Intel Core i5-4590S vs Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 and Intel Core i5-4590S are two Intel processors from different market segments. The Xeon is a server/workstation part with 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i5 is a desktop part with 4 cores and 4 threads. Both are built on a 22 nm process, but they differ in socket, cache, memory support, and integrated graphics. In the database's head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Xeon wins all six comparisons, with margins between 22.4% and 23%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 535 against the i5's 437, a 22.4% lead. In single-core, the Xeon scores 75 versus 61, a 23% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon leads 2232 to 1821 in multi-core (22.6%) and 315 to 257 in single-core (22.6%). Cinebench R23 shows the same pattern: 5316 to 4338 in multi-core (22.5%) and 750 to 612 in single-core (22.5%). Across all six tests, the Xeon's margin is remarkably consistent, ranging from 22.4% to 23%. This consistency suggests that the performance gap is not workload-specific but reflects a fundamental architectural advantage.

Notably, the i5 has higher base and boost clocks (2.90 GHz and 3.60 GHz) compared to the Xeon's 2.20 GHz and 2.70 GHz. Yet the Xeon still wins single-core tests by a wide margin. This indicates that clock speed alone does not determine performance in these Cinebench workloads; the Xeon's larger cache and other architectural features compensate for its lower clocks. The recorded data shows no test where the i5 comes out ahead, and the win count stands at 6 for the Xeon and 0 for the i5.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on the same 22 nm process, but they diverge in almost every other respect. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 1356 and is based on the Ivy Bridge-EN architecture, while the i5 uses Socket 1150 and the Haswell architecture. The Xeon has 6 cores and 12 threads, compared to the i5's 4 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon's base clock is 2.20 GHz with a boost of 2.70 GHz; the i5 runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The Xeon has a TDP of 60 W, the i5 65 W. The Xeon's die contains 1,860 million transistors on a 257 mm² die, while the i5 has 1,400 million transistors on 177 mm².

Cache sizes differ significantly: the Xeon has 15 MB of shared L3, the i5 has 6 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. Memory support: the Xeon uses triple-channel DDR3 with a bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s, while the i5 uses dual-channel DDR3 with no listed bandwidth. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the i5 does not. The Xeon provides 24 PCIe lanes (CPU only) and supports PCIe Gen 3; the i5 also supports PCIe Gen 3 but no lane count is given. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the i5 includes Intel HD 4600. The Xeon is a server/workstation part, the i5 is a desktop part. The Xeon was released on January 8, 2014, with a launch MSRP of $494; the i5 was released on April 30, 2014, and no launch MSRP is recorded. The Xeon is marked as end-of-life, while the i5 has no production status listed.

Where Each One Wins

In the recorded Cinebench benchmarks, the Xeon wins every test. There is no benchmark in the head-to-head set where the i5 comes out ahead. However, the i5 has features that the Xeon lacks: integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600) and a different socket (1150 vs 1356). For systems that require an integrated GPU, the i5 is the only option. The i5 also has higher clock speeds, which could benefit workloads that are not represented by Cinebench, but the data does not show any such advantage. The Xeon's ECC support and triple-channel memory make it suitable for server and workstation environments where data integrity and memory bandwidth are critical. The Xeon's lower TDP (60 W vs 65 W) is also notable, though the difference is small.

Both processors sit at the 38th percentile among all CPUs in the database, indicating they are in the same overall performance tier despite the Xeon's head-to-head lead. The Xeon's average benchmark score is 1537, while the i5's is 1493. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-7440HQ (average score 1527, delta 0.7%) and the Intel Core i7-4760HQ (1549, delta -0.8%). The i5's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 6344 (1492, delta 0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-3770S (1498, delta -0.4%). These comparisons show that the Xeon is positioned against slightly higher-performing parts, while the i5 is closer to mid-range desktop chips.

The Verdict

Based on the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 is the superior processor in all measured Cinebench tests. It offers more cores, threads, cache, and memory bandwidth, along with ECC support. The i5-4590S, however, includes integrated graphics and a different socket, making it a better fit for desktop systems that do not require a discrete GPU. The choice depends on the platform and feature requirements, but for raw CPU performance as measured here, the Xeon is ahead. The Xeon's average benchmark score of 1537 places it 0.7% above the Intel Core i5-7440HQ and 0.8% below the Intel Core i7-4760HQ, while the i5's average of 1493 is 0.1% above the AMD Opteron 6344 and 0.4% below the Intel Core i7-3770S. These comparisons reinforce that the Xeon sits in a slightly higher performance tier than the i5, even when considering other CPUs in the database.

For users who need a server or workstation processor with ECC memory, triple-channel bandwidth, and a higher core count, the Xeon is the clear choice. For desktop builders who require integrated graphics or are constrained to the Socket 1150 platform, the i5 remains a viable option, but the recorded benchmarks show it trailing the Xeon by a consistent margin of roughly 22% across all Cinebench versions.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-4590S has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon supports ECC memory, while the i5 does not.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-4590S includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The Xeon has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Xeon has a TDP of 60 W, while the i5 has a TDP of 65 W.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Xeon has 15 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5 has 6 MB.

Q: What are the single-core Cinebench R23 scores?

A: The Xeon scores 750, and the i5 scores 612, a 22.5% lead for the Xeon.