Core i5-4590S vs Xeon E3-1220 v3
Core i5-4590S
Xeon E3-1220 v3
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 i5-4590S is positioned at rank 647 and the Xeon E3-1220 v3 is on rank 548, so the Xeon E3-1220 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4590S
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4590S | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($45) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4590S | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+96%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($45) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) |
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 i5-4590S and Xeon E3-1220 v3
Core i5-4590S
The Core i5-4590S 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 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (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: 5,131 points. Launch price was $291.
Xeon E3-1220 v3
The Xeon E3-1220 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,178 points. Launch price was $239.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-4590S and Xeon E3-1220 v3 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-4590S versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v3 — a 5.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-4590S (base: 3 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-4590S uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4590S scores 5,131 against the Xeon E3-1220 v3's 5,178 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E3-1220 v3. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-4590S vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220 v3.
| Feature | Core i5-4590S | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+6% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.1 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8192 kB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 5,131 | 5,178 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,116 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1150 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i5-4590S | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| 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, EPT (Core i5-4590S) / not specified (Xeon E3-1220 v3). The Core i5-4590S includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4590S targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-4590S rivals A10-7850K.
| Feature | Core i5-4590S | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4600 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-4590S launched at $192 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 debuted at $203. At current prices ($45 vs $89), the Core i5-4590S is $44 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-4590S delivers 114.0 pts/$ vs 58.2 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1220 v3 — making the Core i5-4590S the 64.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-4590S | Xeon E3-1220 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $192-5% | $203 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $45-49% | $89 |
| Performance per Dollar | 114.0+96% | 58.2 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2013 |
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