Intel Core i5-13490F vs Intel Xeon E-2436 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2436 and Intel Core i5-13490F are both built on the Raptor Lake architecture and share the same Intel Socket 1700, yet they target different segments of the market. The Xeon E-2436 is positioned as a server and workstation processor with ECC memory support, while the Core i5-13490F is a desktop part. Both processors have a 65 W TDP and are manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process, but their core configurations and benchmark results differ substantially. The recorded data shows a consistent pattern: the Core i5-13490F wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, often by a significant margin.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the comparison is the complete sweep. Across 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel Core i5-13490F finishes ahead in all of them. The Xeon E-2436 does not record a single victory. This is not a close contest; the margins are meaningful across both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the Core i5-13490F posts a score of 2292 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is 19.2 percent ahead of the Xeon E-2436's 1853. The single-core test in R15 shows a similar gap: 323 versus 261, also a 19.2 percent difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result for the Core i5-13490F is 9553, while the Xeon manages 7723, a 19.2 percent deficit. The single-core R20 score is 1348 for the Core i5-13490F and 1090 for the Xeon, a 19.1 percent gap. In Cinebench R23, the largest multi-core workload in the Cinebench series, the Core i5-13490F scores 22747, and the Xeon E-2436 scores 18389. That is again a 19.2 percent difference. The R23 single-core test shows 3211 versus 2596, also a 19.2 percent gap.

The Passmark suite paints the same picture, though the margins vary more widely. In Passmark physics, the Core i5-13490F scores 1915, while the Xeon E-2436 scores 1353. This is the largest percentage gap in the entire comparison at 29.3 percent. The find prime numbers test also shows a large gap: 114 for the Core i5-13490F versus 84 for the Xeon, a 26.3 percent difference. Data compression is another strong win for the Core i5-13490F, which scores 328397 compared to 246902, a 24.8 percent margin. Data encryption follows at 17902 versus 13920, a 22.2 percent gap. Extended instructions scores are 20837 versus 16334, a 21.6 percent difference. Integer math shows 83723 versus 67082, a 19.9 percent margin. The multithread test gives 26569 versus 21708, an 18.3 percent gap.

The closest results in the entire comparison are in the single-threaded Passmark tests. The Core i5-13490F scores 3828, and the Xeon E-2436 scores 3575, a difference of only 6.6 percent. This shows that while the Core i5-13490F is clearly faster per core in this metric, the gap is much narrower than in heavily threaded workloads. Floating point math and random string sorting both show a 16.7 percent advantage for the Core i5-13490F, with scores of 60273 versus 50198 and 34042 versus 28363, respectively.

The average benchmark scores in the database reflect this overall trend. The Xeon E-2436 has an average benchmark score of 28530, while the Core i5-13490F has an average of 28185. Despite the Xeon having a slightly higher average, the head-to-head results are unambiguous: the Core i5-13490F is faster in every shared test. Both processors sit at the 80th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy a similar tier in overall performance rankings.

Where Each One Wins

Given the sweep in the head-to-head tests, there is no benchmark category where the Xeon E-2436 comes out ahead. The data shows the Core i5-13490F winning in every recorded workload, from single-threaded tasks to heavily parallel multi-threaded tests. The Xeon E-2436 is not faster in any of the measured metrics in this comparison.

The Core i5-13490F's largest advantages come in threaded and compute-heavy workloads. The 29.3 percent lead in Passmark physics and the 26.3 percent lead in find prime numbers highlight its strength in floating-point-heavy and algorithmically intensive tasks. The 24.8 percent lead in data compression and the 22.2 percent lead in data encryption point to strong performance in data processing and security-related workloads. The 19.9 percent margin in integer math and the 18.3 percent margin in multithread reinforce this pattern.

The smallest margin is in single-threaded Passmark performance, where the Core i5-13490F leads by just 6.6 percent. This suggests that the Xeon E-2436 is comparatively more competitive in lightly threaded workloads, even though it still loses. The Xeon's single-core Cinebench results show a consistent 19.2 percent gap, but the Passmark single-thread test tells a slightly different story with a much smaller gap. This indicates that the Xeon's single-core performance is closer to the Core i5-13490F in some metrics than in others.

