Intel Core i5-4670K vs Intel Xeon D-1528 Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-1528 and Intel Core i5-4670K represent two distinct Intel philosophies: a low-power, server-oriented Broadwell part against a higher-clocked, desktop Haswell chip. Benchmark data shows a clear overall winner, but the story is more nuanced when examining where each processor excels. The Xeon D-1528 dominates the Cinebench suite, while the Core i5-4670K offers advantages in platform flexibility and overclocking.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head Cinebench results are remarkably consistent, with the Intel Xeon D-1528 winning all six tests by nearly identical margins. The multicore scores show the Xeon’s advantage: in Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 584 versus the Core i5-4670K’s 478, a 22.2% lead. The gap widens slightly in single-core R15, where the Xeon’s 82 beats the i5’s 67 by 22.4%. This pattern holds across newer benchmarks. Cinebench R20 multicore sees the Xeon at 2435 against 1995 for the i5, a 22.1% difference. The R20 single-core test shows 343 versus 281, another 22.1% margin. Cinebench R23 multicore continues the trend: 5799 for the Xeon versus 4751 for the i5, with single-core at 818 versus 670, both showing a 22.1% gap.

What is striking is the uniformity of these margins. Whether the workload is heavily threaded or purely single-threaded, the Xeon D-1528 maintains roughly a 22% advantage over the Core i5-4670K. This suggests the performance delta is structural—tied to core count and architecture—rather than workload-specific. The Xeon’s 6 cores and 12 threads provide a fundamental throughput advantage over the i5’s 4 cores and 4 threads. Even in single-core tests, where clock speed typically dominates, the Xeon’s lower 2.50 GHz boost clock still outperforms the i5’s 3.80 GHz boost, indicating the newer Broadwell architecture delivers more instructions per clock.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The Xeon D-1528 averages 1677 across all benchmarks, while the Core i5-4670K averages 1656. This places both processors at the 40th percentile among all CPUs. The Xeon’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-4690K, scores 1682, a mere 0.3% above the Xeon. The Core i7-5850HQ and Core i7-3770K both score 1688, 0.6% above. The Core i5-4670K’s closest competitor is the Intel Xeon E-2124 at 1658, just 0.1% higher, with the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H at 1653, 0.2% lower.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1528 wins outright in every head-to-head benchmark, making it the clear choice for compute-intensive workloads. Its 22% multicore advantage in Cinebench R23 (5799 versus 4751) positions it for rendering, scientific computing, and virtualization tasks where thread count matters. The 12 threads allow it to process more parallel tasks simultaneously than the i5’s 4 threads. For single-threaded applications, the Xeon still leads, though the margin is tighter in real-world terms since both chips are adequate for basic productivity.

The Intel Core i5-4670K, despite losing all six benchmarks, has its own territory. It features an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking beyond its 3.80 GHz boost clock. This makes it attractive for users who prioritize single-thread responsiveness in games or legacy software that cannot use many cores. The i5 also includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the Xeon D-1528 has no integrated graphics at all—meaning the i5 can run a system without a discrete GPU. The Xeon requires a separate graphics card, adding cost and complexity to a build.

The power envelope is another differentiator. The Xeon D-1528 has a TDP of 35 watts versus the i5-4670K’s 84 watts, making the Xeon far more efficient for always-on servers or compact, thermally constrained systems. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not, making it suitable for error-sensitive workloads like database servers. The i5’s higher clock speeds (3.40 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost) and unlocked multiplier give it a ceiling that the Xeon cannot reach, even though the Xeon wins at stock settings.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel microarchitectures and manufacturing processes. The Xeon D-1528 is built on Broadwell, Intel’s 14 nm process, while the Core i5-4670K uses Haswell on the older 22 nm node. This process shrink allows the Xeon to pack 3,200 million transistors into a 246 mm² die, compared to the i5’s 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. The smaller process node is a key reason the Xeon achieves higher performance at a fraction of the power draw.

Cache hierarchies diverge significantly. The Xeon D-1528 allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, matching the i5’s per-core allocation. However, the Xeon’s L3 cache is 1.5 MB per core, while the i5 has 6 MB shared across all four cores. With six cores, the Xeon’s total L3 cache amounts to 9 MB, though the per-core design means each core has dedicated fast access. The i5’s shared 6 MB cache is more flexible but smaller in total capacity. The Xeon’s cache architecture favors multi-threaded workloads where each core needs private high-speed memory.

Memory support also differs. The Xeon D-1528 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, while the i5-4670K supports only DDR3. This gives the Xeon a path to newer, higher-bandwidth memory platforms. The Xeon also enables ECC memory, a feature absent from the i5. The Xeon’s PCIe configuration includes Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i5 offers Gen 3 without a specified lane count. The Xeon is a server-class part with a socket of Intel BGA 1667, while the i5 uses the desktop-friendly Intel Socket 1150.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious split: the Xeon D-1528 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core i5-4670K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ sharply, with the Xeon at 1.90 GHz and the i5 at 3.40 GHz. Boost clocks show the same trend: 2.50 GHz for the Xeon versus 3.80 GHz for the i5. Despite the lower clocks, the Xeon wins benchmarks, underscoring the architectural efficiency of Broadwell over Haswell.

Power consumption is another major differentiator, with the Xeon drawing only 35 watts TDP compared to the i5’s 84 watts. The Xeon’s release date is later, coming in late 2015 versus mid-2013 for the i5. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $320, while the i5 has no listed launch MSRP. The Xeon is also an active production part, whereas the i5’s production status is not specified. The Xeon targets the server/workstation market segment, while the i5 is a desktop part. The i5 includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics; the Xeon has none. The Xeon enables ECC memory; the i5 does not. The Xeon’s multiplier is locked, while the i5’s is unlocked. Part numbers differ: SR2DL for the Xeon, SR14A for the i5.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1528 wins every single-core Cinebench test. In R15, it scores 82 versus 67 for the Core i5-4670K, a 22.4% margin. In R20, the Xeon scores 343 against 281, and in R23, 818 against 670, both showing a 22.1% lead.

Q: Does the Core i5-4670K win any benchmarks?

A: No. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both multicore and single-core), the Xeon D-1528 wins every time. The i5’s average benchmark score of 1656 does not exceed the Xeon’s 1677.

Q: Can the Core i5-4670K be overclocked?

A: Yes. The i5-4670K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing users to increase clock speeds beyond its stock 3.80 GHz boost. The Xeon D-1528 has a locked multiplier, preventing overclocking.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1528 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-4670K does not. This makes the Xeon suitable for error-correcting workloads in servers or workstations.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Xeon D-1528 has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Core i5-4670K has a TDP of 84 watts. The Xeon draws less than half the power of the i5 while delivering higher benchmark scores.

Q: How does the Xeon D-1528 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Xeon D-1528’s average benchmark score is 1677. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-4690K, scores 1682, which is 0.3% higher. The Core i7-5850HQ and Core i7-3770K score 1688, 0.6% higher, while the Core i7-6700TE scores 1666, 0.6% lower.