Intel Core i5-4570S vs Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 is the clear benchmark victor over the Intel Core i5-4570S, winning all six head-to-head Cinebench tests with a consistent 17.5% margin in most workloads. The Xeon’s advantage is not a narrow one; it is a systematic lead across single-core and multi-core tests, driven by its newer architecture and Hyper-Threading support. The Core i5-4570S, while older and lacking simultaneous multithreading, still holds its own in the broader performance percentile, sitting just one point behind the Xeon in overall CPU ranking.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the Xeon E3-1505L v5 outperforms the Core i5-4570S in every single benchmark recorded. The most striking consistency is in the Cinebench R20 and R23 suites, where the Xeon leads by exactly 17.5% in both multi-core and single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon scores 2099 against the i5’s 1787; in single-core, it scores 296 versus 252. The same 17.5% delta appears in Cinebench R23, with scores of 4999 versus 4256 for multi-core and 705 versus 600 for single-core.

The Cinebench R15 results show an even larger gap. In the multi-core test, the Xeon scores 503 to the i5’s 428, a 17.5% advantage, but the single-core test shows the biggest proportional win for the Xeon: 71 versus 60, an 18.3% lead. This suggests the Xeon’s architectural efficiency per clock is meaningfully higher, not just its ability to handle more threads.

Interpreting these numbers against the broader market: the Xeon’s average benchmark score is 1446, which places it in the 38th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE (1444, a 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-7300HQ (1448, a -0.1% delta). The i5-4570S, with an average score of 1426, sits in the 37th percentile, just behind the Xeon. Its closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-3820 (1424, a 0.2% delta). In practical terms, the Xeon is roughly 1.4% faster on average than the i5, but the head-to-head tests show a much larger, consistent 17.5% margin because they isolate the same workload on both chips.

The single-core victories are particularly telling. The Xeon’s 17.5-18.3% lead in single-threaded tests cannot be attributed to its extra threads; it reflects a superior core design. The i5-4570S has a higher base clock (2.90 GHz versus 2.00 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.60 GHz versus 2.80 GHz), yet it still loses decisively in single-core performance. Clock speed alone does not compensate for the generational gap in instructions per clock.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel eras. The Xeon E3-1505L v5 is built on the Skylake architecture (specifically Skylake-H) using a 14 nm process node, while the Core i5-4570S is based on the older Haswell architecture on a 22 nm node. This node shrink is significant: the Xeon packs 2,300 million transistors into a 122 mm² die, whereas the i5 contains 1,400 million transistors on a much larger 177 mm² die. The smaller, denser Skylake design contributes to both its performance efficiency and its dramatically lower thermal envelope.

The most consequential architectural difference is threading. The Xeon offers 8 threads across its 4 cores, while the i5-4570S offers only 4 threads on 4 cores. This doubles the Xeon’s parallel processing capacity, which directly explains its multi-core wins. The cache hierarchy also favors the Xeon: it has 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus 6 MB on the i5. Both have identical per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) caches, but the larger L3 on the Xeon helps with data-heavy workloads.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a peak bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-4570S is limited to DDR3 only, also dual-channel, but the fact pack lists no bandwidth figure for it. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server and workstation reliability, which the i5 lacks entirely.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the Xeon uses HD Graphics P530, while the i5 uses Intel HD 4600. The Xeon’s PCIe implementation is more explicitly defined as Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i5 is simply listed as Gen 3 without a lane count. Socket compatibility is completely different: the Xeon uses Intel BGA 1440 (soldered), and the i5 uses the socketed Intel Socket 1150.

The Verdict

Benchmark results indicate that the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 is the superior processor in every measured category. It wins all six head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 17.5% to 18.3%. The Xeon is faster in single-core performance despite having a 900 MHz lower base clock and an 800 MHz lower boost clock than the i5-4570S. This reflects the Skylake architecture’s efficiency over Haswell.

