Intel Core i5-670 vs Intel Xeon E5450 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database presents a remarkably close contest between the Intel Xeon E5450 and the Intel Core i5-670, with the Xeon E5450 winning all five recorded head-to-head comparisons. However, the margins are extremely narrow, ranging from a 2.0% to a 2.4% advantage for the older server chip in every Cinebench test. The average benchmark score places the Xeon E5450 at 756, while the Core i5-670 sits at 741, a difference that rounds to roughly 2% in favor of the Xeon.

Both processors occupy the 20th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they perform at essentially the same level relative to the broader market. The nearest rivals for the Xeon E5450 include the Core i5-4250U with an identical average score of 756, the Core i3-5020U at 757 (0.2% higher), and the Core i5-3230M at 754 (0.2% lower). The Core i5-670's closest competitors are the AMD Phenom II X4 B97 at 741 (matching exactly), the Xeon E5520 at 742 (0.1% higher), and both the Core i7-860S and Pentium G4400 at 740 (0.1% and 0.2% lower respectively).

Given the data, the Xeon E5450 is the pick for anyone prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput, even if the practical difference is nearly imperceptible. The Core i5-670 makes more sense for systems requiring its newer features, such as integrated graphics, a higher base clock, and a boost clock capability, though the benchmark scores do not reflect a performance advantage. Users on a modern motherboard platform would likely favor the Core i5-670 for its socket compatibility with mainstream 1156 boards, while the Xeon E5450 targets server and workstation platforms with Socket 771. The verdict from the recorded measurements is clear: the Xeon E5450 edges out the Core i5-670 across every tested workload, but the margins are small enough that platform considerations may outweigh raw performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and manufacturing processes. The Xeon E5450 uses the Core 2 architecture with the codename Harpertown, built on a 45 nm process node at Intel. It packs 820 million transistors across a die size of 2x 107 mm², reflecting its dual-die design. The Core i5-670 uses the Westmere architecture with the codename Clarkdale, manufactured on a more advanced 32 nm process, with 382 million transistors on a single 81 mm² die.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Xeon E5450 offers 4 physical cores with 4 threads, while the Core i5-670 provides only 2 physical cores but enables 4 threads through Hyper-Threading. This means the Xeon has dedicated physical cores for each thread, while the Core i5 relies on simultaneous multithreading to reach its thread count. The Xeon's base clock runs at 3.00 GHz with no boost clock listed, whereas the Core i5-670 operates at a higher 3.47 GHz base and can reach 3.73 GHz via its boost mechanism.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Xeon E5450 features 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 6 MB of L2 cache per die, with no L3 cache present. The Core i5-670 also has 64 KB of L1 per core but uses 256 KB of L2 per core and adds a 4 MB shared L3 cache, which can help with data sharing between the two cores. Memory support for the Xeon depends on the motherboard, accepting either DDR2 or DDR3, while the Core i5-670 is limited to DDR3 with a dual-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s.

The Xeon E5450 supports ECC memory, making it suitable for error-correcting workloads in server environments, while the Core i5-670 does not. Both processors use PCIe Gen 2, but the Core i5-670 lists 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Xeon does not specify lane counts. Integrated graphics appear only on the Core i5-670 with Intel HD, while the Xeon has none. The Xeon targets the server and workstation market segment on Socket 771, while the Core i5-670 is a desktop part on Socket 1156. The Xeon launched in 2007, while the Core i5-670 arrived in 2010, and both are now end-of-life products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head results show the Xeon E5450 winning all five Cinebench tests, but the margins are consistently small. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 221 against the Core i5-670's 216, a 2.3% advantage. The R20 multicore test shows the Xeon at 923 versus 904, a 2.1% lead. Single-core results follow the same pattern: in R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 130 to the Core i5's 127, a 2.4% difference, while R23 single-core shows 310 versus 304, a 2.0% edge for the Xeon.

