
Core i5-4670K vs Xeon E3-1226 v3

Core i5-4670K

Xeon E3-1226 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 i5-4670K is positioned at rank 865 and the Xeon E3-1226 v3 is on rank 521, so the Xeon E3-1226 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 i5-4670K
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1226 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4670K | Xeon E3-1226 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4670K | Xeon E3-1226 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ 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 i5-4670K and Xeon E3-1226 v3

Core i5-4670K
The Core i5-4670K 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 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,584 points. Launch price was $266.

Xeon E3-1226 v3
The Xeon E3-1226 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,529 points. Launch price was $213.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-4670K and Xeon E3-1226 v3 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i5-4670K versus 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1226 v3 — a 2.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-4670K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-4670K uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4670K scores 5,584 against the Xeon E3-1226 v3's 5,529 — a 1% lead for the Core i5-4670K. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-4670K vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1226 v3.
| Feature | Core i5-4670K | Xeon E3-1226 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+3% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+3% | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total) | 8 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 5,584 | 5,529 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 975 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1150 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i5-4670K | Xeon E3-1226 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, EPT (Core i5-4670K) / not specified (Xeon E3-1226 v3). The Core i5-4670K includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Xeon E3-1226 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4670K targets Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-4670K rivals FX-9370.
| Feature | Core i5-4670K | Xeon E3-1226 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4600 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming Desktop | — |
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