Core i7-5950HQ vs Xeon E3-1285 v4

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 i7-5950HQ vs Xeon E3-1285 v4 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 i7-5950HQ vs Xeon E3-1285 v4: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-5950HQ

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 47W instead of 95W, a 48W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,667 vs 7,735).

Xeon E3-1285 v4

2015

Why buy it

✅+0.9% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $556 MSRP, while Core i7-5950HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌102.1% higher power demand at 95W vs 47W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E3-1285 v4 better than Core i7-5950HQ?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E3-1285 v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-5950HQ is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E3-1285 v4 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Xeon E3-1285 v4 is the better buy right now. Xeon E3-1285 v4 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $556 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (13.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 E3-1285 v4 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 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 i7-5950HQ vs Xeon E3-1285 v4 Technical Specifications

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

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.

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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

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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.