Intel Core i5-4670 vs Intel Xeon D-1521 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent, if narrow, advantage for the Intel Xeon D-1521 across every Cinebench workload in the comparison set. The Xeon D-1521 wins all six head-to-head tests, with the Core i5-4670 trailing by margins between 1.4% and 1.8%. This is not a dramatic victory, but it is a uniform one: no single test flips in favor of the desktop chip.

The largest gap appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Xeon D-1521 scores 280 versus 275 for the Core i5-4670, a 1.8% lead. That is the widest delta in the entire matchup. The remaining five tests cluster tightly around a 1.4% to 1.5% difference. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon posts 476 against 469, a 1.5% edge; in R15 single-core, it is 67 versus 66, also 1.5%. The R20 multicore run shows 1985 versus 1957, a 1.4% advantage, and R23 multicore lands at 4728 versus 4660, again 1.5%. The R23 single-core result is 667 versus 657, a 1.5% gap.

What makes these numbers notable is not their size but their consistency. The Xeon D-1521 edges ahead in every render workload, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, across three generations of the Cinebench suite. The Core i5-4670 never once takes the lead. That said, the deltas are small enough that real-world differences would be imperceptible in most tasks; these are benchmark margins, not usability gaps.

Looking at broader database averages, the Xeon D-1521 posts a mean score of 1367 across its benchmark set, while the Core i5-4670 averages 1347. That is a 1.5% overall difference, consistent with the head-to-head results. Both processors sit at the 36th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier despite their architectural and platform differences. The nearest rivals for the Xeon D-1521 include the Intel Core i7-3820QM at an average score of 1366 (a 0.1% delta), the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 at 1368 (negative 0.1%), the AMD Opteron 6376 at 1370 (negative 0.2%), and the Intel Core i7-2600 at 1370 (negative 0.2%). For the Core i5-4670, the closest neighbors are the Intel Core i5-7400T at 1348 (negative 0.1%), the Intel Xeon W-2104 at 1350 (negative 0.2%), the Intel Core i5-4590T at 1340 (positive 0.5%), and the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 at 1357 (negative 0.7%). The Xeon D-1521 essentially trades blows with a mobile i7, a workstation Xeon, and a server Opteron; the i5-4670 sits in a similar cluster but slightly lower.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon D-1521 wins every benchmark in this comparison, so the use-case split is really about where the margins matter and where they do not. In single-threaded workloads, the Xeon leads by 1.5% to 1.8%. That covers tasks like lightly threaded applications, spreadsheet recalculations, or legacy software that relies on one core. The edge is measurable but not transformative; a user moving from the i5-4670 to the Xeon D-1521 would not notice the difference in daily use.

In multi-threaded rendering, the Xeon again leads, but by the same narrow 1.4% to 1.5% range. This is surprising given the architectural differences: the Xeon offers 8 threads versus 4 for the i5-4670, yet the render scores do not reflect a doubling of throughput. The reason lies in the clock speeds. The Xeon D-1521 runs at a 2.40 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost, while the Core i5-4670 operates at 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The i5's higher clocks compensate for its lack of hyper-threading, pulling its multi-core scores nearly level with the Xeon. The result is that the Xeon's thread advantage yields only a marginal win, not a landslide.

The Core i5-4670 does not win any benchmark, but it does have structural advantages that the data implies. It draws 84 W versus 45 W for the Xeon, but that higher power envelope buys significantly higher clock speeds. The i5 also features integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600), which the Xeon lacks entirely. For a desktop user who needs a display output without a discrete GPU, the i5-4670 is the only option here. The Xeon D-1521, by contrast, is a server/workstation part with no integrated graphics and a BGA 1667 socket, meaning it is soldered to the board and not upgradeable.

The Xeon's wins are consistent but small; the i5's losses are consistent but small. Neither chip dominates the other in a way that would force a choice based on raw performance alone. The deciding factors lie elsewhere: platform, power, memory support, and integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: the Intel Xeon D-1521 is the faster processor in this pairing, but only by a hair. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks with deltas between 1.4% and 1.8%, and its average benchmark score of 1367 tops the i5-4670's 1347. Anyone choosing strictly on Cinebench performance should take the Xeon D-1521.

