Intel Core i5-4460T vs Intel Xeon D-1520 Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-1520 and Intel Core i5-4460T are two very different processors from Intel, aimed at different market segments. The Xeon D-1520 is a server/workstation chip with 8 threads and ECC support, while the i5-4460T is a low-power desktop part with integrated graphics. In the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the Xeon D-1520 wins every single test, often by a margin of around 35%. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the i5-4460T still holds a few practical advantages in power draw and integrated graphics that may matter for specific builds.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The shared benchmark suite consists of five Cinebench tests, and the Xeon D-1520 wins all of them. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Xeon scores 247 against the i5's 183, a 35% lead. The other single-core test, Cinebench R23, shows a 34.7% advantage (590 vs 438). Multi-core results are similarly lopsided: Cinebench R15 multicore gives the Xeon 421 points versus 313 for the i5, a 34.5% gap. Cinebench R20 multicore repeats the exact 34.5% delta (1755 vs 1305), and Cinebench R23 multicore lands at 34.4% (4179 vs 3109). These are not marginal differences; the Xeon is consistently about a third faster across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

The average benchmark score reinforces this picture. The Xeon D-1520 averages 1209 points, while the i5-4460T averages 1190. That 19-point gap is small in absolute terms, but it reflects the fact that the i5 has additional Geekbench scores in its record, which are not part of the head-to-head set. The percentile ranks are close as well: the Xeon sits at the 34th percentile of all CPUs, the i5 at the 33rd. In the nearest rival comparisons, the Xeon D-1520's average score exactly matches the Intel Core i3-8121U (1209, 0% delta) and is 0.1% ahead of the Xeon D-1527. The i5-4460T's average is 0.3% behind the Intel Core i5-2400 and 0.1% behind the AMD Opteron 6234. These rival data points show that both CPUs occupy a similar overall performance tier, but the head-to-head results give the Xeon a decisive edge in the tests they share.

Where Each One Wins

In the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the Xeon D-1520 wins all five tests. The i5-4460T does not win a single shared benchmark. That means for any Cinebench workload, whether single-core or multi-core, the Xeon is the faster part. The i5's only potential advantages lie outside the benchmark suite. It has a lower TDP of 35W versus 45W for the Xeon, which can translate to lower cooling requirements and quieter operation in compact systems. It also includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, while the Xeon has no integrated GPU. For a desktop build that needs a display output without a discrete graphics card, the i5 is the only option of the two. However, these are not benchmark wins; they are feature differences that may influence a purchase decision for specific use cases.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel microarchitectures and process nodes. The Xeon D-1520 is built on Broadwell at 14 nm, while the i5-4460T uses Haswell at 22 nm. The Xeon packs 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die, whereas the i5 has 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The smaller process node and larger transistor count give the Xeon a density advantage, though the i5's older node is still capable.

Cache layouts differ as well. The Xeon D-1520 has 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core, which totals 6 MB across its four cores. The i5-4460T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both end up with 6 MB total, but the distribution is different: per-core versus shared. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core, respectively.

Memory support is a major split. The Xeon D-1520 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i5-4460T only supports DDR3. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which is critical for error-correcting workloads in servers and workstations; the i5 does not. The i5 lists a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the Xeon's memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

PCIe connectivity differs: the Xeon provides 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 provides 16 lanes. The Xeon's extra lanes allow for more expansion cards or storage devices. The i5 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), whereas the Xeon has none. The sockets are also different: the Xeon uses Intel BGA 1667, a soldered server socket, while the i5 uses the desktop-friendly Intel Socket 1150.

Market positioning and lifecycle status are distinct. The Xeon D-1520 is classified as Server/Workstation and is still in Active production. The i5-4460T is a Desktop part and is End-of-life. The Xeon was released on March 8, 2015, while the i5 came out on February 28, 2014. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $199; the i5's launch MSRP is not recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1520 has 8 threads (4 cores, 8 threads), while the Intel Core i5-4460T has 4 threads (4 cores, 4 threads).

Q: Does the i5-4460T support ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory support is only available on the Xeon D-1520; the i5-4460T does not support ECC.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The i5-4460T includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The Xeon D-1520 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock?

A: The i5-4460T boosts to 2.70 GHz, while the Xeon D-1520 boosts to 2.60 GHz. The i5 has a slightly higher boost clock, but the Xeon still wins all single-core benchmarks.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Xeon D-1520 supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The i5-4460T only supports DDR3.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Xeon D-1520 has a 45W TDP, while the i5-4460T has a 35W TDP. The i5 draws less power.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Xeon D-1520 | Intel Core i5-4460T |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base clock | 2.20 GHz | 1900 MHz |

| Boost clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1667 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Haswell |

| Process node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 3,200 million | 1,400 million |

| Die size | 246 mm² | 177 mm² |

| L3 cache | 1.5 MB per core (6 MB total) | 6 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR3 only |

| Memory bandwidth | Not recorded | 25.6 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe lanes | 24 (Gen 3) | 16 (Gen 3) |

| Integrated graphics | None | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2015-03-08 | 2014-02-28 |

| Launch MSRP | $199 | Not recorded |

| Part number | SR29B | SR1S7 |

| Percentile vs all CPUs | 34 | 33 |

| Average benchmark score | 1209 | 1190 |

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon D-1520 outperforms the Intel Core i5-4460T in every shared benchmark, with a consistent 34-35% lead across single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. It also offers ECC memory, DDR4 support, more PCIe lanes, and a more modern 14 nm process. For anyone building a server, workstation, or any compute-focused system where raw performance and reliability matter, the Xeon D-1520 is the clear choice.

The i5-4460T is not without merit. Its 35W TDP is lower, which can simplify cooling in small form factor builds. The integrated HD 4600 graphics means it can run a display without a discrete GPU, something the Xeon cannot do. It also has a slightly higher boost clock (2.70 GHz vs 2.60 GHz), though that does not translate into a benchmark win. For a low-power desktop that needs integrated graphics and does not require ECC or DDR4, the i5-4460T remains a viable option. But if the workload is any kind of CPU-intensive rendering or multi-threaded processing, the Xeon D-1520 is the only sensible pick based on the recorded measurements.