Xeon E3-1285 v4 vs Core i5-9400H
Xeon E3-1285 v4
Core i5-9400H
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 E3-1285 v4 is positioned at rank 748 and the Core i5-9400H is on rank 421, so the Core i5-9400H offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1285 v4
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9400H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Core i5-9400H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($182) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-DT (2015) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Core i5-9400H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+11%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($182) |
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 E3-1285 v4 and Core i5-9400H
Xeon E3-1285 v4
The Xeon E3-1285 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Broadwell-DT (2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,735 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i5-9400H
The Core i5-9400H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 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: 7,794 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1285 v4 and Core i5-9400H share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1285 v4 versus 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-9400H — a 12.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-9400H (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Xeon E3-1285 v4 uses the Broadwell-DT (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-9400H uses Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1285 v4 scores 7,735 against the Core i5-9400H's 7,794 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-9400H. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1285 v4 vs 8 MB on the Core i5-9400H.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Core i5-9400H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.3 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+40% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-DT (2015) | Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 7,735 | 7,794 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,341 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E3-1285 v4 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-9400H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Core i5-9400H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | 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 E3-1285 v4) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-9400H). The Core i5-9400H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Xeon E3-1285 v4 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-9400H targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-9400H rivals Ryzen 5 4600H.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Core i5-9400H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | High Performance Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E3-1285 v4 launched at $556 MSRP, while the Core i5-9400H debuted at $182.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1285 v4 | Core i5-9400H |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $556 | $182-67% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $200 | — |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2019 |
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