Core i5-8400 vs Xeon E3-1275 v6
Core i5-8400
Xeon E3-1275 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 i5-8400 is positioned at rank 421 and the Xeon E3-1275 v6 is on rank 471, so the Core i5-8400 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8400
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1275 v6
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E3-1275 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($95) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E3-1275 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+50%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($95) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) |
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 i5-8400 and Xeon E3-1275 v6
Core i5-8400
The Core i5-8400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,229 points. Launch price was $182.
Xeon E3-1275 v6
The Xeon E3-1275 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 9,202 points. Launch price was $339.
Processing Power
The Core i5-8400 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Xeon E3-1275 v6 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-8400 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i5-8400 versus 4.2 GHz on the Xeon E3-1275 v6 — a 4.9% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1275 v6 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-8400 uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1275 v6 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8400 scores 9,229 against the Xeon E3-1275 v6's 9,202 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-8400. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8400 vs 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1275 v6.
| Feature | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E3-1275 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.2 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.8 GHz+36% |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total)+13% | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 9,229 | 9,202 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1151 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E3-1275 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-8400) / not specified (Xeon E3-1275 v6). The Core i5-8400 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E3-1275 v6 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8400 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E3-1275 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-8400 launched at $182 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1275 v6 debuted at $499. At current prices ($95 vs $142), the Core i5-8400 is $47 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-8400 delivers 97.1 pts/$ vs 64.8 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1275 v6 — making the Core i5-8400 the 39.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E3-1275 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $182-64% | $499 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $95-33% | $142 |
| Performance per Dollar | 97.1+50% | 64.8 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2017 |
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