Xeon E3-1240 vs Core i5-4590
Xeon E3-1240
Core i5-4590
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 E3-1240 is positioned at rank 627 and the Core i5-4590 is on rank 624, so the Core i5-4590 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1240
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4590
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1240 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($39) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($51) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1240 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+30%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($39) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($51) |
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 E3-1240 and Core i5-4590
Xeon E3-1240
The Xeon E3-1240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,361 points. Launch price was $209.
Core i5-4590
The Core i5-4590 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 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6 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: 5,376 points. Launch price was $202.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1240 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-4590's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon E3-1240 versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-4590 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Xeon E3-1240 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-4590 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1240 scores 5,361 against the Core i5-4590's 5,376 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-4590. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1240 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-4590.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1240 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 5,361 | 5,376 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,100 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1240 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4590 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1240 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1240) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-4590). The Core i5-4590 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Xeon E3-1240 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4590 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-4590 rivals FX-8350.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1240 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 E3-1240 launched at $273 MSRP, while the Core i5-4590 debuted at $192. At current prices ($39 vs $51), the Xeon E3-1240 is $12 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1240 delivers 137.5 pts/$ vs 105.4 pts/$ for the Core i5-4590 — making the Xeon E3-1240 the 26.4% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1240 | Core i5-4590 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $273 | $192-30% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $39-24% | $51 |
| Performance per Dollar | 137.5+30% | 105.4 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2014 |
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