CPU
GPU
Xeon X3430
Core i5-4260U
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 X3430 is positioned at rank 826 and the Core i5-4260U is on rank 296, so the Core i5-4260U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X3430
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4260U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon X3430 | Core i5-4260U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon X3430 | Core i5-4260U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X3430 and Core i5-4260U
Xeon X3430
The Xeon X3430 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 2,320 points. Launch price was $189.
Core i5-4260U
The Core i5-4260U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,311 points. Launch price was $325.
Processing Power
The Xeon X3430 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-4260U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon X3430 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon X3430 versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-4260U — a 3.6% clock advantage for the Xeon X3430 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Xeon X3430 uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i5-4260U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon X3430 scores 2,320 against the Core i5-4260U's 2,311 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon X3430. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Xeon X3430 vs 3 MB on the Core i5-4260U.
| Feature | Xeon X3430 | Core i5-4260U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+4% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+71% | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+167% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,320 | 2,311 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon X3430 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-4260U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon X3430 | Core i5-4260U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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