Intel Core i5-4570T vs Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 and the Intel Core i5-4570T present a study in contrasts within the Haswell generation. While their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, the underlying performance profiles could not be more different. The Xeon is a six-core server processor built for sustained throughput, while the Core i5 is a low-power dual-core desktop chip. The data shows that these two CPUs occupy entirely different niches, and the choice between them hinges entirely on workload type.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data is decisively one-sided. Across all five shared Cinebench tests, the Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 emerges victorious, with the Core i5-4570T failing to register a single win. The margins are remarkably consistent, hovering around the 40% mark in every test.

In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Xeon scores 386 against the i5's 275, a delta of 40.4%. This gap persists in the newer Cinebench R20 multi-core test, where the Xeon posts 1611 compared to 1147, a 40.5% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core results follow the same pattern, with the Xeon at 3836 and the i5 at 2732, again a 40.4% difference.

The single-core results tell a more surprising story. Despite the i5's higher base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 3.60 GHz, the Xeon still wins. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 227 versus 161, a 41% delta. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows 541 for the Xeon against 385 for the i5, a 40.5% difference. This is unexpected given the clock speed disadvantage the Xeon faces with its 1.90 GHz base clock and no boost capability. The data suggests the Xeon's architecture extracts more performance per clock in these workloads, despite the i5's ability to dynamically increase its frequency.

The only benchmark category where the i5 appears is in Geekbench, where it scores 2016 multi-core and 1042 single-core. However, the Xeon has no corresponding Geekbench entry in the data, so no direct comparison is possible there. The average benchmark scores tell the broader story: the Xeon averages 1109, and the i5 averages 1108—a difference of just 0.1%. This near-identical average masks the fact that the Xeon wins every shared test by roughly 40%.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 22 nm Haswell architecture, but they diverge significantly from there. The Xeon E5-2609 v3 uses the Haswell-EP codename and targets the server and workstation market. It packs 6 cores and 6 threads, with no hyper-threading. The i5-4570T, by contrast, is a mainstream desktop part with just 2 cores and 4 threads, enabling hyper-threading for improved multi-threaded performance within its limited core count.

The transistor counts and die sizes reflect their different purposes. The Xeon contains 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die, while the i5 has 1,400 million transistors on a much smaller 177 mm² die. This difference allows the Xeon to accommodate a substantially larger cache hierarchy. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the Xeon's L3 cache is 15 MB shared across all cores, compared to the i5's 4 MB shared pool.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The Xeon supports DDR4 memory through a quad-channel memory bus, providing 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server reliability. The i5-4570T uses the older DDR3 standard with a dual-channel memory bus, and it does not support ECC. The memory bandwidth figure for the i5 is not listed in the data, but the dual-channel DDR3 configuration is clearly less capable than the Xeon's quad-channel DDR4 setup.

The PCIe support also differs. The Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU, while the i5 offers Gen 3 without a specified lane count. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, reflecting its server role, whereas the i5 includes Intel HD 4600 graphics. Socket compatibility is completely different: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3, while the i5 uses the smaller Intel Socket 1150.

The Xeon was released in September 2014 with a launch MSRP of $306. The i5 was released earlier in June 2013 and has no launch MSRP listed. Both processors have their multipliers locked, preventing overclocking. The Xeon is marked as end-of-life production status, while the i5's status is not specified.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split is clear from the benchmark data. The Xeon E5-2609 v3 wins every shared benchmark test, making it the superior choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its six physical cores provide a substantial advantage in Cinebench tests, which scale well with core count. The consistent 40% lead across all Cinebench versions indicates that this advantage is stable regardless of the specific rendering workload.

The Xeon also wins single-core tests despite its lower clock speed. This suggests that for applications that are heavily single-threaded but also sensitive to memory bandwidth or cache capacity, the Xeon's 15 MB L3 cache and quad-channel memory provide tangible benefits. The 41% delta in Cinebench R20 single-core is particularly notable, as it demonstrates that the Xeon's architecture is more efficient per clock in this workload than the i5's higher-frequency design.

The i5-4570T's advantages are qualitative rather than quantitative in the shared benchmarks. Its 35 W TDP is dramatically lower than the Xeon's 85 W TDP, making it suitable for compact or passively cooled systems. The integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic desktop tasks. The dual-channel DDR3 memory support is less demanding on motherboard costs, and the smaller Socket 1150 platform is more accessible for mainstream builds.

The Geekbench results for the i5 provide a data point that the Xeon cannot counter directly. With a multi-core score of 2016 and single-core score of 1042, the i5 demonstrates reasonable performance in general-purpose computing tasks. However, these scores cannot be compared to the Xeon due to missing data, so they should be viewed as standalone figures rather than competitive measurements.

The Verdict

The benchmark data leads to a straightforward conclusion. For anyone running Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 is the clear choice. It wins every shared test by approximately 40%, and its six cores provide a level of multi-threaded performance that the dual-core i5 cannot match. The Xeon's server-oriented features—ECC memory support, quad-channel DDR4, 40 PCIe lanes, and 15 MB L3 cache—make it suitable for workstation and server applications where reliability and throughput are paramount.

The Core i5-4570T should be selected by users who prioritize power efficiency and integrated graphics. Its 35 W TDP is less than half the Xeon's 85 W TDP, making it ideal for low-power builds, home theater PCs, or any system where heat and noise are concerns. The built-in Intel HD 4600 graphics provide a complete desktop solution without requiring a separate GPU. The i5's higher base and boost clocks make it responsive for everyday tasks, even if it loses in raw rendering performance.

The near-identical average benchmark scores—1109 for the Xeon and 1108 for the i5—could mislead someone into thinking these are equivalent processors. They are not. The Xeon wins every shared benchmark by a wide margin, but its advantages in memory bandwidth, cache size, and core count come at the cost of higher power consumption and no integrated graphics. The i5 offers a more balanced package for general desktop use, with the Xeon dominating in specialized server and rendering workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15, it scores 386 versus 275 for the i5-4570T, a 40.4% advantage. The Cinebench R20 and R23 multi-core tests show similar 40.5% and 40.4% leads respectively.

Q: Does the Core i5-4570T have better single-core performance due to its higher clock speed?

A: No. Despite the i5's 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost clocks versus the Xeon's 1.90 GHz base with no boost, the Xeon wins single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 227 versus 161, a 41% delta.

Q: What are the memory support differences?

A: The Xeon E5-2609 v3 supports DDR4 memory with a quad-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC support. The i5-4570T supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and no ECC support.

Q: Do both processors include integrated graphics?

A: No. The Xeon E5-2609 v3 has no integrated graphics, while the Core i5-4570T includes Intel HD 4600.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Xeon E5-2609 v3 has a TDP of 85 W, while the Core i5-4570T has a TDP of 35 W, making the i5 significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Xeon E5-2609 v3 has 15 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 4 MB for the Core i5-4570T.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-2609 v3 | Intel Core i5-4570T |

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

| Cores | 6 | 2 |

| Threads | 6 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 1900.00 MHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 85 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Codename | Haswell-EP | Haswell |

| Transistors | 2,600 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 177 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 15 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2014-09-07 | 2013-06-01 |

| Launch MSRP | $306 | Not specified |