Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 vs Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 and Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 are nearly identical Skylake server processors, but the 1270 v5 holds a consistent, if narrow, performance advantage across every recorded benchmark. The data shows the 1270 v5 winning all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 0.7% to 1%. Both chips share the same architecture, cache layout, memory support, and power envelope, so the difference comes down to clock speed. The 1270 v5 runs at a 3.60 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost, while the 1240 v5 runs at 3.50 GHz and 3.90 GHz. That small clock gap translates into a measurable, though modest, lead for the 1270 v5 in every workload tested.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The 1270 v5 wins all six Cinebench tests, but the margins are tight. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 1270 v5 scores 713 against 707 for the 1240 v5, a 0.8% lead. The single-core R15 test shows a 1% advantage, with scores of 100 and 99. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 2974 versus 2948, a 0.9% gap, and the single-core result is 419 versus 416, a 0.7% gap. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core scores are 7082 and 7020, again a 0.9% difference, while single-core scores are 999 and 991, a 0.8% difference. The largest single delta is the 1% in R15 single-core, and the smallest is 0.7% in R20 single-core. Across all six tests, the 1270 v5 is never behind, but the advantage is consistently under 1% in most cases.

The average benchmark score reinforces this picture. The 1270 v5 has an average score of 2048, while the 1240 v5 sits at 2030, a gap of 18 points. In terms of overall percentile ranking, the 1270 v5 lands in the 46th percentile of all CPUs, while the 1240 v5 is in the 45th. These are close positions, but the 1270 v5 edges ahead. The nearest rival data also places the two chips in similar company. The 1270 v5's average score ties exactly with the Intel Core i7-7820HK at 2048, and it is 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U. The 1240 v5, meanwhile, is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-5775R, which scores 2031, and 0.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5. This shows that both processors sit in a tight performance cluster, but the 1270 v5 consistently holds the higher position.

The benchmark results indicate that the 1270 v5 is the faster part in every scenario. The differences are small enough that they may not be noticeable in everyday use, but they are consistent across all three Cinebench versions and both single-core and multi-core workloads. For applications that rely heavily on single-threaded performance, the 1% lead in R15 single-core is the largest advantage. For multi-threaded tasks, the 0.9% lead in R20 and R23 multi-core is the typical margin. The 1270 v5 is the clear winner, but the 1240 v5 is never far behind.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speeds?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

Q: Do the two processors share the same architecture and cache?

A: Yes. Both are built on the Skylake-DT architecture using a 14 nm process. They have identical cache configurations: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. They also have the same transistor count of 1,750 million and a die size of 122 mm².

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The 1270 v5 has an average benchmark score of 2048, while the 1240 v5 scores 2030. That is a difference of 18 points in favor of the 1270 v5.

Q: Does the 1240 v5 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The 1240 v5 loses all six Cinebench tests. The 1270 v5 wins every one, with deltas ranging from 0.7% to 1%.

Q: How do these processors rank against all CPUs?

A: The 1270 v5 is in the 46th percentile of all CPUs, while the 1240 v5 is in the 45th percentile. Both are mid-range performers, but the 1270 v5 sits slightly higher.

Q: Do they support the same memory and expansion features?

A: Yes. Both support DDR3 and DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. They also support ECC memory and have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Architecture Differences

The two processors are architecturally identical. Both use the Skylake-DT codename and are built on Intel's 14 nm process. The transistor count is the same at 1,750 million, and the die size is 122 mm². The cache hierarchy is exactly the same: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Memory support is also identical, with dual-channel DDR3 and DDR4, a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, and ECC capability. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) and no integrated graphics. The socket is Intel Socket 1151 for both, and the TDP is 80 watts.

The only architectural difference is the clock speed. The 1270 v5 runs at a 3.60 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost, while the 1240 v5 runs at 3.50 GHz and 3.90 GHz. This is a 100 MHz difference in both base and boost clocks. Since the underlying silicon is the same, the performance gap observed in benchmarks is entirely attributable to these clock settings. The higher clocks on the 1270 v5 allow it to complete instructions faster, which shows up as a small but consistent lead in every Cinebench test.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in only a few hardware specifications. The base clock is 3.60 GHz on the 1270 v5 versus 3.50 GHz on the 1240 v5. The boost clock is 4.00 GHz versus 3.90 GHz. The launch MSRP is $339 for the 1270 v5 and $282 for the 1240 v5. The part numbers are SR2LF for the 1270 v5 and SR2LD for the 1240 v5. All other specifications, including cores, threads, TDP, socket, architecture, process node, cache, memory support, memory bandwidth, ECC support, PCIe lanes, integrated graphics, market segment, production status, and release date, are identical. Both processors are end-of-life and were released on the same date.

The specification sheet shows that the 1270 v5 is the higher-binned part, with a 100 MHz advantage in both base and boost clocks. The 1240 v5 is a slightly lower-clocked version of the same chip. The launch MSRP reflects this positioning, with the 1270 v5 priced higher, but the performance difference is small. The part numbers confirm the distinction, with SR2LF and SR2LD being separate SKUs.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 is the faster processor. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with deltas from 0.7% to 1%. The average benchmark score is 2048 versus 2030, and the percentile ranking is 46 versus 45. The 1270 v5 is the superior part in every measured category. The 1240 v5 is a close second, but it never takes the lead.

For users who require the highest possible performance from this platform, the 1270 v5 is the clear choice. The 100 MHz clock advantage translates into a consistent, if modest, edge across both single-core and multi-core workloads. The 1240 v5, on the other hand, offers nearly identical performance, with the largest deficit being just 1% in R15 single-core. In practical terms, the difference may be imperceptible in many applications, but the benchmark data shows a definitive winner.

The verdict is straightforward: the 1270 v5 is the better processor. The 1240 v5 is a viable alternative for those who can accept a sub-1% performance reduction, but the 1270 v5 holds the top spot in every test.

Where Each One Wins

The 1270 v5 wins in every category. In single-core workloads, it leads by 1% in Cinebench R15, 0.7% in R20, and 0.8% in R23. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 0.8% in R15, 0.9% in R20, and 0.9% in R23. The 1240 v5 does not win any benchmark. Its best result is a 0.7% deficit in R20 single-core, and its worst is a 1% deficit in R15 single-core.

The 1240 v5 is not without merit. It is a capable processor that delivers nearly the same performance as the 1270 v5, but it is always behind. For workloads that are not sensitive to the small clock difference, the 1240 v5 can be a suitable choice. However, the data shows that the 1270 v5 is the winner in every scenario. The 1240 v5's role is as a slightly lower-clocked alternative, but it does not claim a single victory in the recorded benchmarks.