in performance rating	1555	1526
Price now	$27.84
Processor Number	E5-2603	E3-1220L
Series	Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 Family	Intel® Xeon® Processor E3 Family
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	37.88
Vertical segment	Server	Server
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	1.80 GHz	2.20 GHz
Bus Speed	6.4 GT/s QPI	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	294 mm	131 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	10240 KB (shared)	3072 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	70.0°C	77.5°C
Maximum frequency	1.8 GHz	3.40 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of QPI Links	2
Number of threads	4	4
Transistor count	1270 million	504 million
VID voltage range	0.60V-1.35V
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	384 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 800/1066	DDR3 1066/1333
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	2	1
Package Size	52.5mm x 45.0mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011	FCLGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt	20 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40	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
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Intel® Fast Memory Access
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