Intel Xeon E3-1276 V3

The Intel Xeon E3-1276 V3 brings 4 cores and 8 threads. Integrated Intel HD Graphics P4600 graphics let it run headless-GPU builds and troubleshooting. Clocks span 3.6GHz base to 4GHz boost. It drops into the LGA1150 socket with a 84W TDP — about 21W per core.

16MB of L3 cache helps in cache-sensitive games and workloads. Board socket comes first when pairing parts — after that, make sure your cooler's rating covers the chip. Its $378.10 price tag places it squarely in high-end territory. Use the PlanMyPC system builder to verify it works alongside your other components and to watch live retailer pricing.