Xeon E3-1270 v3 vs Core i7-4790
Xeon E3-1270 v3
Core i7-4790
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 E3-1270 v3 is positioned at rank 605 and the Core i7-4790 is on rank 762, so the Xeon E3-1270 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 E3-1270 v3
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4790
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1270 v3 | Core i7-4790 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($410) | ✅ More affordable ($60) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-WS (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1270 v3 | Core i7-4790 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+586%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($410) | ✅ More affordable ($60) |
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 E3-1270 v3 and Core i7-4790
Xeon E3-1270 v3
The Xeon E3-1270 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 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,236 points. Launch price was $370.
Core i7-4790
The Core i7-4790 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 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 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: 7,263 points. Launch price was $303.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1270 v3 and Core i7-4790 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Xeon E3-1270 v3 versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-4790 — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-4790 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Xeon E3-1270 v3 uses the Haswell-WS (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-4790 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1270 v3 scores 7,236 against the Core i7-4790's 7,263 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-4790. L3 cache: 8192 kB (total) on the Xeon E3-1270 v3 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4790.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270 v3 | Core i7-4790 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz | 3.6 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 8192 kB (total) | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell-WS (2013−2014) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 7,236 | 7,263 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1150 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270 v3 | Core i7-4790 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E3-1270 v3 launched at $339 MSRP, while the Core i7-4790 debuted at $339. At current prices ($410 vs $60), the Core i7-4790 is $350 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1270 v3 delivers 17.6 pts/$ vs 121.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-4790 — making the Core i7-4790 the 149.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270 v3 | Core i7-4790 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $339 | $339 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $410 | $60-85% |
| Performance per Dollar | 17.6 | 121.0+588% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2014 |
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