Intel Core i5-5257U vs Intel Xeon X3470 Comparison

The Intel Xeon X3470 and Intel Core i5-5257U represent two very different design philosophies from Intel, separated by nearly six years of process technology and market targeting. The Xeon X3470 is a 45 nm, 95 W server/workstation part from the Nehalem generation, while the i5-5257U is a 14 nm, 28 W mobile processor from the Broadwell generation. Benchmark data shows the Xeon X3470 holds a decisive performance edge across all Cinebench tests, winning all five head-to-head comparisons, yet both processors land at the 26th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar overall performance tier despite their architectural differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon X3470 scores 2857 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-5257U scores 2406 points. The Xeon X3470 leads by 18.7%, winning that head-to-head benchmark.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in single-core performance?

A: The Xeon X3470 wins every single-core head-to-head test. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 169 versus 142 for the i5-5257U, a 19% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon X3470 scores 403 versus 339, an 18.9% lead.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon X3470 has an average benchmark score of 983, while the Intel Core i5-5257U has an average benchmark score of 976. The Xeon X3470 is slightly ahead, but both rank at the 26th percentile versus all CPUs.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon X3470 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-5257U does not. This is a key differentiator given the Xeon's server/workstation market segment.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each chip?

A: The Intel Xeon X3470 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-5257U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon X3470 offers double the thread count.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-5257U includes integrated graphics, specifically the Intel Iris 6100. The Intel Xeon X3470 has no integrated graphics, which is consistent with its server/workstation positioning.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon X3470 is the stronger performer in every benchmark collected. It wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 18.6% to 19%. The Xeon X3470 offers double the core count and thread count, more than double the L3 cache (8 MB versus 3 MB), and a higher base clock (2.93 GHz versus 2.70 GHz) and boost clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.10 GHz). For any workload that is heavily threaded or relies on raw CPU throughput, the Xeon X3470 is the clear choice based on benchmark results.

However, the comparison is not purely about raw speed. The i5-5257U operates at a 28 W TDP compared to the Xeon X3470's 95 W TDP, making it far more power-efficient. The i5-5257U also features integrated Iris 6100 graphics, a 133 mm² die size on a 14 nm process, and higher memory bandwidth at 29.9 GB/s versus 21.3 GB/s. The Xeon X3470, with its 95 W TDP and no integrated graphics, is designed for socketed server/workstation builds, while the i5-5257U is a BGA mobile part. Users needing ECC memory support must choose the Xeon X3470, as the i5-5257U lacks this feature.

For a buyer prioritizing maximum CPU performance in Cinebench workloads, the Xeon X3470 is the only rational pick. For a mobile or low-power scenario where integrated graphics and efficiency matter more than raw multi-threaded score, the i5-5257U is the only viable option given its form factor and TDP. The Xeon X3470's launch MSRP was $589, while the i5-5257U's launch MSRP was $315.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent and substantial victory for the Intel Xeon X3470 across all five Cinebench benchmarks. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon X3470 scores 287 versus the i5-5257U's 242, a delta of 18.6%. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Xeon X3470 scores 1199 versus 1010, an 18.7% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the Xeon X3470 at 2857 versus 2406, again an 18.7% lead.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon X3470 scores 169 versus 142, a 19% delta. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon X3470 scores 403 versus 339, an 18.9% margin. The largest single percentage advantage for the Xeon X3470 is in Cinebench R20 single-core at 19%, while the smallest is in Cinebench R15 multi-core at 18.6%. The consistency of these margins — all falling between roughly 18.6% and 19% — suggests a fundamental per-clock and per-thread advantage for the Xeon X3470, not merely a workload-specific fluke.

The i5-5257U does not win a single head-to-head benchmark in this dataset. Its closest result is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it trails by 45 points. The largest absolute gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon X3470 leads by 451 points. While the i5-5257U has additional Geekbench scores (1773 multi-core, 922 single-core) not available for the Xeon X3470, those cannot be compared directly since the Xeon X3470 lacks Geekbench results in the FACT PACK. In the shared Cinebench tests, the Xeon X3470 is the decisive winner.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Xeon X3470 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-5257U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.93 GHz for the Xeon X3470 and 2.70 GHz for the i5-5257U, while boost clocks are 3.60 GHz and 3.10 GHz respectively. TDP is a major differentiator: the Xeon X3470 draws 95 W versus 28 W for the i5-5257U.

The socket types are entirely different: the Xeon X3470 uses Intel Socket 1156, while the i5-5257U uses Intel BGA 1168. The Xeon X3470 supports ECC memory, which the i5-5257U does not. PCIe lane counts also differ, with the Xeon X3470 offering Gen 2, 16 lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 2, 12 lanes (CPU only) for the i5-5257U. Memory bandwidth is higher on the i5-5257U at 29.9 GB/s compared to 21.3 GB/s for the Xeon X3470, despite both using dual-channel DDR3.

Integrated graphics are present only on the i5-5257U, which features Intel Iris 6100; the Xeon X3470 has no integrated graphics. The market segments differ as well: the Xeon X3470 is a Server/Workstation part, while the i5-5257U is a Mobile processor. Release dates are also far apart, with the Xeon X3470 launching in 2009 and the i5-5257U in 2015. The launch MSRP was $589 for the Xeon X3470 and $315 for the i5-5257U. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial, reflecting a six-year evolution in Intel's design. The Xeon X3470 uses the Nehalem architecture with the Lynnfield codename, built on a 45 nm process at Intel's foundry. It contains 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The i5-5257U uses the Broadwell architecture with the Broadwell-U codename, built on a 14 nm process, also at Intel's foundry. It packs 1,900 million transistors onto a much smaller 133 mm² die. This represents a dramatic shrink in process node from 45 nm to 14 nm, enabling the i5-5257U to fit more than double the transistors in less than half the die area.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. Both processors share the same per-core L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) configurations, but the L3 cache is vastly different: the Xeon X3470 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-5257U has only 3 MB of shared L3 cache. This 5 MB difference in L3 capacity partially explains the Xeon X3470's performance advantage in multi-threaded workloads, as it can hold more working set in fast on-die memory.

The i5-5257U's architecture brings integrated graphics (Intel Iris 6100), which the Nehalem-based Xeon X3470 entirely lacks. Transistor density improvements from 45 nm to 14 nm allow the i5-5257U to include the graphics engine alongside its CPU cores on a 133 mm² die. The Xeon X3470's larger 296 mm² die is devoted purely to CPU resources, which contributes to its higher core count and larger L3 cache. Memory bandwidth also benefits from the newer architecture: the i5-5257U achieves 29.9 GB/s versus 21.3 GB/s for the Xeon X3470, a 40% improvement despite both using dual-channel DDR3.

The production status for both is End-of-life, and neither has a multiplier unlocked. The Xeon X3470's part number is SLBJH, while the i5-5257U's is SR26K. The Xeon X3470's generation is listed as "Xeon (Lynnfield)" and the i5-5257U's as "Core i5 (Broadwell-U)". These architecture differences explain the benchmark results: despite the i5-5257U's modern 14 nm process and higher memory bandwidth, the Xeon X3470's superior core count, thread count, and L3 cache size deliver consistently higher Cinebench scores across the board.