Xeon E3-1270 vs Core i7-4700MQ
Xeon E3-1270
Core i7-4700MQ
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 i7-4700MQ is on rank 1000, so the Xeon E3-1270 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 i7-4700MQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i7-4700MQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($178) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i7-4700MQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+254%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($178) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
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 i7-4700MQ
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 i7-4700MQ
The Core i7-4700MQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 May 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 47 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,349 points. Launch price was $288.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1270 and Core i7-4700MQ share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1270 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-4700MQ — a 11.1% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1270 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Xeon E3-1270 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i7-4700MQ uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1270 scores 5,376 against the Core i7-4700MQ's 5,349 — a 0.5% lead for the Xeon E3-1270. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1270 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i7-4700MQ.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i7-4700MQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+12% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+42% | 2.4 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 | 5,376 | 5,349 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1270 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-4700MQ uses PGA946 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i7-4700MQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | PGA946 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E3-1270 launched at $330 MSRP, while the Core i7-4700MQ debuted at $383. At current prices ($178 vs $50), the Core i7-4700MQ is $128 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E3-1270 delivers 30.2 pts/$ vs 107.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-4700MQ — making the Core i7-4700MQ the 111.9% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1270 | Core i7-4700MQ |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $330-14% | $383 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $178 | $50-72% |
| Performance per Dollar | 30.2 | 107.0+254% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2013 |
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