For users considering the Xeon E-2436, the appeal is not raw benchmark performance. The Xeon supports ECC memory, which is a feature the Core i5-13490F does not offer. The Xeon also targets the server and workstation market segment, while the Core i5-13490F is a desktop part. These are qualitative differences that matter for specific use cases, even though they do not appear in the benchmark scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-13490F wins with a score of 22747, which is 19.2 percent ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2436's score of 18389.

Q: How much faster is the Core i5-13490F in single-threaded Passmark?

A: The Core i5-13490F scores 3828, while the Xeon E-2436 scores 3575. This is a 6.6 percent advantage, the smallest margin in the head-to-head comparison.

Q: Does the Xeon E-2436 win any benchmark in the database?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head results show 17 wins for the Core i5-13490F and 0 wins for the Xeon E-2436.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in the Passmark physics test, where the Core i5-13490F scores 1915 and the Xeon E-2436 scores 1353, a 29.3 percent difference.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Xeon E-2436 supports ECC memory, while the Core i5-13490F does not.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The Xeon E-2436 has an average benchmark score of 28530, and the Core i5-13490F has an average benchmark score of 28185. The Xeon is slightly higher in this aggregate metric.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Xeon E-2436 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core i5-13490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The base clock is 2.90 GHz for the Xeon and 2.50 GHz for the Core i5-13490F. The boost clock is 5.00 GHz for the Xeon and 1.00 GHz lower at 4.80 GHz for the Core i5-13490F, though the Core i5-13490F is still faster in every benchmark. The TDP is identical at 65 W for both.

The L3 cache is another point of difference. The Xeon E-2436 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i5-13490F has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. Memory support differs: the Xeon E-2436 supports DDR5 only, while the Core i5-13490F supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Xeon has a listed memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Core i5-13490F has no memory bandwidth figure recorded. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

ECC memory support is exclusive to the Xeon E-2436. The Core i5-13490F does not support ECC. PCIe support is identical: both use Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor has integrated graphics. The market segments differ, with the Xeon E-2436 listed as a server and workstation part and the Core i5-13490F listed as a desktop part.

The die size also differs. The Xeon E-2436 has a die size of 163 mm², while the Core i5-13490F has a die size of 215 mm². Both are manufactured on a 10 nm process by Intel. The release dates are different: the Core i5-13490F was released in February 2023, and the Xeon E-2436 was released in December 2023.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same underlying architecture, Raptor Lake, and the same codename, Raptor Lake-S. Both use the Intel Socket 1700. The generation labels differ: the Xeon E-2436 is part of the Xeon E line, and the Core i5-13490F is part of the Core 13th Gen line. Both have locked multipliers, meaning neither processor supports unlocked overclocking.

The cache hierarchy is largely the same per core, with 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core for both. The difference appears in the shared L3 cache, where the Core i5-13490F has 24 MB compared to the Xeon E-2436's 18 MB. This larger shared cache likely contributes to the Core i5-13490F's performance advantage in many workloads.

The Xeon E-2436 is produced for the server and workstation market segment, and its ECC memory support is a defining architectural feature for that role. The Core i5-13490F is a desktop processor without ECC support. Both are built on the same 10 nm node and use the same foundry, Intel. The process node and architecture are identical; the differences lie in core count, cache size, memory support, and target market.

The PCIe implementation is identical, with Gen 5 and 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither part includes integrated graphics. The Xeon E-2436 has a part number of SRMXB, while the Core i5-13490F has a part number of SRMC0. Both processors are listed as active in production.

The Verdict

The data in this comparison is one-sided. The Intel Core i5-13490F wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database, with margins ranging from 6.6 percent in single-threaded Passmark to 29.3 percent in Passmark physics. For any workload measured in these tests, the Core i5-13490F is the faster processor.

The Intel Xeon E-2436 does have a role. It supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Core i5-13490F, and it is aimed at the server and workstation segment. The Xeon also has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 28530 versus 28185 for the Core i5-13490F, and both processors sit at the 80th percentile among all CPUs. The Xeon's appeal lies in its platform features, not its raw performance in these benchmarks.

For users building a desktop system and prioritizing processing speed, the Core i5-13490F is the clear choice based on the recorded data. It offers more cores, more threads, a larger L3 cache, and a higher boost clock, and it converts those advantages into consistent benchmark wins. For users who require ECC memory support and a server or workstation classification, the Xeon E-2436 is the only one of the two that qualifies, but they should expect slower performance in every measured workload. The decision comes down to whether the Xeon's ECC support and market positioning outweigh the Core i5-13490F's substantial and uniform performance lead.