Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5

The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 is a 4-core, 4-thread Skylake-DT processor built on Intel’s 14 nm process, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. It carries an 80 W TDP, supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode, includes ECC capability, and exposes 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. Its average benchmark score is 1414, placing it at the 38th percentile of all CPUs in the database. This is a modest, end-of-life server/workstation chip that trades raw throughput for low power and ECC reliability.

Who Should Consider It

The Xeon E3-1220 v5 is best suited for entry-level server and workstation workloads where ECC memory and stability matter more than peak multi-threaded performance. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 4892 and R20 score of 2054 indicate that it can handle light virtualization, database serving, and small-scale build servers without breaking a sweat. For office productivity, the single-core R23 score of 690 is adequate for typical spreadsheet, email, and web applications, especially with the 3.50 GHz boost. However, the lack of integrated graphics means a discrete GPU is mandatory, which rules out ultra-budget office builds. Content creators working with short 1080p renders or light photo editing will find the four threads sufficient, but anything heavily multi-threaded — like 4K video encoding or complex 3D scenes — will quickly expose its limits. Gaming is possible with a discrete GPU, but the modest single-core performance and low thread count will bottleneck modern titles; it is better reserved for older or less demanding games.

Power and Thermals

The 80 W TDP places this Xeon in a moderate power class. A standard tower air cooler with a 92 mm or 120 mm fan is more than enough; the 14 nm process and 122 mm² die keep heat density manageable. The transistor count of 1,750 million is typical for the era, and the lack of integrated graphics reduces overall package heat. In a 1U server chassis, a low-profile cooler with a high-static-pressure fan will handle it comfortably. The data does not include thermal throttling figures, but the 80 W envelope suggests that sustained all-core loads will remain within reasonable thermal limits for most commercial cooling solutions.

How It Comprises

Against its nearest rivals, the Xeon E3-1220 v5 sits in a tight performance cluster. The average benchmark score of 1414 is within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 (1415), making the two effectively interchangeable in raw performance. The Xeon is 0.4% slower than the AMD Opteron 4274 HE (1420) — a negligible gap that would not be perceptible in real workloads. It also trails the Intel Core i7-3820 (1422) by 0.6%, again a margin that falls within run-to-run variance. On the positive side, the Xeon is 0.4% faster than the Intel Core i5-8365UE (1408). In all four cases, the differences are so small that the deciding factors should be platform features (ECC, memory type, socket) rather than raw performance.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, it has built-in ECC memory support, which is essential for error-correcting in server and workstation environments.

Q: What memory types are compatible?

A: It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a total memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: Does it have integrated graphics?

A: No, there is no integrated GPU. A discrete graphics card is required for any display output.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the multiplier is locked. The base and boost clocks are fixed at 3.00 GHz and 3.50 GHz respectively.

Q: What is the socket type?

A: It uses the Intel Socket 1151, which is common for 6th and 7th generation Core processors.

Q: What was the launch MSRP?

A: The launch MSRP was $203.

Benchmark Performance

The Cinebench suite reveals a clear picture. In R15, the Xeon scores 492 multi-core and 69 single-core. In R20, it jumps to 2054 multi-core and 289 single-core. The R23 results are 4892 multi-core and 690 single-core. These scores, when compared to the nearest rivals, show that the Xeon is not a performance outlier. Its average benchmark score of 1414 is essentially tied with the Ryzen Embedded R2314 (1415, -0.1%), the Opteron 4274 HE (1420, -0.4%), and the Core i7-3820 (1422, -0.6%). It edges out the Core i5-8365UE (1408, +0.4%) by a hair. The 38th percentile ranking means the majority of CPUs in the database outperform it, but for its intended server niche, the combination of ECC support and low power draw is more valuable than raw speed. The multi-core scores scale roughly with the 4-core/4-thread design — there is no hyper-threading, so the chip relies on physical cores only. The R23 multi-core score of 4892 is roughly seven times the single-core score of 690, which is typical for a quad-core without SMT.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The single-thread performance is anchored by the 3.50 GHz boost clock. In R23, the single-core score of 690 places it in the lower tier of modern desktop processors, but it is still sufficient for legacy applications and lightly threaded tasks. The multi-core score of 4892 reflects the four physical cores running at the base 3.00 GHz under all-core load. The gap between single and multi scores is expected: a 4-core chip without hyper-threading will show roughly a 4x improvement in ideal scaling, but real workloads often fall short. The data suggests that this Xeon will feel responsive in everyday use, but it will struggle with heavily parallel workloads that benefit from 8 or more threads. For a server running a single-threaded database query or a workstation doing sequential compilation, the boost clock is the key asset. For batch rendering or multi-VM hosting, the lack of SMT and modest core count becomes a bottleneck.

Platform and Compatibility

The Xeon E3-1220 v5 uses the Intel Socket 1151, which is shared with consumer Skylake and Kaby Lake processors, but this chip is specifically marked for the server/workstation segment. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, though only one type can be used at a time; the dual-channel interface provides a theoretical bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. ECC memory is supported, a critical feature for data integrity. The CPU provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, which is sufficient for a single high-end GPU or a couple of NVMe drives, but it lacks the additional lanes found on HEDT platforms. There is no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory. The production status is end-of-life, meaning it is no longer manufactured, but it remains available on the second-hand market. Because it shares the 1151 socket with other CPUs, a motherboard that supports this Xeon may also accept other 1151 processors, though BIOS compatibility and chipset support vary. The upgrade path is limited by the end-of-life status and the fact that newer platforms use different sockets. For new builds, this chip is not a sensible choice; for existing 1151 systems that need ECC support, it can serve as a drop-in replacement.