Intel Core i3-4360T vs Intel Xeon X5570 Comparison

The Intel Xeon X5570 and Intel Core i3-4360T are a fascinating study in generational contrast. One is a quad-core server chip from 2009 built on a 45 nm process, the other a dual-core desktop part from 2014 on a 22 nm node. Despite the six-year gap and the stark differences in core count, power envelope, and platform, their benchmark results are remarkably close. The data reveals a near-tie in raw performance, with the older Xeon holding a razor-thin edge across every single test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are striking for their consistency. The Intel Xeon X5570 wins all five benchmark comparisons, but the margins are almost imperceptibly small. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 283 against the i3-4360T's 282, a delta of just 0.4%. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Xeon's 1180 edges out the i3's 1175, again a 0.4% difference.

Single-core results tell the same story. The Xeon posts a 166 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 165 for the i3-4360T, a 0.6% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon's 396 beats the i3's 395 by a mere 0.3%. Even in the multi-core R23 test, the Xeon's 2810 only surpasses the i3's 2799 by 0.4%. These deltas are so small they border on statistical noise, yet they are consistent across all five benchmarks. The data suggests that the Xeon's four physical cores and eight threads provide just enough extra throughput to offset the i3's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus the Xeon's 2.93 GHz.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this near-parity. The Xeon carries an average score of 967, while the i3-4360T averages 963. Both CPUs sit at the 26th percentile of all processors, meaning they land in the same performance tier. The nearest rivals list confirms this positioning; the Xeon's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U with an average score of 968 (a -0.1% delta), while the i3-4360T's nearest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G5500T at 963 (0% delta). Interestingly, each CPU appears in the other's nearest rival list, with the i3-4360T trailing the Xeon by -0.4%.

The Verdict

From a pure benchmark standpoint, the Intel Xeon X5570 is the winner, but the victory is so narrow that it is practically a tie. The Xeon wins all five head-to-head tests, yet never by more than 0.6%. This means that for any application relying on Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the two processors are functionally interchangeable in terms of raw score.

The choice between them should depend on platform and feature requirements, not performance deltas. The Xeon offers ECC memory support, triple-channel memory bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s, and a server/workstation market segment. The i3-4360T offers integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), a lower 35 W TDP against the Xeon's 95 W, and PCIe Gen 3 support versus Gen 2. The Xeon also has a higher launch MSRP of $1386, though its production status is end-of-life. The i3-4360T remains active in production and has no listed launch MSRP. If the workload demands ECC memory or triple-channel bandwidth, the Xeon is the only option. If power efficiency or integrated graphics are priorities, the i3-4360T is the clear choice.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is vast. The Xeon X5570 is built on the Nehalem architecture with the codename Gainestown, using a 45 nm process node with 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. It features four cores and eight threads, with a base clock of 2.93 GHz and a boost clock of 3.33 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Core i3-4360T is a Haswell architecture part, also codenamed Haswell, built on a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It has just two cores and four threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and no boost clock. Its cache is smaller: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 4 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite having half the cores and half the L3 cache, the i3-4360T nearly matches the Xeon in every benchmark, a signal of the efficiency gains from the newer process node and architecture.

The memory subsystems also differ markedly. The Xeon supports triple-channel DDR3 with a theoretical bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s, while the i3-4360T uses dual-channel DDR3 with no listed bandwidth figure. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the i3 does not. The Xeon uses PCIe Gen 2, while the i3 uses PCIe Gen 3. The i3 integrates Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. The sockets are incompatible: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1366, the i3 uses Intel Socket 1150.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon X5570 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i3-4360T has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Xeon X5570 scores 2810, while the i3-4360T scores 2799. The Xeon wins by 0.4%.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon X5570 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i3-4360T does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-4360T has integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 4600. The Xeon X5570 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP of each chip?

A: The Intel Xeon X5570 has a TDP of 95 W. The Intel Core i3-4360T has a TDP of 35 W.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon X5570 has an average benchmark score of 967, while the i3-4360T has an average score of 963. Both sit at the 26th percentile of all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon X5570 wins in raw multi-threaded performance, albeit by a hair. Its 0.4% lead in R15 and R20 multi-core and R23 multi-core suggests it has a slight edge in heavily threaded workloads that can use its 8 threads. It also wins in single-core tests, with a 0.6% lead in R20 single-core and 0.3% in R23 single-core, which is surprising given its lower base clock. The Xeon's advantage lies in its server-oriented features: ECC memory support, triple-channel memory bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s, and a market segment of Server/Workstation. It is the only choice for systems requiring error-correcting memory.

The Intel Core i3-4360T wins on efficiency and platform modernity. Its 35 W TDP is less than half the Xeon's 95 W, making it far easier to cool and cheaper to run. It includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, eliminating the need for a separate GPU in basic desktop tasks. It also supports PCIe Gen 3, which offers twice the bandwidth per lane of the Xeon's Gen 2. The i3's 22 nm process node with 1,400 million transistors on a smaller 177 mm² die represents a much denser and more advanced design. For a desktop user who does not need ECC or triple-channel memory, the i3-4360T is the more practical choice despite losing every benchmark.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Xeon X5570 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-4360T has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon's base clock is 2.93 GHz with a boost of 3.33 GHz; the i3's base clock is 3.20 GHz with no boost. The Xeon has a TDP of 95 W, the i3 has 35 W. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1366, the i3 uses Intel Socket 1150.

The architecture and process differ: the Xeon is Nehalem (Gainestown) on 45 nm, the i3 is Haswell on 22 nm. Transistor counts are 731 million for the Xeon versus 1,400 million for the i3, with die sizes of 263 mm² and 177 mm² respectively. The L3 cache is 8 MB shared for the Xeon versus 4 MB shared for the i3. Memory support is DDR3 for both, but the Xeon uses triple-channel with 32.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3 uses dual-channel with no listed bandwidth. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the i3 does not. The Xeon has PCIe Gen 2, the i3 has Gen 3. The i3 has integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics; the Xeon has none. The Xeon's market segment is Server/Workstation and it is end-of-life, while the i3 is Desktop and active in production. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $1386; the i3 has no listed launch MSRP.