Core i5-4690 vs Xeon E3-1220 v6
Core i5-4690
Xeon E3-1220 v6
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 i5-4690 is positioned at rank 786 and the Xeon E3-1220 v6 is on rank 718, so the Xeon E3-1220 v6 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4690
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220 v6
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4690 | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4690 | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+50%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($120) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
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 i5-4690 and Xeon E3-1220 v6
Core i5-4690
The Core i5-4690 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 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (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 $346.
Xeon E3-1220 v6
The Xeon E3-1220 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 5,589 points. Launch price was $193.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-4690 and Xeon E3-1220 v6 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-4690 versus 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v6 — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-4690 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-4690 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1220 v6 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4690 scores 5,584 against the Xeon E3-1220 v6's 5,589 — a 0.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1220 v6. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-4690 vs 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1220 v6.
| Feature | Core i5-4690 | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+11% | 3.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+17% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 5,584 | 5,589 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4690 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1220 v6 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-4690 | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-4690 launched at $272 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1220 v6 debuted at $372. At current prices ($120 vs $80), the Xeon E3-1220 v6 is $40 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-4690 delivers 46.5 pts/$ vs 69.9 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1220 v6 — making the Xeon E3-1220 v6 the 40.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-4690 | Xeon E3-1220 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $272-27% | $372 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $120 | $80-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 46.5 | 69.9+50% |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2017 |
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