However, the Core i5-4670 remains a viable pick for desktop builders because of what the benchmark scores do not capture. The i5 runs at much higher clocks (3.40 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost versus 2.40 GHz and 2.70 GHz), includes integrated graphics, and uses a standard Socket 1150 platform with replaceable processors. The Xeon D-1521, with its BGA 1667 socket, is soldered and cannot be swapped. It also requires a discrete GPU for display output, adding cost and complexity to any system build.

For a server or workstation workload where ECC memory matters and the system is built once and left alone, the Xeon D-1521 is the correct choice. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4, offers ECC memory, and draws only 45 W, making it well suited to always-on operation. The i5-4670, with no ECC support and DDR3-only memory, is a desktop part through and through.

The verdict: pick the Xeon D-1521 if you need ECC, low power, or a soldered embedded form factor. Pick the Core i5-4670 if you want integrated graphics, higher clocks, and a socketed platform. On raw Cinebench numbers, the Xeon wins, but the margin is small enough that platform needs should drive the decision.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1521 scores 4728 versus 4660 for the Intel Core i5-4670, a 1.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Core i5-4670 win any benchmark in this comparison?

A: No. The Xeon D-1521 wins all six head-to-head tests, with the i5-4670 trailing by 1.4% to 1.8% across the board.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Xeon D-1521 averages 1367, while the Core i5-4670 averages 1347, a difference of 20 points or roughly 1.5%.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1521 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-4670 does not.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: The Core i5-4670 includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics. The Xeon D-1521 has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The Xeon D-1521 runs at 2.40 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. The Core i5-4670 runs at 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures and target entirely different market segments. The Xeon D-1521 is built on the Broadwell architecture (14 nm process) and falls into the Xeon D family, specifically Broadwell-DE. It is a server/workstation part designed for embedded and low-power systems. The Core i5-4670 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process and belongs to the desktop Core i5 lineup. These are not just different generations; they are different product philosophies.

The transistor counts reflect that divide. The Xeon D-1521 packs 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die, while the Core i5-4670 contains 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The Xeon's larger, denser die serves its server role: it includes support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, ECC memory validation, and a PCIe Gen 3 controller with 24 lanes from the CPU. The i5-4670 supports only DDR3, has no ECC capability, and lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count in the database. The Xeon also has a 45 W TDP versus 84 W for the i5, a significant power efficiency advantage despite the larger die.

Cache layouts differ as well. The Xeon D-1521 has 1.5 MB of L3 per core, while the Core i5-4670 has 6 MB of shared L3. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The per-core L3 allocation on the Xeon gives each thread more dedicated cache, which can help in certain server workloads. The i5's shared pool is simpler and often sufficient for desktop use.

The production status also differs. The Xeon D-1521 is listed as Active, while the Core i5-4670 has no production status recorded. The Xeon was released in late 2015 (October 31, 2015), while the i5-4670 launched in mid-2013 (June 1, 2013). The Xeon is a newer part, built on a smaller process, and remains in production. The i5-4670 is a legacy desktop chip.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the recorded data.

| Specification | Intel Xeon D-1521 | Intel Core i5-4670 |

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

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 84 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1667 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Haswell |

| Generation | Xeon D (Broadwell-DE) | Core i5 (Haswell) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | 3,200 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 246 mm² | 177 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 1.5 MB per core | 6 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR3 |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 4600 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production Status | Active | Not recorded |

| Release Date | 2015-10-31 | 2013-06-01 |

| Launch MSRP | $199 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SR2DF | SR14D |

Both chips have 4 cores, dual-channel memory buses, and locked multipliers. The Xeon D-1521's launch MSRP was $199, a figure recorded in the database. The Core i5-4670 has no recorded launch MSRP. The Xeon's socket is BGA 1667, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard, while the i5-4670 uses Socket 1150, a standard desktop socket with replaceable processors. The Xeon is the newer, more power-efficient, server-oriented part; the i5-4670 is the older, higher-clocked, desktop-oriented chip.