Core i5-7300HQ vs Xeon E3-1230

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 i5-7300HQ is positioned at rank 698 and the Xeon E3-1230 is on rank 542, so the Xeon E3-1230 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 i5-7300HQ

#686

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

983%

#687

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

968%

#688

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

889%

#689

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

885%

#690

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

877%

#692

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

847%

#693

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

812%

#694

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

810%

#695

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

789%

#698

Core i5-7300HQ

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#699

Athlon Silver 3050e

MSRP: $100|Avg: $60

100%

#705

C-60

MSRP: $50|Avg: $20

99%

#712

Core i7-10850H

MSRP: $395|Avg: N/A

98%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1230

#1

Xeon Platinum 8454H

MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A

8080%

#6

Xeon Gold 6240R

MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A

1526%

#10

Xeon 6337P

MSRP: $60|Avg: $5

1355%

#15

EPYC 9174F

MSRP: $194|Avg: $30

1047%

#332

Xeon W-2235

MSRP: $555|Avg: $350

100%

#333

Xeon Gold 5317

MSRP: $1088|Avg: $1100

98%

#334

Xeon W-2275

MSRP: $1112|Avg: $500

98%

#335

Xeon Gold 6430

MSRP: $2128|Avg: $1850

97%

#542

Xeon E3-1230

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#543

Xeon W3670

MSRP: $250|Avg: $250

100%

#547

Xeon E3-1240 v2

MSRP: $250|Avg: $150

99%

#548

Xeon E3-1220 v3

MSRP: $203|Avg: $89

99%

#551

Xeon W-2102

MSRP: $202|Avg: $286

98%

#553

Xeon E3-1265L v2

MSRP: $265|Avg: N/A

98%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Core i5-7300HQ (2017) utilizes 14 nm technology and DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Core i5-7300HQ	Xeon E3-1230
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-H (2017) / 14 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Xeon E3-1230 (2011) relies on 32 nm technology and DDR3, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Core i5-7300HQ	Xeon E3-1230
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

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.

Core i5-7300HQ Benchmark Check

Xeon E3-1230 Benchmark Check

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Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-7300HQ and Xeon E3-1230

Core i5-7300HQ

The Core i5-7300HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,077 points. Launch price was $250.

Xeon E3-1230

The Xeon E3-1230 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,144 points. Launch price was $428.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-7300HQ packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1230's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-7300HQ versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E3-1230 — a 2.8% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1230 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-7300HQ uses the Kaby Lake-H (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1230 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7300HQ scores 5,077 against the Xeon E3-1230's 5,144 — a 1.3% lead for the Xeon E3-1230. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7300HQ vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1230.

Feature	Core i5-7300HQ	Xeon E3-1230
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+3%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.2 GHz+28%
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake-H (2017)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	5,077	5,144+1%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-7300HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1230 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-7300HQ	Xeon E3-1230
Socket	BGA1440	LGA1155
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	❌	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-7300HQ) / not specified (Xeon E3-1230). The Core i5-7300HQ includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E3-1230 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7300HQ targets Mobile.