Intel Core i5-4570S vs Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 runs at a 3.00 GHz base clock, while the Intel Core i5-4570S has a 2.90 GHz base clock.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-4570S does not.

Q: What is the difference in process node between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570S is built on a 22 nm process, while the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 uses a 14 nm process.

Q: Which chip includes integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570S includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570S has an average benchmark score of 1426, while the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 scores 1401. Despite this, the Xeon wins every head-to-head Cinebench test.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core i5-4570S supports DDR3 memory. The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The Intel Core i5-4570S is a Haswell part, released in June 2013, while the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 is a Skylake-DT part released in October 2015. This generation gap shows up directly in the process technology: the i5-4570S is fabricated on a 22 nm node, while the Xeon E3-1220 v5 moves to a 14 nm node. The transistor counts reflect that change, with the i5-4570S packing 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, versus 1,750 million transistors on a much smaller 122 mm² die for the Xeon.

Cache configuration also differs. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache is larger on the Xeon: 8 MB shared versus 6 MB shared on the Core i5. The Xeon also has a slight clock advantage at the base level (3.00 GHz versus 2.90 GHz), but the Core i5 has the higher boost clock at 3.60 GHz versus 3.50 GHz. Both parts are quad-core with four threads, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Memory support is a major separation point. The Core i5-4570S is limited to DDR3 with a dual-channel bus. The Xeon E3-1220 v5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also on a dual-channel bus, and the database records a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s for the Xeon. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Core i5. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 on both, though the Xeon is listed with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon is classified as a Server/Workstation part and is marked as end-of-life, while the Core i5 is a Desktop part. The integrated graphics situation is a clear split: the Core i5 has Intel HD 4600, while the Xeon has none.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous in the Cinebench suite. The Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 wins all six head-to-head tests, with the Core i5-4570S trailing by roughly 12% in every single one. The deltas are consistent, ranging from -11.8% to -12.3% across multi-core and single-core tests in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. That consistency suggests the Xeon's architectural advantage from Skylake and the larger L3 cache translate into a steady performance lead rather than a workload-specific edge.

The Core i5-4570S has its own strengths. It includes integrated graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely, making it a more self-contained option for a desktop build without a discrete GPU. It also has the higher boost clock at 3.60 GHz versus 3.50 GHz, and its average benchmark score of 1426 edges out the Xeon's 1401. However, that average score advantage does not appear in any of the recorded Cinebench tests, where the Xeon is ahead each time.

The choice depends on the use case. For a server or workstation environment where ECC memory support is required, the Xeon E3-1220 v5 is the only option of the two that qualifies. For a desktop system that needs integrated graphics and a lower thermal envelope, the Core i5-4570S fits better, with its 65 W TDP versus the Xeon's 80 W. The database positions both chips at the 37th percentile among all CPUs, so neither is a performance outlier in the broader landscape. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $203, while the Core i5 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4570S | Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 80 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Skylake |

| Codename | Haswell | Skylake-DT |

| Generation | Core i5 (Haswell) | Xeon E3 (Skylake-DT) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,750 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 122 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 34.1 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Not recorded | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2013-06-01 | 2015-10-18 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $203 |

| Part Number | SR14J | SR2LG |

The two processors share the same core and thread counts (4 cores, 4 threads), the same L1 and L2 cache sizes per core (64 KB and 256 KB), the same dual-channel memory bus, and both are locked multipliers. Those commonalities are where the similarities end. The Xeon is the newer, denser part with more cache and broader memory support, while the Core i5 is the older, lower-power desktop chip with integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results in the database cover six Cinebench tests, and the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 wins every one of them. The margins are remarkably uniform, which points to a consistent architectural performance advantage rather than a test-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 488 against the Core i5's 428, a -12.3% delta from the Core i5's perspective. The single-core R15 result tells the same story: 68 for the Xeon versus 60 for the Core i5, a -11.8% delta. These are the smallest and largest margins in the set, respectively, but the spread between them is just half a percentage point.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 2034 in multi-core while the Core i5 manages 1787, a -12.1% delta. The single-core R20 scores are 287 for the Xeon and 252 for the Core i5, a -12.2% delta. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 as well: 4845 versus 4256 in multi-core (-12.2%) and 684 versus 600 in single-core (-12.3%). Every test lands in a narrow band between -11.8% and -12.3%.

The Core i5-4570S has no wins in the head-to-head table, recording 0 wins against the Xeon's 6. That said, the Geekbench results in the database are not part of the head-to-head comparison, and they show the Core i5 with a multi-core score of 2945 and a single-core score of 1083. These are not directly compared against Xeon Geekbench numbers in the recorded data, so they stand alone as reference points for the Core i5's performance profile.

In the broader context of the database, the Core i5-4570S sits near the Intel Core i7-3820, which has an average score of 1424 and a delta of 0.2%, and the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 at 1422 with a 0.3% delta. The Xeon E3-1220 v5, meanwhile, is effectively tied with the Intel Xeon E-2104G at 1402 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-6500TE at 1399 (0.1% delta). Both processors land at the 37th percentile of all CPUs, so despite the Xeon's clear head-to-head lead, neither chip ranks as a standout in the full database. The Xeon's advantage is real, but it is a modest one, roughly a 12% gap in the specific workloads measured here.