Core i5-7400 vs Xeon E3-1290
Core i5-7400
Xeon E3-1290
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 i5-7400 is positioned at rank 820 and the Xeon E3-1290 is on rank 525, so the Xeon E3-1290 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7400
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1290
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-7400 | Xeon E3-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-7400 | Xeon E3-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ 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 i5-7400 and Xeon E3-1290
Core i5-7400
The Core i5-7400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 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: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,477 points. Launch price was $182.
Xeon E3-1290
The Xeon E3-1290 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,429 points. Launch price was $885.
Processing Power
The Core i5-7400 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Xeon E3-1290's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i5-7400 versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1290 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1290 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-7400 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1290 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7400 scores 5,477 against the Xeon E3-1290's 5,429 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i5-7400. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7400 vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1290.
| Feature | Core i5-7400 | Xeon E3-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 4 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| 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 (2016−2019) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 5,477 | 5,429 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,359 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,215 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 3,517 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-7400 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1290 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-7400 | Xeon E3-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | 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, EPT (Core i5-7400) / not specified (Xeon E3-1290). The Core i5-7400 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E3-1290 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7400 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-7400 rivals Ryzen 3 3300X.
| Feature | Core i5-7400 | Xeon E3-1290 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming | — |
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