Intel Core i5-4570S vs Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 and the Intel Core i5-4570S are two very different processors from different eras of Intel’s lineup. The Xeon is a mobile workstation part built on the Skylake architecture, while the i5 is a desktop chip from the earlier Haswell generation. The benchmark data available in the database shows a clear and consistent pattern: the Xeon E3-1515M v5 outperforms the i5-4570S in every single recorded test. The i5 does not win a single head-to-head comparison. This is not a close contest; the Xeon holds a substantial lead across all measured workloads. Below is a detailed breakdown of the numbers, what they mean in practice, and which type of user should be looking at which processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most important observation from the recorded data is the uniformity of the Xeon’s advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 507 against the i5’s 428. That is an 18.5% difference in favor of the Xeon. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern, with the Xeon scoring 71 and the i5 scoring 60, a delta of 18.3%. This is not a case where one chip wins on multi-threaded workloads while the other wins on single-threaded tasks. The Xeon is faster in both, and the margin is nearly identical across every test.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the results are consistent. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 scores 2115 in multi-core, while the i5-4570S scores 1787. The difference is 18.4%. In single-core, the Xeon scores 298 and the i5 scores 252, a gap of 18.3%. The Xeon’s lead does not shrink or grow depending on the test version; it stays locked at roughly 18%. This is a strong sign that the performance advantage is structural, not workload-specific.

The newest Cinebench R23 results confirm the same picture. The Xeon scores 5036 in multi-core, while the i5 scores 4256. That is an 18.3% gap. In single-core, the Xeon scores 711 and the i5 scores 600, another 18.5% gap. Across all six recorded benchmark tests, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins by a margin between 18.3% and 18.5%. There is no overlap. The i5-4570S trails in every category, and the margin is remarkably stable.

The database also provides an average benchmark score for each processor, which aggregates all testing. The Xeon has an average score of 1456, while the i5 has an average of 1426. These numbers are close, but the average includes different test sets for each chip, so it is less reliable than the direct head-to-head results. The head-to-head data is the more trustworthy comparison, and it is unambiguous.

Looking at the broader context, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 sits at the 38th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the i5-4570S sits at the 37th percentile. The percentile difference is small, which indicates that both are mid-range parts in the overall landscape. However, within this direct comparison, the Xeon is clearly the faster processor, and the percentile gap is simply a reflection of the fact that there are many other chips above both of them. The i5’s average score is 1426, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3820 with an average score of 1424 and a delta of 0.2%, the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 with 1422 and a 0.3% delta, and the Intel Core i7-3720QM with 1421 and a 0.4% delta. The Xeon’s nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE with an average score of 1461 and a delta of -0.3%, the Intel Core i3-7350K with 1462 and a -0.4% delta, the Intel Core i5-7300HQ with 1448 and a 0.6% delta, and the AMD Opteron 6378 with 1447 and a 0.6% delta. This places the Xeon slightly above the i5 in the overall hierarchy, by roughly 2% in average score, which is a much smaller gap than the 18% seen in the head-to-head tests. That is because the i5’s average is pulled up by its Geekbench results, which are not present for the Xeon in the data.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the better processor for anyone who prioritizes raw compute performance. It wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, and the margin is a substantial 18.3% to 18.5% across the board. If you are choosing between these two solely for the purpose of running applications that benefit from CPU performance, the Xeon is the clear choice. There is no scenario among the recorded tests where the i5-4570S comes out ahead.

The i5-4570S is not a bad chip. It has a 2.90 GHz base clock and a 3.60 GHz boost clock, which is slightly higher than the Xeon’s 2.80 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. However, the Xeon has 8 threads, while the i5 has only 4. That thread advantage, combined with the newer Skylake architecture, gives the Xeon a decisive lead in every test. The i5’s single-core score of 60 in Cinebench R15 is 18.3% behind the Xeon’s 71, which shows that the Xeon’s higher boost clock does not translate into a single-thread win; the architecture is simply more efficient.

Who should pick which? If you have a workload that can use multiple threads, such as video rendering, software compilation, or scientific computing, the Xeon is the only logical choice based on the data. Its 8 threads and 8 MB of L3 cache give it a significant advantage in multi-core tests. If you are constrained to the i5 for other reasons, such as a motherboard that only supports Socket 1150, then the i5 is a capable part, but it will offer roughly 18% less performance in the recorded benchmarks. The verdict is straightforward: the Xeon E3-1515M V5 wins on performance, and the i5-4570S only makes sense if you have a platform limitation that forces you to use it.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 scores 5036, while the Intel Core i5-4570S scores 4256. The Xeon leads by 18.3%.

