CPU
GPU
Core i5-4250U
Xeon L5420
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 i5-4250U is positioned at rank 100 and the Xeon L5420 is on rank 847, so the Core i5-4250U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4250U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5420
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4250U | Xeon L5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4250U | Xeon L5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i5-4250U and Xeon L5420
Core i5-4250U
The Core i5-4250U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,144 points. Launch price was $430.
Xeon L5420
The Xeon L5420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 25 March 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 50 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,143 points. Launch price was $380.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4250U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon L5420 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon L5420 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core i5-4250U versus 2.5 GHz on the Xeon L5420 — a 3.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-4250U (base: 1.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i5-4250U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon L5420 uses Harpertown (2007−2008) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4250U scores 2,144 against the Xeon L5420's 2,143 — a 0% lead for the Core i5-4250U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4250U vs 12 MB L2 Cache on the Xeon L5420.
| Feature | Core i5-4250U | Xeon L5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+4% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.3 GHz | 2.5 GHz+92% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 12 MB L2 Cache+300% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 6 MB (total)+2300% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Harpertown (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 2,144 | 2,143 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 770 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,450 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4250U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon L5420 uses LGA771 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4250U | Xeon L5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA771 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-4250U) / not specified (Xeon L5420). The Core i5-4250U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 5000), while the Xeon L5420 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4250U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-4250U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U.
| Feature | Core i5-4250U | Xeon L5420 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 5000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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