Core i5-1230U vs Xeon E5-2628L v4

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-1230U

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 10W instead of 75W, a 66W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (14 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while Xeon E5-2628L v4 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,995 vs 11,079).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2628L v4, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.

Xeon E5-2628L v4

2016

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-1230U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌689.5% higher power demand at 75W vs 9.5W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1230U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-1230U

2022

Xeon E5-2628L v4

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 10W instead of 75W, a 66W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (14 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while Xeon E5-2628L v4 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅+150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (10,995 vs 11,079).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-2628L v4, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-1230U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌689.5% higher power demand at 75W vs 9.5W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1230U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-1230U better than Xeon E5-2628L v4?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E5-2628L v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-1230U is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-2628L v4 is the better fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 150% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-1230U still looks like the safer overall buy. Core i5-1230U is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 11.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-1230U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2016) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1781 and DDR5 instead of the older platform. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i5-1230U Benchmark Check

Xeon E5-2628L v4 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-1230U	Xeon E5-2628L v4
1080p
low	186 FPS	161 FPS
medium	153 FPS	139 FPS
high	127 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	150 FPS	135 FPS
medium	119 FPS	114 FPS
high	97 FPS	89 FPS
ultra	80 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	84 FPS	63 FPS
medium	72 FPS	56 FPS
high	58 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	34 FPS

Open Core i5-1230U Open Xeon E5-2628L v4

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-1230U	Xeon E5-2628L v4
1080p
low	208 FPS	277 FPS
medium	172 FPS	277 FPS
high	158 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	210 FPS
1440p
low	183 FPS	277 FPS
medium	156 FPS	259 FPS
high	146 FPS	224 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	183 FPS
4K
low	148 FPS	183 FPS
medium	130 FPS	167 FPS
high	124 FPS	145 FPS
ultra	107 FPS	115 FPS

Open Core i5-1230U Open Xeon E5-2628L v4

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-1230U	Xeon E5-2628L v4
1080p
low	275 FPS	277 FPS
medium	275 FPS	277 FPS
high	275 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	277 FPS
1440p
low	275 FPS	277 FPS
medium	275 FPS	277 FPS
high	275 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	277 FPS
4K
low	275 FPS	277 FPS
medium	275 FPS	277 FPS
high	275 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	272 FPS	235 FPS

Open Core i5-1230U Open Xeon E5-2628L v4

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-1230U	Xeon E5-2628L v4
1080p
low	275 FPS	277 FPS
medium	275 FPS	277 FPS
high	275 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	277 FPS
1440p
low	275 FPS	277 FPS
medium	275 FPS	277 FPS
high	275 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	277 FPS
4K
low	275 FPS	277 FPS
medium	275 FPS	277 FPS
high	275 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	275 FPS	277 FPS

Open Core i5-1230U Open Xeon E5-2628L v4

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1230U and Xeon E5-2628L v4

Core i5-1230U

The Core i5-1230U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 9.5 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,995 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon E5-2628L v4

The Xeon E5-2628L v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB. L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 75 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 11,079 points. Launch price was $1,364.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-1230U packs 10 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2628L v4 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Xeon E5-2628L v4 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1230U versus 1.9 GHz on the Xeon E5-2628L v4 — a 79.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-1230U. The Core i5-1230U uses the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon E5-2628L v4 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1230U scores 10,995 against the Xeon E5-2628L v4's 11,079 — a 0.8% lead for the Xeon E5-2628L v4. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-1230U vs 30 MB on the Xeon E5-2628L v4.

Feature	Core i5-1230U	Xeon E5-2628L v4
Cores / Threads	10 / 12	12 / 24+20%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+132%	1.9 GHz
Base Clock	1 GHz	—
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	30 MB+150%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	3 MB+140%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-U (2022)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	10,995	11,079
Geekbench 6 Single	1,625	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1230U) / not specified (Xeon E5-2628L v4). The Core i5-1230U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the Xeon E5-2628L v4 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1230U targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-1230U rivals Ryzen 5 5600U.