Q: Is the single-core performance of the Xeon significantly better than the i5?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 298 and the i5 scores 252, a difference of 18.3%. In R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 711 and the i5 scores 600, a difference of 18.5%.

Q: How many threads does each processor have?

A: The Xeon E3-1515M v5 has 8 threads, while the Core i5-4570S has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Xeon E3-1515M v5 has an average benchmark score of 1456, placing it in the 38th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-4570S has an average score of 1426, placing it in the 37th percentile.

Q: Does the i5-4570S win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Xeon wins all 6 tests, and the i5 wins 0.

Q: What are the nearest rivals to the i5-4570S in the database?

A: The nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-3820 with an average score of 1424, the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 with 1422, and the Intel Core i7-3720QM with 1421. The i5’s average score is 1426, so it is only slightly above these.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The i5-4570S has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The Xeon has a slightly lower base clock but a higher boost clock. The thermal design power (TDP) differs significantly: the Xeon is rated at 45 watts, while the i5 is rated at 65 watts. The Xeon uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the i5 uses the Intel Socket 1150. The Xeon is a mobile/workstation part, while the i5 is a desktop part. The Xeon has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, and the i5 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i5 only supports DDR3. The Xeon has ECC memory support, while the i5 does not. The Xeon’s integrated graphics are Iris Pro Graphics P580, while the i5 has Intel HD 4600. The Xeon was released in January 2016, and the i5 was released in June 2013. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $489, and the i5 has no launch MSRP listed in the database. Both have locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The Xeon E3-1515M v5 is built on the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-H codename. The i5-4570S is built on the Haswell architecture, with the codename Haswell. The Xeon uses a 14 nm process node, while the i5 uses a 22 nm process node. The Xeon has 2,300 million transistors on a die size of 171 mm², while the i5 has 1,400 million transistors on a die size of 177 mm². The Xeon’s transistor count is higher, but the die size is slightly smaller, reflecting the more advanced 14 nm process. The Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, which is identical to the i5. The shared L3 cache is 8 MB on the Xeon and 6 MB on the i5. The Xeon supports dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the i5’s memory bandwidth is not listed in the database. The Xeon’s PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5’s PCIe is Gen 3 with no lane count specified. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, which is a major architectural difference from the i5, which only supports DDR3. The Xeon also has ECC memory support, which is a feature for server and workstation use, while the i5 does not.

The generation labels confirm the gap: the Xeon is from the Xeon E3 (Skylake-H) generation, while the i5 is from the Core i5 (Haswell) generation. The Xeon is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i5’s production status is not listed. The Xeon’s part number is SR2QT, and the i5’s is SR14J.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins in every benchmark category that the database recorded. That means it is the better choice for any workload that relies on CPU performance. In the multi-core tests, the Xeon’s 8 threads provide a clear advantage. The i5’s 4 threads limit its performance in threaded workloads, as evidenced by the 18.4% and 18.3% gaps in R20. For single-threaded performance, the Xeon also wins, because its boost clock of 3.70 GHz is higher than the i5’s 3.60 GHz, and the Skylake architecture is more efficient per clock. The Xeon’s 8 MB of L3 cache and ECC support also make it more suitable for server-like workloads, such as running databases or virtualization, where error correction is critical. The i5’s 6 MB L3 and lack of ECC put it at a disadvantage in those scenarios.

The i5-4570S does have one area where it might be preferred in practical terms, but it is not reflected in the benchmark data. The i5 uses the Socket 1150, which is a common desktop socket, while the Xeon uses a BGA 1440 socket, which is typically soldered to the motherboard. That means the i5 is a drop-in upgrade for existing Haswell desktop systems, while the Xeon is a mobile part that requires a compatible workstation laptop or mini-PC. However, based strictly on the performance metrics, the Xeon is the winner in 6 out of 6 tests. The i5 wins nowhere. The only reason to choose the i5 is platform compatibility, not performance. The data is clear: the Xeon E3-1515M V5 is 18.3% to 18.5% faster in every single test, and it offers more threads, more cache, ECC support, and a newer architecture. The i5 is a legacy part that cannot compete with the Xeon on the basis of the recorded measurements.