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.

Ryzen 5 1400

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.9% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Costs $412 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $581 MSRP).
✅Delivers 246.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 45.7 vs 13.2 PassMark/$ ($169 MSRP vs $581 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Xeon E3-1270L v4

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,662 vs 7,731).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.2 vs 45.7 PassMark/$ ($581 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 1400

2017

Xeon E3-1270L v4

2015

Why buy it

✅+0.9% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).
✅Costs $412 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $581 MSRP).
✅Delivers 246.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 45.7 vs 13.2 PassMark/$ ($169 MSRP vs $581 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,662 vs 7,731).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.2 vs 45.7 PassMark/$ ($581 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 1400 better than Xeon E3-1270L v4?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon E3-1270L v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 1400 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, Ryzen 5 1400 is the better fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 1400 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 1400 is $412 cheaper on MSRP at $169 MSRP versus $581 MSRP, and it gives you 0.9% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Xeon E3-1270L v4 is still the better pure gaming CPU with 5.9% higher max boost clock. It is also 246.9% better value on MSRP (45.7 vs 13.2 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 1400 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2015), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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.

Ryzen 5 1400 Benchmark Check

Xeon E3-1270L v4 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 1400	Xeon E3-1270L v4
1080p
low	170 FPS	169 FPS
medium	148 FPS	143 FPS
high	119 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	144 FPS
medium	118 FPS	119 FPS
high	92 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	73 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	65 FPS	66 FPS
medium	58 FPS	58 FPS
high	45 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	36 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 1400 Open Xeon E3-1270L v4

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 1400	Xeon E3-1270L v4
1080p
low	168 FPS	171 FPS
medium	148 FPS	151 FPS
high	139 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	146 FPS	148 FPS
medium	129 FPS	131 FPS
high	120 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	114 FPS	116 FPS
medium	103 FPS	106 FPS
high	80 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	61 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 1400 Open Xeon E3-1270L v4

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 1400	Xeon E3-1270L v4
1080p
low	193 FPS	192 FPS
medium	193 FPS	192 FPS
high	193 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	192 FPS
1440p
low	193 FPS	192 FPS
medium	193 FPS	192 FPS
high	193 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	192 FPS
4K
low	193 FPS	192 FPS
medium	193 FPS	192 FPS
high	193 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	192 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 1400 Open Xeon E3-1270L v4

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 1400	Xeon E3-1270L v4
1080p
low	193 FPS	192 FPS
medium	193 FPS	192 FPS
high	193 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	192 FPS
1440p
low	193 FPS	192 FPS
medium	193 FPS	192 FPS
high	193 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	192 FPS
4K
low	193 FPS	192 FPS
medium	193 FPS	192 FPS
high	193 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	192 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 1400 Open Xeon E3-1270L v4

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 1400 and Xeon E3-1270L v4

Ryzen 5 1400

The Ryzen 5 1400 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,731 points. Launch price was $169.

Xeon E3-1270L v4

The Xeon E3-1270L 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 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333, DDR3L-1600, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 7,662 points. Launch price was $800.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 5 1400 and Xeon E3-1270L v4 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1400 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon E3-1270L v4 — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Xeon E3-1270L v4 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1400 uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1270L v4 uses Broadwell-DT (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1400 scores 7,731 against the Xeon E3-1270L v4's 7,662 — a 0.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 1400. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1400 vs 6 MB (total) on the Xeon E3-1270L v4.

Feature	Ryzen 5 1400	Xeon E3-1270L v4
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	3.6 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+7%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)+33%	6 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+100%	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Zen (2017−2020)	Broadwell-DT (2015)
PassMark	7,731	7,662
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,289
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	4,271

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 1400 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E3-1270L v4 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Ryzen 5 1400 versus DDR3-1866 on the Xeon E3-1270L v4 — the Ryzen 5 1400 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 1400 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 1400) vs 16 (Xeon E3-1270L v4) — the Ryzen 5 1400 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 1400) and C226 (Xeon E3-1270L v4).

Feature	Ryzen 5 1400	Xeon E3-1270L v4
Socket	AM4	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666+33%	DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24+50%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 5 1400) / VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E3-1270L v4). Primary use case: Xeon E3-1270L v4 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon E3-1270L v4 rivals Core i7-4790T.

Feature	Ryzen 5 1400	Xeon E3-1270L v4
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 1400 launched at $169 MSRP, while the Xeon E3-1270L v4 debuted at $581. On MSRP ($169 vs $581), the Ryzen 5 1400 is $412 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 1400 delivers 45.7 pts/$ vs 13.2 pts/$ for the Xeon E3-1270L v4 — making the Ryzen 5 1400 the 110.5% better value option.