For multi-threaded workloads, the Xeon’s 8 threads versus 4 threads give it a decisive edge, as evidenced by the consistent 17.5% multi-core wins. The Xeon also offers ECC memory support, a feature the i5 lacks entirely, making it the only choice for error-correcting memory configurations. Its 25 W TDP versus the i5’s 65 W TDP means it delivers more performance while consuming less than half the power budget, a remarkable efficiency gain from the 14 nm process.

The i5-4570S is not without merit, but its advantages are limited to market positioning. It is a desktop processor with a socketed design (Socket 1150), which allows for user upgrades and replacement, whereas the Xeon is soldered (BGA 1440). The i5 also has a higher launch clock speed, but the benchmark data shows this does not translate into real-world performance wins. For anyone choosing between these two based on the data, the Xeon is the clear pick for performance, efficiency, and server-grade features.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the fact pack.

| Specification | Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 | Intel Core i5-4570S |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 25 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Haswell |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 2,300 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 122 mm² | 177 mm² |

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

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR3 |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

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

| Integrated Graphics | HD Graphics P530 | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2015-10-26 | 2013-06-01 |

| Launch MSRP | $433 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SR2E0 | SR14J |

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Xeon E3-1505L v5 in multi-core workloads?

A: The Xeon leads the i5-4570S by 17.5% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. In R15, the score is 503 to 428; in R20, 2099 to 1787; and in R23, 4999 to 4256.

Q: Does the i5-4570S win any benchmark against the Xeon?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows six wins for the Xeon and zero for the i5. The i5 does have a higher base and boost clock, but this does not translate into a benchmark victory.

Q: Why does the Xeon have better single-core performance despite lower clock speeds?

A: The Xeon runs at 2.00 GHz base and 2.80 GHz boost, while the i5 runs at 2.90 GHz and 3.60 GHz. Yet the Xeon wins single-core tests by 17.5-18.3%. This is attributable to the newer Skylake architecture on a 14 nm node, which delivers higher instructions per clock than the older 22 nm Haswell design.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 supports ECC memory. The Core i5-4570S does not have ECC support, making the Xeon the required choice for error-correcting memory configurations.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Xeon E3-1505L v5 has a TDP of 25 W, while the Core i5-4570S has a TDP of 65 W. The Xeon delivers higher performance while consuming less than half the thermal design power.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare to similar CPUs?

A: The Xeon’s average score is 1446, placing it near the AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE (1444) and Intel Core i5-7300HQ (1448). The i5’s average is 1426, near the Intel Core i7-3820 (1424) and Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 (1422).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 wins in every scenario that the benchmark data covers. It is the superior choice for multi-threaded applications, as demonstrated by its 17.5% lead in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. The 8-thread configuration versus 4 threads makes it better suited for parallel workloads such as video rendering, scientific computing, and server-side processing. Its single-core wins (17.5-18.3% ahead) also make it the better pick for lightly-threaded tasks like general productivity or legacy software that relies on one or two cores.

The Xeon’s 25 W TDP makes it the clear winner for power-constrained environments, such as compact workstations or embedded systems, where the i5’s 65 W TDP would generate significantly more heat. The ECC memory support gives the Xeon an edge in reliability-critical applications, including data integrity tasks where memory errors are unacceptable. Its support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory provides more flexibility in system design.

The Core i5-4570S, based on the data, has no benchmark wins to claim. Its higher clock speeds (2.90 GHz base, 3.60 GHz boost) do not result in any performance advantage. However, it does have a socketed design (Intel Socket 1150), which means it can be installed in a wider range of upgradeable desktop motherboards, whereas the Xeon uses a soldered BGA 1440 package. The i5 is also a desktop-market chip with a lower transistor count (1,400 million versus 2,300 million) and a larger die (177 mm² versus 122 mm²), which may make it more familiar to mainstream system builders, but not more capable.

For users prioritizing performance, efficiency, and server-grade features like ECC, the Xeon is the unequivocal choice. The i5-4570S only makes sense if socket compatibility with an existing LGA 1150 motherboard is a hard requirement, but even then, the benchmark data shows it is the slower processor in all tests.