CPU
GPU
Core i3-4170
Xeon E5620
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i3-4170 is positioned at rank 585 and the Xeon E5620 is on rank 649, so the Core i3-4170 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4170
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5620
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4170 | Xeon E5620 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4170 | Xeon E5620 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-4170 and Xeon E5620
Core i3-4170
The Core i3-4170 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,626 points. Launch price was $117.
Xeon E5620
The Xeon E5620 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,621 points. Launch price was $35.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4170 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon E5620 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon E5620 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-4170 versus 2.66 GHz on the Xeon E5620 — a 32.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-4170 (base: 3.7 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i3-4170 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5620 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4170 scores 3,626 against the Xeon E5620's 3,621 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-4170. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4170 vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon E5620.
| Feature | Core i3-4170 | Xeon E5620 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+39% | 2.66 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+54% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 12 MB (total)+300% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 3,626 | 3,621 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,140 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,897 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4170 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5620 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-4170 | Xeon E5620 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4170) / not specified (Xeon E5620). The Core i3-4170 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Xeon E5620 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i3-4170 | Xeon E5620 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4400 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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