CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-4690
Xeon E5-1410 v2
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i5-4690 vs Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2
The Intel Core i5-4690 and Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 are both 22 nm Intel parts from the same era, but they target completely different platforms. The data shows a remarkably close contest in raw compute benchmarks, with the desktop i5 taking every single head-to-head win, yet the Xeon counters with a feature set that the i5 cannot match. This comparison is less about raw speed and more about platform philosophy.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark results are unusually tight across all six Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i5-4690 wins every single comparison, but the margins are razor-thin. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the i5-4690 scores 479 against the Xeon E5-1410 v2's 476, a delta of just 0.6%. That is the largest margin of victory in the entire suite. The single-core R15 run is a dead heat, with both chips posting an identical 67 points and a delta of 0%.
Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The i5-4690 takes the multi-core test with 1996 points versus 1987 for the Xeon, a 0.5% lead. Single-core R20 sees the i5 at 281 and the Xeon at 280, a 0.4% advantage. The Cinebench R23 results are equally close: the i5-4690 scores 4754 multi-core and 671 single-core, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 scores 4732 and 668 respectively. Both R23 deltas sit at 0.5% and 0.4% in favor of the i5.
The overall average benchmark score reinforces this picture. The i5-4690 posts an average of 1375, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 trails slightly at 1368. Both chips sit at the 36th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals for the i5-4690 include the Intel Core i5-1030NG7 at 1376 (-0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-3740QM at 1378 (-0.2%). The Xeon's closest competitors are the Intel Xeon D-1521 at 1367 (0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-3820QM at 1366 (0.1%).
What these numbers show is that the Xeon's two extra threads do not translate into a multi-core advantage in these Cinebench tests. The i5-4690's higher clocks, 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost versus 2.80 GHz and 3.20 GHz for the Xeon, appear to compensate fully for the thread deficit. The Xeon's 0.6% deficit in R15 multi-core is its worst result, which suggests that its lower clock speed becomes a limiting factor when all cores are active. The single-core tests show near-perfect parity, with deltas of 0% and 0.4%, meaning the architectural differences between Haswell and Ivy Bridge are almost entirely neutralized at the per-thread level.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures. The Core i5-4690 is built on the Haswell architecture with the codename "Haswell," while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 uses the older Ivy Bridge architecture with the codename "Ivy Bridge-EN." Both are manufactured on Intel's 22 nm process node, but the similarities end there.
The transistor counts and die sizes are notably different. The i5-4690 packs 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 contains 1,860 million transistors on a much larger 257 mm² die. That extra silicon in the Xeon does not go toward more cores, both chips have four physical cores, but it does accommodate a larger L3 cache. The i5-4690 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 has 10 MB. The L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively.
Memory support is another major divergence. Both support DDR3, but the i5-4690 uses a dual-channel memory bus while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 uses a triple-channel configuration. The Xeon also has a listed memory bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s, a figure not provided for the i5-4690. Critically, the Xeon supports ECC memory, while the i5-4690 does not. This is a defining feature for the server part.
The sockets are completely incompatible. The i5-4690 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 uses Intel Socket 1356. The Xeon also provides more PCIe lanes, Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-4690 is simply listed as Gen 3 without a lane count. Integrated graphics are present on the i5-4690 in the form of Intel HD 4600, while the Xeon has none. The market segments tell the story: the i5-4690 is a Desktop part, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 is a Server/Workstation part. The Xeon is also marked as End-of-life in production status, while the i5-4690 has no such designation. The Xeon has a part number (SR1B0) and is not multiplier-unlocked, matching the i5-4690 in that regard.
FAQ
Q: Does the Xeon's 8 threads beat the i5's 4 threads in multi-core benchmarks?
A: No. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-4690 scores 479 versus the Xeon's 476, and in R20 multi-core it is 1996 versus 1987. The Xeon's extra threads do not overcome the i5's higher clock speeds in these tests.
Q: Which chip has a larger L3 cache?
A: The Xeon E5-1410 v2 has 10 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 6 MB on the Core i5-4690. The Xeon also has more transistors (1,860 million versus 1,400 million) and a larger die size (257 mm² versus 177 mm²).
Q: Can I use ECC memory with the Core i5-4690?
A: No. The i5-4690 does not support ECC memory. The Xeon E5-1410 v2 explicitly supports ECC memory, which is a key feature for server and workstation reliability.
Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboard?
A: No. The i5-4690 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 uses Intel Socket 1356. They are physically incompatible.
Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?
A: Only the Core i5-4690 has integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 4600. The Xeon E5-1410 v2 has no integrated graphics.
Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?
A: The i5-4690 has an average benchmark score of 1375, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 has an average of 1368. That is a difference of 7 points, or roughly 0.5%.
The Verdict
The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4690 is the faster processor in every Cinebench test conducted. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 0.4% to 0.6%. The average benchmark score of 1375 versus 1368 confirms this slim but consistent advantage. For purely compute-bound workloads, the i5-4690 is the better choice.
However, the Xeon E5-1410 v2 is not without its reasons to exist. It offers 10 MB of L3 cache versus 6 MB, a triple-channel memory bus with 32.0 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory support. These are features that matter in server and workstation environments where data integrity and memory throughput are critical. The Xeon also has more PCIe lanes at 24, which can be important for expansion cards and storage controllers. Its socket (1356) is different from the i5's (1150), meaning the platform decision is made before the CPU choice.
The i5-4690, by contrast, brings integrated graphics (Intel HD 4600) to the table, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic desktop builds. Its higher base and boost clocks (3.40 GHz and 3.80 GHz versus 2.80 GHz and 3.20 GHz) give it the edge in all measured benchmarks. It is a Desktop part, while the Xeon is a Server/Workstation part, and the Xeon is listed as End-of-life.
For a user building a desktop system where single-thread performance and simplicity matter, the Core i5-4690 is the clear winner based on the data. For a user building a server or workstation that requires ECC memory, triple-channel memory bandwidth, and a larger cache, the Xeon E5-1410 v2 is the only one of the two that can fulfill those requirements, despite its slightly lower benchmark scores. The data does not show a scenario where the Xeon wins on raw performance, but it wins on platform features that the benchmarks do not measure.
Specification Differences
| Specification | Intel Core i5-4690 | Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 4 | 8 |
| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.80 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.20 GHz |
| TDP | 84 W | 80 W |
| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 1356 |
| Architecture | Haswell | Ivy Bridge |
| Codename | Haswell | Ivy Bridge-EN |
| Transistors | 1,400 million | 1,860 million |
| Die Size | 177 mm² | 257 mm² |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 10 MB (shared) |
| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |
| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 32.0 GB/s |
| ECC Memory | No | Yes |
| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 24 Lanes (CPU only) |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |
| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |
| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |
| Part Number | Not listed | SR1B0 |