Core i5-9300HF vs Xeon E3-1275 v3

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 i5-9300HF vs Xeon E3-1275 v3 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 i5-9300HF vs Xeon E3-1275 v3: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-9300HF

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 84W, a 83W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Xeon E3-1275 v3

2013

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,220 vs 7,255).
❌8300% higher power demand at 84W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-9300HF better than Xeon E3-1275 v3?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1275 v3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-9300HF is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-9300HF is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-9300HF is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i5-9300HF still makes the most sense overall. Core i5-9300HF comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core i5-9300HF makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2013) 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 i5-9300HF vs Xeon E3-1275 v3 Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-9300HF

The Core i5-9300HF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (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: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,255 points. Launch price was $250.

Xeon E3-1275 v3

The Xeon E3-1275 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,220 points. Launch price was $531.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-9300HF and Xeon E3-1275 v3 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-9300HF versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1275 v3 — a 5% clock advantage for the Core i5-9300HF (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-9300HF uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1275 v3 uses Haswell-WS (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9300HF scores 7,255 against the Xeon E3-1275 v3's 7,220 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-9300HF. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i5-9300HF vs 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1275 v3.

Feature	Core i5-9300HF	Xeon E3-1275 v3
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz+5%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+46%
L3 Cache	8 MB	8192 kB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019)	Haswell-WS (2013−2014)
PassMark	7,255	7,220
Geekbench 6 Single	1,288	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-9300HF uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1275 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-9300HF	Xeon E3-1275 v3
Socket	BGA1440	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-9300HF) / not specified (Xeon E3-1275 v3). Primary use case: Core i5-9300HF targets Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-9300HF rivals Ryzen 5 3550H.