CPU
GPU
Core i7-4790S
Xeon E3-1286L 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 i7-4790S is positioned at rank 740 and the Xeon E3-1286L v3 is on rank 424, so the Xeon E3-1286L 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 i7-4790S
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1286L v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-4790S | Xeon E3-1286L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-4790S | Xeon E3-1286L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i7-4790S and Xeon E3-1286L v3
Core i7-4790S
The Core i7-4790S 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 3.2 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): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,973 points. Launch price was $303.
Xeon E3-1286L v3
The Xeon E3-1286L v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 6,929 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-4790S and Xeon E3-1286L v3 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-4790S versus 4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1286L v3 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i7-4790S is built on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i7-4790S scores 6,973 against the Xeon E3-1286L v3's 6,929 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-4790S. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4790S vs 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon E3-1286L v3.
| Feature | Core i7-4790S | Xeon E3-1286L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | — |
| PassMark | 6,973 | 6,929 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1150 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i7-4790S | Xeon E3-1286L v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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