Core i5-8400 vs Xeon E5-2620 v4
Core i5-8400
Xeon E5-2620 v4
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 E5-2620 v4 is on rank 304, so the Xeon E5-2620 v4 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 E5-2620 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E5-2620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($95) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($410) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E5-2620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+330%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($95) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($410) |
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 E5-2620 v4
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 E5-2620 v4
The Xeon E5-2620 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 9,255 points. Launch price was $417.
Processing Power
The Core i5-8400 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Xeon E5-2620 v4 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2620 v4 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i5-8400 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2620 v4 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-8400 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-8400 uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2620 v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8400 scores 9,229 against the Xeon E5-2620 v4's 9,255 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon E5-2620 v4. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8400 vs 20 MB on the Xeon E5-2620 v4.
| Feature | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E5-2620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+33% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+33% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total) | 20 MB+122% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) | Broadwell (2015−2019) |
| PassMark | 9,229 | 9,255 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8400 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2620 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2620 v4 supports up to 1536 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-8400) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2620 v4). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-8400) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2620 v4) — the Xeon E5-2620 v4 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i5-8400) and Intel X99,Intel C612 (Xeon E5-2620 v4).
| Feature | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E5-2620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 1536 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 40+150% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-8400) / not specified (Xeon E5-2620 v4). The Core i5-8400 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E5-2620 v4 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8400 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E5-2620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| 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 E5-2620 v4 debuted at $417. At current prices ($95 vs $410), the Core i5-8400 is $315 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-8400 delivers 97.1 pts/$ vs 22.6 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2620 v4 — making the Core i5-8400 the 124.6% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-8400 | Xeon E5-2620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $182-56% | $417 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $95-77% | $410 |
| Performance per Dollar | 97.1+330% | 22.6 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2016 |
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