Core i7-4790 vs Xeon E5-1620 v4
Core i7-4790
Xeon E5-1620 v4
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 i7-4790 is positioned at rank 762 and the Xeon E5-1620 v4 is on rank 959, so the Core i7-4790 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4790
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1620 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-4790 | Xeon E5-1620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($60) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($160) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-EP (2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-4790 | Xeon E5-1620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+164%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($60) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($160) |
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 i7-4790 and Xeon E5-1620 v4
Core i7-4790
The Core i7-4790 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,263 points. Launch price was $303.
Xeon E5-1620 v4
The Xeon E5-1620 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-EP (2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,338 points. Launch price was $294.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-4790 and Xeon E5-1620 v4 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-4790 versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1620 v4 — a 5.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-4790 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-4790 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E5-1620 v4 uses Broadwell-EP (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4790 scores 7,263 against the Xeon E5-1620 v4's 7,338 — a 1% lead for the Xeon E5-1620 v4. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4790 vs 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1620 v4.
| Feature | Core i7-4790 | Xeon E5-1620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+5% | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+3% | 3.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 10 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Broadwell-EP (2016) |
| PassMark | 7,263 | 7,338+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-4790 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-1620 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-4790 | Xeon E5-1620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-4790 launched at $339 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-1620 v4 debuted at $1166. At current prices ($60 vs $160), the Core i7-4790 is $100 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-4790 delivers 121.0 pts/$ vs 45.9 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-1620 v4 — making the Core i7-4790 the 90.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-4790 | Xeon E5-1620 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $339-71% | $1166 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $60-63% | $160 |
| Performance per Dollar | 121.0+164% | 45.9 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2016 |
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