The largest single win for the Xeon E5450 comes in the R20 single-core test at 2.4%, while the smallest is in R23 single-core at 2.0%. The multicore tests sit in between at 2.3% and 2.1% for R15 and R20 respectively, with R23 multicore also at 2.1%. Despite the Core i5-670 having a higher base clock by nearly half a gigahertz (3.47 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) and a boost clock of 3.73 GHz, the Xeon still manages to outperform it in single-threaded tests. This suggests that the Xeon's older architecture but higher physical core count does not hurt its per-thread performance, or that the Core i5's Hyper-Threading may introduce some overhead in single-thread workloads.

The wins for the Xeon are consistent across every test, indicating a systematic if modest advantage. The average benchmark score difference, 756 versus 741, aligns with the head-to-head deltas. Neither chip breaks into a higher percentile, as both remain at the 20th percentile mark, but the Xeon's better showing in every recorded metric makes it the clear benchmark winner.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Xeon E5450 has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Core i5-670 has only 2 physical cores. The Core i5-670 reaches 4 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the Xeon has 4 threads from its 4 physical cores.

Q: Does the Core i5-670 support integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Core i5-670 includes Intel HD integrated graphics. The Xeon E5450 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory for display output on that platform.

Q: What memory types are supported by each processor?

A: The Xeon E5450 supports DDR2 or DDR3 depending on the motherboard, with dual-channel memory bus support. The Core i5-670 supports only DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and has a recorded memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s.

Q: How large is the performance gap in the benchmark results?

A: The Xeon E5450 wins all five recorded head-to-head tests with deltas ranging from 2.0% to 2.4%. The largest margin is 2.4% in Cinebench R20 single-core, and the smallest is 2.0% in R23 single-core.

Q: Do both processors occupy the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Xeon E5450 and the Core i5-670 sit at the 20th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are 756 and 741 respectively, placing them near identical performance levels.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The Core i5-670 has a higher base clock of 3.47 GHz and a boost clock of 3.73 GHz. The Xeon E5450 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz with no boost clock listed.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5450 wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database, making it the stronger choice for pure computational performance. Its advantage appears in both multicore and single-core workloads, so it suits applications that stress the CPU across all threads, such as rendering, compilation, or server-side processing. The presence of ECC memory support adds reliability for data-sensitive tasks, and the 4 physical cores provide consistent multi-thread performance without relying on Hyper-Threading. The Xeon's higher average benchmark score of 756 versus 741 reinforces its position as the faster part overall.

The Core i5-670 wins on features rather than benchmark scores. Its integrated graphics capability means a system can operate without a dedicated graphics card, which the Xeon cannot offer. The higher base and boost clocks (3.47 GHz and 3.73 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) may translate to snappier responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks, even though the recorded benchmarks do not show an advantage. The newer 32 nm process node and smaller die size (81 mm² versus 2x 107 mm²) suggest better power efficiency, and its lower TDP of 73 watts versus 80 watts supports that interpretation. The Core i5-670 also includes a shared L3 cache of 4 MB, which can improve data access patterns for workloads that share information between threads.

For a desktop build on Socket 1156, the Core i5-670 offers a more modern platform with integrated graphics and DDR3-only memory support. For a server or workstation on Socket 771, the Xeon E5450 delivers ECC memory, physical quad-core processing, and superior benchmark results across the board. The choice hinges on platform requirements: the Xeon wins on performance, while the Core i5 wins on platform flexibility and integrated features.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5450 | Intel Core i5-670 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.47 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.73 GHz |

| TDP | 80 W | 73 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 771 | Intel Socket 1156 |

| Architecture | Core 2 (Harpertown) | Westmere (Clarkdale) |

| Process Node | 45 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | 820 million | 382 million |

| Die Size | 2x 107 mm² | 81 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 6 MB (per die) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | None | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR2, DDR3 (depends on motherboard) | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 21.3 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | $915 | $284 |

| Release Date | 2007-11-10 | 2010-01-06 |