
Xeon L3426 vs Core i7-5550U

Xeon L3426

Core i7-5550U
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 L3426 is positioned at rank 753 and the Core i7-5550U is on rank 485, so the Core i7-5550U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L3426
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5550U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L3426 | Core i7-5550U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L3426 | Core i7-5550U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 L3426 and Core i7-5550U

Xeon L3426
The Xeon L3426 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 2,742 points. Launch price was $800.

Core i7-5550U
The Core i7-5550U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,780 points. Launch price was $426.
Processing Power
The Xeon L3426 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i7-5550U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon L3426 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Xeon L3426 versus 3 GHz on the Core i7-5550U — a 6.5% clock advantage for the Xeon L3426 (base: 1.86 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-5550U is built on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon L3426 scores 2,742 against the Core i7-5550U's 2,780 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i7-5550U. L3 cache: 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Xeon L3426 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-5550U.
| Feature | Xeon L3426 | Core i7-5550U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+7% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | 2 GHz+8% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB Intel® Smart Cache+100% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | — | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | — | Broadwell-U (2015) |
| PassMark | 2,742 | 2,780+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L3426 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i7-5550U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L3426 | Core i7-5550U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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