Xeon E3-1245 v2 vs Core i7-4960HQ
Xeon E3-1245 v2
Core i7-4960HQ
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 E3-1245 v2 is positioned at rank 583 and the Core i7-4960HQ is on rank 72, so the Core i7-4960HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1245 v2
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4960HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1245 v2 | Core i7-4960HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($204) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Crystalwell (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1245 v2 | Core i7-4960HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($204) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 E3-1245 v2 and Core i7-4960HQ
Xeon E3-1245 v2
The Xeon E3-1245 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 May 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 77 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,357 points. Launch price was $462.
Core i7-4960HQ
The Core i7-4960HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Crystalwell (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 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: 6,370 points. Launch price was $657.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1245 v2 and Core i7-4960HQ share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1245 v2 versus 3.8 GHz on the Core i7-4960HQ — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Xeon E3-1245 v2 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-4960HQ uses Crystalwell (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1245 v2 scores 6,357 against the Core i7-4960HQ's 6,370 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-4960HQ. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1245 v2 | Core i7-4960HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+31% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Crystalwell (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 6,357 | 6,370 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 659 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,273 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1245 v2 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4960HQ uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1245 v2 | Core i7-4960HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | BGA1364 |
| 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: Yes (Xeon E3-1245 v2) / not specified (Core i7-4960HQ). The Xeon E3-1245 v2 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics P4000), while the Core i7-4960HQ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E3-1245 v2 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1245 v2 | Core i7-4960HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics P4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
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