Core i7-4600U vs Xeon L3426
Core i7-4600U
Xeon L3426
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 i7-4600U is positioned at rank 753 and the Xeon L3426 is on rank 753, so the Xeon L3426 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4600U
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L3426
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-4600U | Xeon L3426 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-ULT (2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-4600U | Xeon L3426 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i7-4600U and Xeon L3426
Core i7-4600U
The Core i7-4600U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-ULT (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,720 points. Launch price was $398.
Xeon L3426
The Xeon L3426 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 2,742 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-4600U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon L3426 offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Xeon L3426 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-4600U versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon L3426 — a 3.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-4600U (base: 2.1 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). The Core i7-4600U is built on the Haswell-ULT (2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-4600U scores 2,720 against the Xeon L3426's 2,742 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon L3426. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-4600U vs 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon L3426.
| Feature | Core i7-4600U | Xeon L3426 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+3% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz+13% | 1.86 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell-ULT (2013) | — |
| PassMark | 2,720 | 2,742 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-4600U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon L3426 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-4600U | Xeon L3426 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i7-4600U and Xeon L3426
