Core i5-4430S
VS
Xeon E5-1603 v4

Core i5-4430S vs Xeon E5-1603 v4

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 i5-4430S is positioned at rank 705 and the Xeon E5-1603 v4 is on rank 599, so the Xeon E5-1603 v4 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4430S

#1
Ryzen 9 7950X
MSRP: $194|Avg: $20
12967%
#2
Core i9-10900T
MSRP: $120|Avg: $5
12252%
#3
Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
MSRP: $423|Avg: $5
8896%
#4
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85
2680%
#5
Ryzen 9 9950X
MSRP: $649|Avg: $129
2123%
#6
Ryzen 5 8400F
MSRP: $303|Avg: $55
1857%
#7
Ryzen 7 PRO 2700
MSRP: $299|Avg: $60
1064%
#8
Ryzen 5 2600X
MSRP: $229|Avg: $55
1050%
#9
Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G
MSRP: $150|Avg: $60
956%
#10
Core Ultra 5 245KF
MSRP: $294|Avg: $189
956%
#11
Ryzen 5 5500
MSRP: $159|Avg: $85
945%
#12
Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP: $199|Avg: $80
920%
#13
Core i3-9100E
MSRP: $202|Avg: $30
907%
#14
Core Ultra 5 245K
MSRP: $319|Avg: $200
903%
#15
Core i3-8300T
MSRP: $138|Avg: $25
895%
#391
Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX
MSRP: $1299|Avg: $1300
99%
#705
Core i5-4430S
MSRP: $182|Avg: $90
100%
#706
Core i5-4440S
MSRP: $182|Avg: $30
100%
#709
Core i3-4360T
MSRP: $138|Avg: $40
99%
#711
Core i5-3470S
MSRP: $184|Avg: $37
99%
#712
Core i5-4670T
MSRP: $189|Avg: $35
99%
#713
Core i5-2400S
MSRP: $135|Avg: $10
98%
#714
Pentium G3420
MSRP: $86|Avg: $40
98%
#715
Core i5-6500
MSRP: $239|Avg: $123
97%
#716
Core i7-4770T
MSRP: $250|Avg: $39
97%
#717
Core i3-4340
MSRP: $149|Avg: $50
97%
#718
Core i5-4690K
MSRP: $243|Avg: $101
97%
#719
Core i5-4670R
MSRP: $224|Avg: $29
97%
#720
Core i5-3340
MSRP: $182|Avg: $15
97%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603 v4

#1
Xeon Platinum 8454H
MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A
9542%
#6
Xeon Gold 6240R
MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A
1802%
#10
Xeon 6337P
MSRP: $60|Avg: $5
1601%
#15
EPYC 9174F
MSRP: $194|Avg: $30
1237%
#357
Xeon w9-3575X
MSRP: $3789|Avg: $675
100%
#358
Xeon w7-3465X
MSRP: $2889|Avg: $468
100%
#359
EPYC 9354
MSRP: $3420|Avg: $2498
99%
#359
Xeon Gold 6530
MSRP: $2128|Avg: $1846
99%
#361
Xeon Silver 4114
MSRP: $612|Avg: $30
98%
#362
EPYC 7532
MSRP: $2380|Avg: $225
98%
#363
Xeon W-2191B
MSRP: $1333|Avg: $39
98%
#364
Xeon Gold 5320
MSRP: $1780|Avg: $1834
97%
#365
EPYC 7513
MSRP: $2840|Avg: $389
97%
#599
Xeon E5-1603 v4
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#604
Xeon E3-1270 v3
MSRP: $339|Avg: $410
98%
#606
Xeon E3-1235
MSRP: $240|Avg: $270
98%
#609
Xeon E3-1265L v3
MSRP: $294|Avg: $398
97%
#611
Xeon E3-1280 v2
MSRP: $315|Avg: $50
96%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($0) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The Xeon E5-1603 v4 is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.
InsightCore i5-4430SXeon E5-1603 v4
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
⚠️ Higher cost ($90)
More affordable ($0)
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Legacy / Standard Node)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i5-4430S ($90), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($90 less, Infinity% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.
InsightCore i5-4430SXeon E5-1603 v4
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
⚠️ Higher cost ($90)
More affordable ($0)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 i5-4430S and Xeon E5-1603 v4

Intel

Core i5-4430S

The Core i5-4430S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,376 points. Launch price was $135.

Intel

Xeon E5-1603 v4

The Xeon E5-1603 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. Passmark benchmark score: 4,355 points. Launch price was $800.

Processing Power

The Core i5-4430S is built on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-4430S scores 4,376 against the Xeon E5-1603 v4's 4,355 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-4430S.

FeatureCore i5-4430SXeon E5-1603 v4
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
Boost Clock
3.2 GHz
Base Clock
2.7 GHz
L3 Cache
6144 kB (total)
L2 Cache
256 kB (per core)
Process
22 nm
Architecture
Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark
4,376
4,355
Geekbench 6 Single
877
Geekbench 6 Multi
2,397
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-4430S) / not specified (Xeon E5-1603 v4). The Core i5-4430S includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Xeon E5-1603 v4 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4430S targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-4430S rivals Ryzen 3 1200.

FeatureCore i5-4430SXeon E5-1603 v4
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
HD Graphics 4600
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Budget