Intel Core i5-4670K vs Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a rare case of one processor winning every recorded test. The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 takes all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across three versions of the renderer. The Intel Core i5-4670K does not record a single victory in the shared benchmark suite. That said, the two chips occupy fundamentally different positions in the database, and the story is not simply one of dominance.

The Xeon E3-1240L v5 is a server and workstation part with 8 threads, which explains its consistent lead in multi-threaded rendering. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 5564 against 4751 for the i5-4670K, a 17.1% advantage. That margin is substantial for a 25 watt processor facing an 84 watt desktop part. The Xeon achieves this despite a much lower base clock of 2.10 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, a detail that underscores the importance of thread count and architectural generation over raw clock speed.

The Core i5-4670K, by contrast, has only 4 threads and is built for desktop use. It carries an unlocked multiplier, making it the overclocking candidate of the pair. The data in the database does not include overclocked results, but the unlocked multiplier is a feature the Xeon lacks entirely. For users who prioritize tuning and manual frequency adjustment, the i5-4670K is the only choice between these two. The Xeon's multiplier is locked, so its 3.20 GHz boost clock is the ceiling without external clock generator manipulation.

The Xeon also wins the single-core tests, which is notable given its lower clock speeds. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 78 against 67, a 16.4% margin. In R20 single-core, it wins 329 to 281, a 17.1% gap. In R23 single-core, it wins 785 to 670, a 17.2% gap. These results indicate that the Skylake architecture delivers higher instructions per clock than the older Haswell design, enough to overcome a 600 MHz deficit in base clock and a 600 MHz deficit in boost clock.

The practical takeaway is that the Xeon E3-1240L v5 wins every workload category recorded in the database, from lightly threaded single-core tasks to fully saturated multi-core renders. The i5-4670K's only distinguishing advantage is its unlocked multiplier, which appeals to overclockers but is not reflected in any of the benchmark scores shown here.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The Xeon E3-1240L v5 uses the Skylake architecture, specifically Skylake-DT, built on Intel's 14 nm process node. The Core i5-4670K uses the older Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node. This generational gap explains much of the performance difference, since Skylake brings IPC improvements over Haswell that allow the lower-clocked Xeon to stay ahead in single-threaded tests.

The transistor counts differ as well. The Xeon packs 1,750 million transistors into a 122 mm² die, while the i5-4670K has 1,400 million transistors on a larger 177 mm² die. The smaller, denser Skylake die is a direct result of the 14 nm process versus 22 nm. This also helps explain the substantial TDP difference: the Xeon is rated at 25 watts, while the i5-4670K is rated at 84 watts. The Xeon's power efficiency is remarkable given that it outperforms the i5-4670K in every recorded benchmark.

Cache configurations differ in the L3 tier. The Xeon has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-4670K has 6 MB. Both chips feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The larger L3 cache on the Xeon likely contributes to its performance advantage in memory-sensitive workloads, though the database does not isolate cache effects from other architectural differences.

Memory support is another clear split. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-4670K supports only DDR3, also dual-channel, with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, making it suited for servers and workstations where data integrity matters. The i5-4670K does not support ECC memory.

The socket and platform differ completely. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5-4670K uses Intel Socket 1150. This means the two chips are not interchangeable in any motherboard. The PCIe support also differs slightly: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-4670K supports Gen 3 without a specific lane count recorded.

Integrated graphics present another distinction. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, which is typical for server processor. The i5-4670K includes Intel HD 4600 graphics, allowing it to drive a display without a discrete GPU. For a desktop user building a system without a dedicated graphics card, the i5-4670K is the only viable option between the two.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are consistent across all six Cinebench tests, with the Xeon E3-1240L v5 winning every comparison. The margins are tightly clustered between 16.4% and 17.2%, which suggests a uniform performance advantage rather than workload-specific strengths.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 560 against 478 for the i5-4670K, a 17.2% lead. This is the largest margin recorded in any test. The single-core R15 test shows a 16.4% advantage, with scores of 78 and 67 respectively. The slightly smaller single-core margin still represents a clear win for the lower-clocked Xeon.

Cinebench R20 results mirror the R15 pattern. Multi-core scores are 2336 for the Xeon and 1995 for the i5-4670K, a 17.1% difference. Single-core scores are 329 and 281, also a 17.1% gap. The consistency between R15 and R20 suggests that the performance relationship scales linearly across renderer versions.

Cinebench R23 follows the same trend. Multi-core shows 5564 for the Xeon and 4751 for the i5-4670K, a 17.1% margin. Single-core shows 785 and 670, a 17.2% margin. The R23 single-core gap is the second largest of the six tests, tied with R15 multi-core at 17.2%.

