Core i7-4720HQ vs Xeon E5-2430
Core i7-4720HQ
Xeon E5-2430
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 i7-4720HQ is positioned at rank 974 and the Xeon E5-2430 is on rank 501, so the Xeon E5-2430 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4720HQ
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2430
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-4720HQ | Xeon E5-2430 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-4720HQ | Xeon E5-2430 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i7-4720HQ and Xeon E5-2430
Core i7-4720HQ
The Core i7-4720HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,714 points. Launch price was $378.
Xeon E5-2430
The Xeon E5-2430 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 15360 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,755 points. Launch price was $119.
Processing Power
The Core i7-4720HQ packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2430 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon E5-2430 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-4720HQ versus 2.7 GHz on the Xeon E5-2430 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-4720HQ (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-4720HQ uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-2430 uses Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4720HQ scores 5,714 against the Xeon E5-2430's 5,755 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5-2430. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i7-4720HQ vs 15360 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2430.
| Feature | Core i7-4720HQ | Xeon E5-2430 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+33% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+18% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB | 15360 kB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Sandy Bridge-EN (2012) |
| PassMark | 5,714 | 5,755 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-4720HQ uses the BGA1364 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2430 uses LGA1356 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-4720HQ | Xeon E5-2430 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1364 | LGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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