CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-4430 and the Intel Xeon E5640 are two very different processors from different eras, yet they land in the same performance percentile. The i5-4430, a Haswell desktop chip, and the E5640, a Westmere server part, end up just 1 percentile point apart in the global rankings (33rd vs. 32nd). The benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the i5-4430 in every single test, but the margins and the underlying architectures tell a more nuanced story about where each processor still has a role to play.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4430 wins all five head-to-head tests. The largest single-core victory comes in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-4430 scores 235 against the Xeon’s 195, a 20.5% advantage. The multi-core results are nearly identical in margin, with the i5-4430 posting a 20.3% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1669 vs. 1387) and a 20.5% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core (400 vs. 332). The pattern holds in the newer Cinebench R23 tests: the i5-4430 leads by 20.3% in multi-core (3974 vs. 3303) and by 20.4% in single-core (561 vs. 466).

What is striking is the consistency of the delta. Every test, regardless of core count or workload type, shows the i5-4430 holding a roughly 20% edge. This is not a case where one chip wins on single-threaded tasks and the other claws back ground in multi-threaded scenarios; the i5-4430 simply dominates across the board. The Xeon’s extra threads (8 vs. 4) do not compensate for the per-core efficiency gap. The i5-4430’s average benchmark score of 1149 places it just ahead of the Xeon’s 1137, a difference of only about 1%, but the head-to-head deltas show a much larger functional gap in modern rendering workloads.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental split here is generational. The Intel Core i5-4430 is built on the 22nm Haswell architecture with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5640 uses the older 32nm Westmere-EP process, packing 1,170 million transistors into a larger 239 mm² die. This process advantage is a key reason the i5-4430 delivers higher performance at a similar power envelope: its TDP is 84W versus the Xeon’s 80W, but it extracts far more work from those watts.

Clock speeds also favor the i5-4430. It runs at a 3.00 GHz base clock with a 3.20 GHz boost, while the Xeon is pinned lower at 2.67 GHz base and 2.93 GHz boost. The Xeon counters with Hyper-Threading, offering 8 threads versus the i5-4430’s 4, and a larger shared L3 cache of 12 MB compared to the i5-4430’s 6 MB. However, the benchmark results indicate that thread count and cache size do not overcome the Haswell IPC advantage and higher clock speeds.

Memory and platform support diverge sharply. The i5-4430 uses dual-channel DDR3 with PCIe Gen 3, while the Xeon E5640 supports triple-channel DDR3 and PCIe Gen 2. The Xeon is the only one of the two with ECC memory support, reflecting its server pedigree. The i5-4430 also integrates Intel HD 4600 graphics, whereas the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. Socket differences are absolute: the i5-4430 fits Intel Socket 1150, the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1366. The Xeon is marked as end-of-life, released in March 2010, while the i5-4430 launched in June 2013.

Where Each One Wins

The data gives every win to the i5-4430, but context matters. The i5-4430 wins in all rendering workloads because of its newer architecture and higher clocks. For any task that relies on single-threaded performance, legacy applications, older games, or lightly threaded productivity software, the i5-4430’s 20.5% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core (235 vs. 195) makes it the clear choice. Its integrated graphics also mean it can run a display without a discrete GPU, which is a functional advantage for basic desktop systems.

The Xeon E5640 has no benchmark wins, but its strengths are not captured in these Cinebench numbers. With 8 threads and a 12 MB L3 cache, it was designed for multi-threaded server workloads where ECC memory support is non-negotiable. The triple-channel memory bus provides more memory bandwidth potential than the i5-4430’s dual-channel setup, though no bandwidth figures are available in the data. For users with an existing Socket 1366 platform, the Xeon remains a viable part, but it is end-of-life and cannot match the i5-4430 on raw Cinebench scores. The i5-4430 is the better processor for any workload that fits within its 4-core/4-thread configuration, and the Xeon’s niche is limited to legacy server environments requiring ECC.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-4430 scores 3974, which is 20.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5640’s 3303.

Q: Does the Xeon E5640 have more cores than the i5-4430?

A: No. Both have 4 physical cores. The Xeon E5640 has 8 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading, while the i5-4430 has 4 threads.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two chips?

A: The largest deltas are 20.5%, seen in both Cinebench R15 multi-core (400 vs. 332) and Cinebench R20 single-core (235 vs. 195).

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Only the Intel Xeon E5640 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-4430 does not.

Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E5640 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 6 MB found on the Intel Core i5-4430.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket?

A: No. The i5-4430 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the Xeon E5640 uses Intel Socket 1366.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4430 | Intel Xeon E5640 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.67 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.93 GHz |

| TDP | 84W | 80W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Westmere |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,170 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 239 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | N/A | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2013-06-01 | 2010-03-15 |

| Part Number | SR14G | SLBVC |