Xeon E3-1270 vs Core i5-6400
Xeon E3-1270
Core i5-6400
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 is positioned at rank 684 and the Core i5-6400 is on rank 600, so the Core i5-6400 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
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($178) | ✅ More affordable ($57) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+215%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($178) | ✅ More affordable ($57) |
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 and Core i5-6400
Xeon E3-1270
The Xeon E3-1270 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 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 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: 5,376 points. Launch price was $369.
Core i5-6400
The Core i5-6400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 July 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,417 points. Launch price was $187.
Processing Power
The Xeon E3-1270 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-6400's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1270 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-6400 — a 14.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1270 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Xeon E3-1270 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-6400 uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1270 scores 5,376 against the Core i5-6400's 5,417 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-6400. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1270 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-6400.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+15% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+26% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 5,376 | 5,417 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 950 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,200 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1270 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-6400 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E3-1270) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-6400). The Core i5-6400 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 530), while the Xeon E3-1270 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-6400 targets Mainstream Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 530 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E3-1270 launched at $330 MSRP, while the Core i5-6400 debuted at $182. At current prices ($178 vs $57), the Core i5-6400 is $121 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1270 delivers 30.2 pts/$ vs 95.0 pts/$ for the Core i5-6400 — making the Core i5-6400 the 103.5% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $330 | $182-45% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $178 | $57-68% |
| Performance per Dollar | 30.2 | 95.0+215% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2015 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon E3-1270 and Core i5-6400
