Ryzen 3 1200
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Xeon E3-1240 v2
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Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook
This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.
Ryzen 3 1200
2017Why buy it
- ✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
- ✅Costs $141 less on MSRP ($109 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 130.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 58.8 vs 25.5 PassMark/$ ($109 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 65W instead of 69W, a 4W reduction.
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E3-1240 v2 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E3-1240 v2, which brings 4 cores / 8 threads.
Xeon E3-1240 v2
2012Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (6,385 vs 6,407).
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.5 vs 58.8 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $109 MSRP).
- ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 3 1200.
Ryzen 3 1200
2017Xeon E3-1240 v2
2012Why buy it
- ✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
- ✅Costs $141 less on MSRP ($109 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 130.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 58.8 vs 25.5 PassMark/$ ($109 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 65W instead of 69W, a 4W reduction.
- ✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 8 threads.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E3-1240 v2 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E3-1240 v2, which brings 4 cores / 8 threads.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark (6,385 vs 6,407).
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.5 vs 58.8 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $109 MSRP).
- ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 3 1200.
Quick Answers
So, is Ryzen 3 1200 better than Xeon E3-1240 v2?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Games Benchmarks
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Path of Exile 2
| Preset | Ryzen 3 1200 | Xeon E3-1240 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| medium | 146 FPS | 141 FPS |
| high | 116 FPS | 113 FPS |
| ultra | 94 FPS | 90 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 141 FPS | 145 FPS |
| medium | 118 FPS | 119 FPS |
| high | 91 FPS | 93 FPS |
| ultra | 72 FPS | 74 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 67 FPS | 66 FPS |
| medium | 60 FPS | 58 FPS |
| high | 46 FPS | 45 FPS |
| ultra | 36 FPS | 35 FPS |
Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | Ryzen 3 1200 | Xeon E3-1240 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| medium | 145 FPS | 160 FPS |
| high | 136 FPS | 160 FPS |
| ultra | 106 FPS | 126 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 145 FPS | 160 FPS |
| medium | 125 FPS | 151 FPS |
| high | 116 FPS | 139 FPS |
| ultra | 93 FPS | 113 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 113 FPS | 135 FPS |
| medium | 100 FPS | 123 FPS |
| high | 78 FPS | 102 FPS |
| ultra | 58 FPS | 76 FPS |
League of Legends
| Preset | Ryzen 3 1200 | Xeon E3-1240 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| medium | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| high | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| ultra | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| medium | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| high | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| ultra | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| medium | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| high | 139 FPS | 160 FPS |
| ultra | 109 FPS | 160 FPS |
Valorant
| Preset | Ryzen 3 1200 | Xeon E3-1240 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| medium | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| high | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| ultra | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| medium | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| high | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| ultra | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| medium | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| high | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
| ultra | 160 FPS | 160 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 3 1200 and Xeon E3-1240 v2
Ryzen 3 1200
Ryzen 3 1200
The Ryzen 3 1200 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Summit Ridge (Zen) (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,407 points. Launch price was $109.
Xeon E3-1240 v2
Xeon E3-1240 v2
The Xeon E3-1240 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 69 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,385 points. Launch price was $304.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 3 1200 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1240 v2's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 1200 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1240 v2 — a 11.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1240 v2 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Ryzen 3 1200 uses the Summit Ridge (Zen) (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1240 v2 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 1200 scores 6,407 against the Xeon E3-1240 v2's 6,385 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 3 1200. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 1200 | Xeon E3-1240 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.8 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.4 GHz+10% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Summit Ridge (Zen) (2017) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 6,407 | 6,385 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,013 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 3,000 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 3 1200 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1240 v2 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 1200 | Xeon E3-1240 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | Yes | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 3 1200) / not specified (Xeon E3-1240 v2). Primary use case: Ryzen 3 1200 targets Budget.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 1200 | Xeon E3-1240 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 3 1200 launched at $109 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1240 v2 debuted at $250. On MSRP ($109 vs $250), the Ryzen 3 1200 is $141 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 3 1200 delivers 58.8 pts/$ vs 25.5 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1240 v2 — making the Ryzen 3 1200 the 78.8% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 1200 | Xeon E3-1240 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $109-56% | $250 |
| Performance per Dollar | 58.8+131% | 25.5 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2012 |
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