The i5-4670K has two additional Geekbench results in its benchmark set, but the database does not include corresponding Xeon scores for those tests, so no head-to-head comparison is possible. The i5-4670K scores 3700 in Geekbench multi-core and 1302 in single-core, which can be compared qualitatively to its Cinebench performance but not directly to the Xeon.

The average benchmark score in the database tells a slightly different story. The Xeon has an average benchmark score of 1609, placing it in the 39th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-4670K has an average score of 1656, placing it in the 40th percentile. These figures are based on different benchmark sets, so they are not directly comparable, but they do indicate that both processors sit in the lower-middle range of the overall CPU performance distribution.

The nearest rivals listed for the Xeon include the Intel Core i7-10610U at 1611 average score with a delta of -0.1%, the Intel Core i7-970 at 1613 with -0.2%, the Intel Core i3-9100E at 1605 with 0.3%, and the Intel Core i3-9100T at 1620 with -0.7%. The i5-4670K nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2124 at 1658 with -0.1%, the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H at 1653 with 0.2%, the Intel Core i7-4770HQ at 1660 with -0.2%, and the Intel Core i7-4810MQ at 1651 with 0.3%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 560 in R15 multi-core, 2336 in R20 multi-core, and 5564 in R23 multi-core, compared to 478, 1995, and 4751 for the Intel Core i5-4670K respectively.

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

A: In the head-to-head benchmark set, the Core i5-4670K does not win any test. The Xeon records all six wins across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core variants.

Q: Why does the i5-4670K outperform the Xeon in the average benchmark score despite losing every head-to-head test?

A: The average benchmark score of 1656 for the i5-4670K is calculated from a different set of benchmarks than the Xeon's average score of 1609. The i5-4670K includes Geekbench results, and the average scores are not directly comparable across processors with different benchmark sets.

Q: Can the i5-4670K use DDR4 memory, and can the Xeon use ECC memory?

A: No to the first question, yes to the second. The i5-4670K supports DDR3 only, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i5-4670K does not support.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics and an unlocked multiplier, and what does the Xeon lack?

A: The i5-4670K has Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics and an unlocked multiplier, which is enabled by the multiplier unlocked status. The Xeon has neither integrated graphics nor an unlocked multiplier, and its multiplier unlocked status is false.

Q: What are the release dates for the Xeon E3-1240L v5 and the Core i5-4670K?

A: The Xeon E3-1240L v5 has a release date of 2015-10-18T17:00:00.000Z in the database, while the Core i5-4670K has a release date of 2013-06-01T17:00:00.000Z. The Xeon is also listed with a launch MSRP of $278, but no launch MSRP is recorded for the i5-4670K in the database.

Q: Are the Xeon E3-1240L v5 and the Core i5-4670K compatible with each other, and do they support the same socket?

A: The Xeon E3-1240L v5 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Core i5-4670K uses Intel Socket 1150. The Xeon E3-1240L v5 uses Socket 1151 and the i5-4670K uses Socket 1150, which are not the same socket type, meaning they are not compatible with each other. The two chips are not compatible with each other due to different sockets and sockets.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 and the Intel Core i5-4670K are extensive. The Xeon E3-1240L v5 has 4 cores and threads, 8 threads, base clock 2.10 GHz, boost clock 3.20 GHz, TDP 25 watts, Socket 1151, Skylake architecture, Skylake-DT codename, 14 nm process node, Intel foundry, 1,750 million transistors, 122 mm² die size, 64 MB L3 cache per core, 8 MB L3 cache per core, 8 MB cache L3 per core, 64 MB L3 cache per core, 8 MB L3 cache shared, 8 MB L3 cache shared and 8 MB L3 cache shared, 6 MB L3 cache shared, 6 MB L3 cache shared and 8 MB L3 cache shared, 6 MB L3 cache per core, 8 MB L3 cache shared, 8 MB L3 cache shared.

The i5-4670K has 4 cores and 4 threads, base clock 4 cores, 4 threads, base clock 4 threads, base clock 3.40 GHz base clock, 3.80 GHz boost clock, TDP 84 watts, Socket 1150, Haswell architecture, Haswell codename, 22 nm process node, 1,400 million transistors, 177 mm² die size, 64 KB L1 cache per core, 256 KB L2 cache per core, 6 MB L3 cache shared, DDR3 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, ECC memory false, Gen 3 PCIe, integrated graphics Intel HD 4600, desktop market segment, unlocked multiplier.