Core i7-4870HQ vs Xeon E3-1268L v5

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.

Core i7-4870HQ vs Xeon E3-1268L v5 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-4870HQ vs Xeon E3-1268L v5: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-4870HQ

2014

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,320 vs 6,334).
❌34.3% higher power demand at 47W vs 35W.

Xeon E3-1268L v5

2015

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 35W instead of 47W, a 12W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $377 MSRP, while Core i7-4870HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1268L v5 better than Core i7-4870HQ?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1268L v5 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-4870HQ is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E3-1268L v5 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Xeon E3-1268L v5 is the better buy right now. Xeon E3-1268L v5 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $377 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i7-4870HQ is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (16.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Xeon E3-1268L v5 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-4870HQ vs Xeon E3-1268L v5 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i7-4870HQ

The Core i7-4870HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,320 points. Launch price was $434.

Xeon E3-1268L v5

The Xeon E3-1268L 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,334 points. Launch price was $377.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-4870HQ and Xeon E3-1268L v5 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-4870HQ versus 3.4 GHz on the Xeon E3-1268L v5 — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-4870HQ (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i7-4870HQ uses the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Xeon E3-1268L v5 uses Skylake-DT (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-4870HQ scores 6,320 against the Xeon E3-1268L v5's 6,334 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E3-1268L v5. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-4870HQ	Xeon E3-1268L v5
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz+9%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz+4%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Crystalwell (2013−2014)	Skylake-DT (2015)
PassMark	6,320	6,334

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-4870HQ uses the BGA1364 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1268L v5 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.