Core i5-9400T vs Xeon E3-1260L v5
Core i5-9400T
Xeon E3-1260L v5
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9400T
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1260L v5
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-9400T | Xeon E3-1260L v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake-DT (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-9400T | Xeon E3-1260L v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ 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 i5-9400T and Xeon E3-1260L v5
Core i5-9400T
The Core i5-9400T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 8,180 points. Launch price was $182.
Xeon E3-1260L v5
The Xeon E3-1260L v5 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 8,237 points. Launch price was $294.
Processing Power
The Core i5-9400T packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Xeon E3-1260L v5 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i5-9400T has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-9400T versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1260L v5 — a 13.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1260L v5 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-9400T uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1260L v5 uses Skylake-DT (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-9400T scores 8,180 against the Xeon E3-1260L v5's 8,237 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E3-1260L v5. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9400T vs 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1260L v5.
| Feature | Core i5-9400T | Xeon E3-1260L v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.9 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.9 GHz+61% |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total)+13% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Skylake-DT (2015) |
| PassMark | 8,180 | 8,237 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1151 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i5-9400T | Xeon E3-1260L v5 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i5-9400T) / not specified (Xeon E3-1260L v5). The Core i5-9400T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E3-1260L v5 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9400T targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-9400T | Xeon E3-1260L v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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