Core i5-8257U vs Xeon E5-1620 v4

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.

Core i5-8257U vs Xeon E5-1620 v4 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-8257U vs Xeon E5-1620 v4: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-8257U

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 1W instead of 140W, a 139W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645, while Xeon E5-1620 v4 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-1620 v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 10 MB).

Xeon E5-1620 v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+66.7% larger total L3 cache (10 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,338 vs 7,427).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,166 MSRP, while Core i5-8257U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌13900% higher power demand at 140W vs 1W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-8257U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-8257U better than Xeon E5-1620 v4?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-1620 v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-8257U is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-8257U is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-8257U is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon E5-1620 v4 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i5-8257U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,166 MSRP, and it still gives you 1.2% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon E5-1620 v4 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 11.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon E5-1620 v4 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (6.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-8257U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-8257U vs Xeon E5-1620 v4 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-8257U

The Core i5-8257U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,427 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon E5-1620 v4

The Xeon E5-1620 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,338 points. Launch price was $294.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-8257U and Xeon E5-1620 v4 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-8257U versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1620 v4 — a 2.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-8257U (base: 1.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-8257U uses the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-1620 v4 uses Broadwell-EP (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8257U scores 7,427 against the Xeon E5-1620 v4's 7,338 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i5-8257U. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i5-8257U vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1620 v4.

Feature	Core i5-8257U	Xeon E5-1620 v4
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz+3%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	1.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+150%
L3 Cache	6 MB	10 MB (total)+67%
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)	Broadwell-EP (2016)
PassMark	7,427+1%	7,338
Cinebench R23 Multi	4,017	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,100	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	4,000	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-8257U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1620 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-8257U	Xeon E5-1620 v4
Socket	FCBGA1528	LGA2011
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-8257U) / not specified (Xeon E5-1620 v4). The Core i5-8257U includes integrated graphics (Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645), while the Xeon E5-1620 v4 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8257U targets Ultrabook.