
Xeon E3-1230L v3 vs Core i5-6440EQ

Xeon E3-1230L v3

Core i5-6440EQ
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 E3-1230L v3 is positioned at rank 531 and the Core i5-6440EQ is on rank 765, so the Xeon E3-1230L 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 E3-1230L v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6440EQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1230L v3 | Core i5-6440EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1230L v3 | Core i5-6440EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 E3-1230L v3 and Core i5-6440EQ

Xeon E3-1230L v3
The Xeon E3-1230L 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,297 points. Launch price was $289.

Core i5-6440EQ
The Core i5-6440EQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 5,329 points. Launch price was $250.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1230L v3 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-6440EQ's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1230L v3 versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-6440EQ — a 3.6% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1230L v3. The Xeon E3-1230L v3 uses the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-6440EQ uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1230L v3 scores 5,297 against the Core i5-6440EQ's 5,329 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-6440EQ. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1230L v3 vs 6 MB on the Core i5-6440EQ.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1230L v3 | Core i5-6440EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+4% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 8192 kB (total)+33% | 6 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 5,297 | 5,329 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 3,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 900 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,136 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1230L v3) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-6440EQ). The Core i5-6440EQ includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), while the Xeon E3-1230L v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-6440EQ targets Workstation.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1230L v3 | Core i5-6440EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 530 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
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