Core i7-5950HQ vs Xeon E3-1285 v4
Core i7-5950HQ
Xeon E3-1285 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 i7-5950HQ is positioned at rank 274 and the Xeon E3-1285 v4 is on rank 748, so the Core i7-5950HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5950HQ
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1285 v4
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-5950HQ | Xeon E3-1285 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-H (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-DT (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-5950HQ | Xeon E3-1285 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1285 v4
Core i7-5950HQ
The Core i7-5950HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-H (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,667 points. Launch price was $623.
Xeon E3-1285 v4
The Xeon E3-1285 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,735 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-5950HQ and Xeon E3-1285 v4 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-5950HQ versus 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1285 v4 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-5950HQ uses the Broadwell-H (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1285 v4 uses Broadwell-DT (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-5950HQ scores 7,667 against the Xeon E3-1285 v4's 7,735 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E3-1285 v4. Both processors carry 6 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-5950HQ | Xeon E3-1285 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3.5 GHz+21% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-H (2015) | Broadwell-DT (2015) |
| PassMark | 7,667 | 7,735 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-5950HQ uses the BGA1364 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1285 v4 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-5950HQ | Xeon E3-1285 v4 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1364 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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