
Core i5-4300M vs Xeon W3520

Core i5-4300M

Xeon W3520
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 i5-4300M is positioned at rank 1017 and the Xeon W3520 is on rank 861, so the Xeon W3520 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4300M
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W3520
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4300M | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($227) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bloomfield (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4300M | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1403%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($227) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 i5-4300M and Xeon W3520

Core i5-4300M
The Core i5-4300M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,960 points. Launch price was $227.

Xeon W3520
The Xeon W3520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 March 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,940 points. Launch price was $404.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4300M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon W3520 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon W3520 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-4300M versus 2.93 GHz on the Xeon W3520 — a 11.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-4300M (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Core i5-4300M uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon W3520 uses Bloomfield (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4300M scores 2,960 against the Xeon W3520's 2,940 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-4300M. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4300M vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon W3520.
| Feature | Core i5-4300M | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+13% | 2.93 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.66 GHz+2% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Bloomfield (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 2,960 | 2,940 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4300M uses the PGA946 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W3520 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4300M | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA946 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-4300M launched at $227 MSRP, while the Xeon W3520 debuted at $284.
| Feature | Core i5-4300M | Xeon W3520 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $227-20% | $284 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $15 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2009 |
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