Xeon L5640 vs Core i5-3470
Xeon L5640
Core i5-3470
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 L5640 is positioned at rank 994 and the Core i5-3470 is on rank 684, so the Core i5-3470 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L5640
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3470
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L5640 | Core i5-3470 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($996) | ✅ More affordable ($55) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L5640 | Core i5-3470 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1712%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($996) | ✅ More affordable ($55) |
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 L5640 and Core i5-3470
Xeon L5640
The Xeon L5640 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,659 points. Launch price was $200.
Core i5-3470
The Core i5-3470 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 77 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 4,663 points. Launch price was $184.
Processing Power
The Xeon L5640 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i5-3470 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon L5640 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon L5640 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-3470 — a 25% clock advantage for the Core i5-3470 (base: 2.26 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Xeon L5640 uses the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-3470 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon L5640 scores 4,659 against the Core i5-3470's 4,663 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-3470. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Xeon L5640 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-3470.
| Feature | Xeon L5640 | Core i5-3470 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz | 3.2 GHz+42% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+100% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 4,659 | 4,663 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L5640 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-3470 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L5640 | Core i5-3470 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1366 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3 1333 MHz | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 288 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 3 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Xeon L5640) / not specified (Core i5-3470). Primary use case: Xeon L5640 targets Server Low Power.
| Feature | Xeon L5640 | Core i5-3470 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
| Target Use | Server Low Power | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon L5640 launched at $996 MSRP, while the Core i5-3470 debuted at $184.
| Feature | Xeon L5640 | Core i5-3470 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $996 | $184-82% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $55 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2012 |
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