Xeon E3-1280 vs Core i7-5950HQ

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1155	1436
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.44	1.33
Market segment	Desktop processor	Server
Series	Intel Core i7	no data
Architecture codename	Broadwell-H (2015)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date	2 June 2015 (9 years ago)	3 April 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$623	$450
Current price	$727 (1.2x MSRP)	$243 (0.5x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Xeon E3-1280 has 202% better value for money than i7-5950HQ.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	4 (Quad-Core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	8	8
Base clock speed	2.9 GHz	3.5 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.8 GHz	3.9 GHz
L1 cache	64K (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB (shared)	8 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Die size	182 mm2	216 mm2
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	74 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	105 °C	no data
Number of transistors	no data	1,160 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1 (Uniprocessor)	1
Socket	FCBGA1364	LGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)	47 Watt	95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	-	no data
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	+	+
SIPP	-	no data
Smart Response	+	no data
Demand Based Switching	no data	+
FDI	+	-
Fast Memory Access	+	+
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	no data
Identity Protection	+	+
OS Guard	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280 are enumerated here.

AMD-V	+	no data
VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	no data	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3
Maximum memory size	32 GB	32 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200	no data
Max video memory	32 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	-
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	-
Graphics max frequency	1.15 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	-

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	no data
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	no data
HDMI	+	no data
VGA	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	2560x1600@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	11.2/12	no data
OpenGL	4.3	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280.

PCIe version	3.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	20

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core i7-5950HQ outperforms Xeon E3-1280 by 37% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	4.98	3.63
Recency	2 June 2015	3 April 2011
Cost	$623	$450
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	47 Watt	95 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1280, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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