
Core i5-8279U vs Xeon E3-1271 v3

Core i5-8279U

Xeon E3-1271 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 i5-8279U is positioned at rank 596 and the Xeon E3-1271 v3 is on rank 862, so the Core i5-8279U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8279U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1271 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8279U | Xeon E3-1271 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($831) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8279U | Xeon E3-1271 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($831) |
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 i5-8279U and Xeon E3-1271 v3

Core i5-8279U
The Core i5-8279U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,464 points. Launch price was $320.

Xeon E3-1271 v3
The Xeon E3-1271 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 7,504 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-8279U and Xeon E3-1271 v3 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-8279U versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1271 v3 — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-8279U (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-8279U is built on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-8279U scores 7,464 against the Xeon E3-1271 v3's 7,504 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1271 v3. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-8279U vs 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon E3-1271 v3.
| Feature | Core i5-8279U | Xeon E3-1271 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+2% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.6 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) | — |
| PassMark | 7,464 | 7,504 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,308 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 4,328 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8279U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1271 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-8279U | Xeon E3-1271 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1528 | 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: not specified (Core i5-8279U) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon E3-1271 v3). Primary use case: Xeon E3-1271 v3 targets Server. Direct competitor: Xeon E3-1271 v3 rivals Core i7-4770.
| Feature | Core i5-8279U | Xeon E3-1271 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Server |
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