Xeon E3-1226 v3 vs Core i7-4700HQ
Xeon E3-1226 v3
Core i7-4700HQ
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 E3-1226 v3 is positioned at rank 521 and the Core i7-4700HQ is on rank 989, so the Xeon E3-1226 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 E3-1226 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4700HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Core i7-4700HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Crystalwell (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Core i7-4700HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 E3-1226 v3 and Core i7-4700HQ
Xeon E3-1226 v3
The Xeon E3-1226 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 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: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,529 points. Launch price was $213.
Core i7-4700HQ
The Core i7-4700HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 May 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Crystalwell (2013−2014) 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: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,579 points. Launch price was $378.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1226 v3 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-4700HQ's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1226 v3 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-4700HQ — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1226 v3 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-4700HQ uses Crystalwell (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1226 v3 scores 5,529 against the Core i7-4700HQ's 5,579 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-4700HQ. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Core i7-4700HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+9% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+38% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) | Crystalwell (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 5,529 | 5,579 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4700HQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1226 v3 | Core i7-4700HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | BGA1364 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon E3-1226 v3 and Core i7-4700HQ
