Xeon E3-1246 v3 vs Core i5-9300HF
Xeon E3-1246 v3
Core i5-9300HF
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 E3-1246 v3 is positioned at rank 842 and the Core i5-9300HF is on rank 465, so the Core i5-9300HF offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1246 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9300HF
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1246 v3 | Core i5-9300HF |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($215) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1246 v3 | Core i5-9300HF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($215) | ✅ 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 E3-1246 v3 and Core i5-9300HF
Xeon E3-1246 v3
The Xeon E3-1246 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 84 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 7,228 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i5-9300HF
The Core i5-9300HF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,255 points. Launch price was $250.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1246 v3 and Core i5-9300HF share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1246 v3 versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i5-9300HF — a 5% clock advantage for the Core i5-9300HF (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-9300HF is built on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1246 v3 scores 7,228 against the Core i5-9300HF's 7,255 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-9300HF. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon E3-1246 v3 vs 8 MB on the Core i5-9300HF.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1246 v3 | Core i5-9300HF |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4.1 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+46% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | — | 1 MB |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | — | Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 7,228 | 7,255 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,288 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1246 v3 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-9300HF uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1246 v3 | Core i5-9300HF |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1246 v3) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-9300HF). Primary use case: Core i5-9300HF targets Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-9300HF rivals Ryzen 5 3550H.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1246 v3 | Core i5-9300HF |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Gaming Laptop |
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