Intel Core i5-4590S vs Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 Comparison

Intel Core i5-4590S and Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 are two very different four-core processors that happen to land in the same performance tier. The i5-4590S is a 2014 desktop part built for mainstream Socket 1150 systems, while the Xeon E3-1515M v5 is a 2016 mobile workstation chip on BGA 1440. In the recorded benchmarks, the Xeon wins every single test, but the margins are consistent and moderate. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the practical choice depends heavily on platform needs, memory support, and whether you can use ECC or the stronger integrated GPU.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins in every recorded benchmark category. Across all six Cinebench tests, from R15 to R23, both multi-core and single-core, the Xeon holds a lead of roughly 13.8% to 14.1%. The largest single margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 71 against the i5's 61, a 14.1% advantage. In multi-core workloads, the Xeon's lead is consistently around 13.8% to 13.9%, such as in Cinebench R23 multi-core where it scores 5036 versus 4338. There are no benchmark wins for the Intel Core i5-4590S in this comparison.

The i5-4590S does have strengths outside of raw compute scores. It uses the Intel Socket 1150, which is a standard desktop platform with replaceable CPUs and a wide range of motherboards. Its integrated graphics is Intel HD 4600, which is sufficient for basic display output. The Xeon E3-1515M v5, by contrast, is a BGA 1440 soldered part, meaning it is not user-upgradeable or swappable. The Xeon's advantage is in its feature set: it supports ECC memory, has a larger 8 MB L3 cache versus 6 MB, and includes the more capable Iris Pro Graphics P580. For a workstation or server application where data integrity and multi-threaded throughput matter more than upgradeability, the Xeon is the clear winner. For a standard desktop build where the motherboard socket and lower platform cost are the priorities, the i5-4590S holds the practical edge.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel architecture generations. The i5-4590S is built on the Haswell architecture using a 22 nm process, with a die size of 177 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 is Skylake-H based, manufactured on a 14 nm process, with a slightly smaller die at 171 mm² but significantly more transistors at 2,300 million. The newer process node gives the Xeon better power efficiency: it has a 45 W TDP versus the i5's 65 W, despite having a higher boost clock and more threads.

Cache configurations differ as well. Both have the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) caches, but the shared L3 cache is 6 MB on the i5-4590S and 8 MB on the Xeon. The Xeon also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i5-4590S is limited to DDR3. The Xeon's memory bandwidth is listed as 34.1 GB/s, whereas the i5's bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The Xeon supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i5. Both use PCIe Gen 3, but the Xeon specifies 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5's lane count is not listed.

Threading is another major split. The i5-4590S has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads, doubling the thread count. This explains why the Xeon's multi-core lead is consistent even though its base clock is lower (2.80 GHz versus 2.90 GHz). The Xeon's boost clock is higher at 3.70 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, which contributes to its single-core wins.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is one-sided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 507 to the i5's 437, a 13.8% advantage. In R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 71 to 61, a 14.1% lead. The same pattern repeats in R20: multi-core is 2115 versus 1821 (13.9% ahead), and single-core is 298 versus 257 (13.8% ahead). In R23, the Xeon scores 5036 multi-core against 4338 (13.9% ahead) and 711 single-core against 612 (13.9% ahead).

The margins are tightly grouped, all between 13.8% and 14.1%. This suggests the Xeon's advantage is not workload-specific but comes from a combination of higher boost clock, additional threads, and a newer architecture. The single-core gains are slightly larger in R15 (14.1%) than in R20 or R23 (13.8% to 13.9%), but the difference is small. The multi-core results show that the Xeon's 8 threads provide a consistent edge over the i5's 4 threads, even though the i5 has a higher base clock.

Looking at the broader database context, the i5-4590S has an average benchmark score of 1493, placing it near rivals like the AMD Opteron 6344 (1492, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i7-3770S (1498, -0.4% delta). The Xeon E3-1515M v5 has an average score of 1456, which is slightly lower than the i5's average, despite winning every head-to-head test. This discrepancy is because the i5 has Geekbench scores recorded (multicore 3289, singlecore 1126) while the Xeon does not have Geekbench results in the database. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE (1461, -0.3% delta) and the Intel Core i3-7350K (1462, -0.4% delta). Both CPUs sit at the 38th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are mid-range performers overall.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the faster processor in every measured workload. It offers a consistent 13.8% to 14.1% advantage in Cinebench tests, which translates to real-world gains in multi-threaded rendering, encoding, and compilation. Its 8 threads, higher boost clock, and 8 MB L3 cache make it the better choice for compute-heavy tasks. The Xeon also supports ECC memory and DDR4, making it suitable for workstation or server environments where reliability and memory capacity matter.

The Intel Core i5-4590S is not without merit, but its advantages are platform-based rather than performance-based. It uses the standard Socket 1150, which means it can be paired with a wide range of affordable desktop motherboards and can be replaced or upgraded without changing the board. Its 65 W TDP is higher than the Xeon's 45 W, but it is still modest for a desktop part. The i5's integrated HD 4600 graphics are basic, but they are sufficient for office work, media playback, and light gaming without a discrete GPU.

For a user building a new system today, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the better chip on raw performance, provided the BGA 1440 socket is not a concern. Since it is soldered, it is not a DIY upgrade part; it comes with a motherboard or laptop. For anyone with an existing Socket 1150 system looking to drop in a capable quad-core, the i5-4590S is the practical pick. The data does not support choosing the i5 for speed, but it does support choosing it for platform compatibility and upgrade flexibility.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4590S has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: Does the Xeon E3-1515M v5 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-4590S does not.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 71 versus the i5's 61, a 14.1% difference. All other tests show margins between 13.8% and 13.9%.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-4590S has an average benchmark score of 1493, and the Xeon E3-1515M v5 has an average of 1456. The i5's average is higher because it has Geekbench scores recorded, while the Xeon does not.

Q: What memory types does each CPU support?

A: The i5-4590S supports DDR3 only. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, with a listed memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Xeon E3-1515M v5 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i5-4590S has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i5 has a higher base clock at 2.90 GHz versus 2.80 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4590S | Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Skylake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

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

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 171 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 | Iris Pro Graphics P580 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

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

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2016-01-23 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $489 |

| Part Number | Not recorded | SR2QT |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |