Xeon E3-1220 v3 vs Core i5-4590S
Xeon E3-1220 v3
Core i5-4590S
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 Xeon E3-1220 v3 is positioned at rank 548 and the Core i5-4590S is on rank 647, so the Xeon E3-1220 v3 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1220 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4590S
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220 v3 | Core i5-4590S |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) | ✅ More affordable ($45) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1220 v3 | Core i5-4590S |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+96%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($89) | ✅ More affordable ($45) |
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 Xeon E3-1220 v3 and Core i5-4590S
Xeon E3-1220 v3
The Xeon E3-1220 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,178 points. Launch price was $239.
Core i5-4590S
The Core i5-4590S 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,131 points. Launch price was $291.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1220 v3 and Core i5-4590S share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Xeon E3-1220 v3 versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-4590S — a 5.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-4590S (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Xeon E3-1220 v3 uses the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-4590S uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1220 v3 scores 5,178 against the Core i5-4590S's 5,131 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon E3-1220 v3. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1220 v3 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-4590S.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v3 | Core i5-4590S |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+3% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8192 kB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 5,178 | 5,131 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,116 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1150 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v3 | Core i5-4590S |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1220 v3) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-4590S). The Core i5-4590S includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Xeon E3-1220 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4590S targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-4590S rivals A10-7850K.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v3 | Core i5-4590S |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4600 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E3-1220 v3 launched at $203 MSRP, while the Core i5-4590S debuted at $192. At current prices ($89 vs $45), the Core i5-4590S is $44 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1220 v3 delivers 58.2 pts/$ vs 114.0 pts/$ for the Core i5-4590S — making the Core i5-4590S the 64.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1220 v3 | Core i5-4590S |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $203 | $192-5% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $89 | $45-49% |
| Performance per Dollar | 58.2 | 114.0+96% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2014 |
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