Core i5-9400H vs Xeon E3-1286 v3
Core i5-9400H
Xeon E3-1286 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 i5-9400H is positioned at rank 421 and the Xeon E3-1286 v3 is on rank 379, so the Xeon E3-1286 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9400H
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1286 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-9400H | Xeon E3-1286 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($182) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-9400H | Xeon E3-1286 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($182) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-9400H and Xeon E3-1286 v3
Core i5-9400H
The Core i5-9400H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 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: 7,794 points. Launch price was $149.
Xeon E3-1286 v3
The Xeon E3-1286 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 7,879 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-9400H and Xeon E3-1286 v3 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-9400H versus 4.1 GHz on the Xeon E3-1286 v3 — a 4.8% clock advantage for the Core i5-9400H (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i5-9400H is built on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-9400H scores 7,794 against the Xeon E3-1286 v3's 7,879 — a 1.1% lead for the Xeon E3-1286 v3. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i5-9400H vs 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon E3-1286 v3.
| Feature | Core i5-9400H | Xeon E3-1286 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+5% | 4.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+48% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | — |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) | — |
| PassMark | 7,794 | 7,879+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,341 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-9400H uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1286 v3 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-9400H | Xeon E3-1286 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 | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-9400H) / not specified (Xeon E3-1286 v3). The Core i5-9400H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E3-1286 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9400H targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-9400H rivals Ryzen 5 4600H.
| Feature | Core i5-9400H | Xeon E3-1286 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | High Performance Laptop | — |
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