Xeon E3-1285L v4 vs Core i7-4790K
Xeon E3-1285L v4
Core i7-4790K
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 E3-1285L v4 is positioned at rank 366 and the Core i7-4790K is on rank 726, so the Xeon E3-1285L v4 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E3-1285L v4
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4790K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E3-1285L v4 | Core i7-4790K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($93) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-DT (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Devil's Canyon / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E3-1285L v4 | Core i7-4790K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($93) |
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 E3-1285L v4 and Core i7-4790K
Xeon E3-1285L v4
The Xeon E3-1285L 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 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 8,092 points. Launch price was $800.
Core i7-4790K
The Core i7-4790K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Junho 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Devil's Canyon architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 88 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,063 points. Launch price was $339.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon E3-1285L v4 and Core i7-4790K share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Xeon E3-1285L v4 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i7-4790K — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-4790K (base: 3.4 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Xeon E3-1285L v4 uses the Broadwell-DT (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-4790K uses Devil's Canyon (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E3-1285L v4 scores 8,092 against the Core i7-4790K's 8,063 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon E3-1285L v4. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1285L v4 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-4790K.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1285L v4 | Core i7-4790K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.4 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz | 4 GHz+18% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-DT (2015) | Devil's Canyon |
| PassMark | 8,092 | 8,063 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1150 socket with PCIe 5.0.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1285L v4 | Core i7-4790K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
The Core i7-4790K includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4600), while the Xeon E3-1285L v4 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Xeon E3-1285L v4 | Core i7-4790K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 4600 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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