Intel Core i5-4590T vs Intel Xeon D-1521 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a decisive and consistent performance advantage for the Intel Xeon D-1521 across all recorded Cinebench tests. The Xeon D-1521 wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with no single test favoring the Core i5-4590T. The most striking pattern is the uniformity of the victory margin: the Xeon D-1521 leads by 37.2% or 37.3% in every single test, whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural and execution advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon D-1521 scores 476 against the Core i5-4590T's 347, a delta of 37.2%. The R20 multi-core test repeats this pattern, with the Xeon reaching 1985 versus 1446, a 37.3% lead. The R23 multi-core test shows the same relationship: 4728 versus 3445, again a 37.2% gap. For single-core tests, the Xeon D-1521 maintains its edge, scoring 280 in R20 single-core against 204 for the i5-4590T, and 667 in R23 single-core against 486. The delta percentages remain nearly identical across all tests, indicating that the Xeon's advantage scales evenly with thread count and clock speed.

The average benchmark score reinforces this picture. The Xeon D-1521 has an average score of 1367, while the Core i5-4590T sits at 1340. Their percentile rankings against all CPUs are identical at 36, placing both in the same broad performance tier, but the Xeon's higher raw scores and its complete sweep of the head-to-head tests show that it is the stronger part in these specific workloads. The nearest rivals for each chip also tell a story: the Xeon D-1521 is surrounded by the Intel Core i7-3820QM (1366, 0.1% behind), the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 (1368, 0.1% ahead), the AMD Opteron 6376 (1370, 0.2% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-2600 (1370, 0.2% ahead). The Core i5-4590T, by contrast, is closest to the Intel Core i5-760 (1337, 0.2% behind), the Intel Core i5-4670 (1347, 0.5% ahead), the Intel Core i5-7400T (1348, 0.6% ahead), and the Intel Xeon W-2104 (1350, 0.7% ahead). The Xeon's rivals are higher-end parts, while the i5's rivals are mainstream desktop chips.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architecture generations and serve different market segments. The Intel Xeon D-1521 is based on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE variant, and targets the server and workstation segment. It is built on a 14 nm process node at Intel's foundry, with 3,200 million transistors packed into a 246 mm² die. The Core i5-4590T uses the older Haswell architecture, built on a 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The process shrink gives the Xeon a significant transistor density advantage, which helps explain its higher throughput per clock.

The core configuration differs critically. Both chips have four physical cores, but the Xeon D-1521 supports eight threads via Hyper-Threading, while the Core i5-4590T is limited to four threads with no Hyper-Threading. This doubles the Xeon's logical thread count, which is the primary reason for its large multi-core lead. The cache hierarchy also diverges: the Xeon D-1521 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core, for a total of 6 MB across four cores. The Core i5-4590T has the same per-core L1 and L2 sizes but uses a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The Xeon's per-core L3 allocation is a server-oriented design, while the i5's shared pool is typical of desktop parts.

Clock speeds favor the Core i5-4590T in raw terms. The i5 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the Xeon D-1521 has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost of 2.70 GHz. Despite the i5's higher boost, the Xeon still wins every single-core test by 37.2% or 37.3%, which indicates that the Xeon's per-core execution efficiency and memory subsystem more than compensate for the lower boost frequency. The i5's base clock of 2000.00 MHz is notably low for a desktop chip, and its 3.00 GHz boost is its only real clock advantage.

Memory support also separates the two. The Xeon D-1521 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, while the Core i5-4590T only supports DDR3, also dual-channel. The i5 has a recorded memory bandwidth figure of 25.6 GB/s, while the Xeon's bandwidth is not listed in the database. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server workloads, while the i5 does not. The PCIe configurations differ as well: the Xeon provides 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the i5 provides 16 Gen 3 lanes. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, whereas the i5 includes Intel HD 4600 graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1521 wins in every benchmark category recorded, making its usage case clear. It is designed for server and workstation environments where multi-threaded throughput, ECC memory support, and broad memory compatibility matter. The eight-thread execution capability is the decisive factor in multi-core workloads, and the data shows that it also wins single-core tests despite a lower boost clock. The Xeon's 14 nm process and larger transistor count give it a modern efficiency profile, and its 24 PCIe lanes provide more headroom for expansion cards, storage controllers, and network interfaces. Its support for both DDR3 and DDR4 allows flexibility in system design, and its active production status means it remains available for new builds.

The Intel Core i5-4590T wins in scenarios that do not appear in these specific benchmarks but are implied by its specifications. It has a lower TDP at 35 watts versus the Xeon's 45 watts, making it suitable for compact or passively cooled desktop systems where power draw is a primary constraint. Its integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics mean it can run a display without a discrete GPU, which the Xeon cannot do. Its 3.00 GHz boost clock is the highest frequency between the two, so in legacy or lightly threaded applications that do not benefit from the Xeon's architectural improvements, the i5's clock advantage could matter, though the recorded single-core data shows the Xeon ahead anyway. The i5 uses the common Socket 1150 platform, which offers a wide range of affordable motherboards, though pricing is not part of this analysis. Its end-of-life production status means it is a legacy part, but the recorded data shows it still performs close to the Xeon in overall average score, just 27 points lower.

The use-case split is therefore about platform requirements rather than raw performance. For a server or workstation needing ECC, dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4, and 24 PCIe lanes, the Xeon D-1521 is the clear choice, and it also delivers superior Cinebench scores. For a low-power desktop or media PC with integrated graphics, the Core i5-4590T offers a lower TDP and on-board display output, but at a measurable performance cost in every recorded benchmark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1521 scores 4728 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, versus 3445 for the Intel Core i5-4590T, a 37.2% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: Does the Core i5-4590T win any single-core tests?

A: No. The Xeon D-1521 wins Cinebench R20 single-core (280 versus 204) and Cinebench R23 single-core (667 versus 486), both by 37.3% and 37.2%, respectively.

Q: What is the thread count difference between the two CPUs?

A: The Xeon D-1521 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i5-4590T has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon's Hyper-Threading support doubles its logical thread count.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Only the Xeon D-1521 supports ECC memory. The Core i5-4590T does not.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Xeon D-1521 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration. The Core i5-4590T supports only DDR3, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Core i5-4590T includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The Xeon D-1521 has no integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on almost every major specification field. The Xeon D-1521 uses the Intel BGA 1667 socket, while the Core i5-4590T uses Intel Socket 1150. The Xeon is a Broadwell server part from the Xeon D series, while the i5 is a Haswell desktop part from the Core i5 series. The Xeon is built on a 14 nm process with 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die; the i5 uses a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads, the i5 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for the Xeon and 2000.00 MHz for the i5, with boost clocks of 2.70 GHz and 3.00 GHz respectively. TDP is 45 watts for the Xeon and 35 watts for the i5. Cache differs in L3 organization: the Xeon has 1.5 MB per core, the i5 has 6 MB shared. Memory support is DDR3 and DDR4 for the Xeon versus DDR3 only for the i5. ECC is supported only on the Xeon. PCIe lanes are 24 for the Xeon and 16 for the i5. Integrated graphics exist only on the i5. Release dates are 2015-10-31 for the Xeon and 2014-05-10 for the i5. The Xeon is active in production, the i5 is end-of-life. Launch MSRP is $199 for the Xeon and $192 for the i5. Part numbers are SR2DF for the Xeon and SR1S6 for the i5. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. Average benchmark scores are 1367 for the Xeon and 1340 for the i5, with identical 36th percentile rankings against all CPUs.