Intel Core i5-7440HQ vs Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 and Intel Core i5-7440HQ are both end-of-life processors that land in the same performance tier, yet they are built for entirely different environments. The Xeon is a six-core server chip on Intel Socket 1356 with ECC memory support, while the i5 is a quad-core mobile part on Intel BGA 1440 with integrated graphics. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1537 for the Xeon versus 1527 for the i5 — but the way they achieve those scores is fundamentally different, which shapes where each belongs in a system build.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-7440HQ has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon’s hyper-threading doubles its thread count, whereas the i5 offers no hyper-threading.

Q: How do their single-core Cinebench R23 scores compare?

A: The Xeon E5-1428L v2 scores 750 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 15.6% higher than the i5-7440HQ’s score of 649. Despite the i5 having a higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz versus the Xeon’s 2.70 GHz, the Xeon still wins in this test.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The Xeon E5-1428L v2 supports ECC memory with a triple-channel DDR3 memory bus, while the Core i5-7440HQ does not support ECC and uses a dual-channel DDR3/DDR4 memory bus.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: Only the Core i5-7440HQ includes integrated graphics, specifically the Intel HD Graphics 630. The Xeon E5-1428L v2 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of each CPU?

A: The Xeon E5-1428L v2 had a launch MSRP of $494, while the Core i5-7440HQ had a launch MSRP of $250.

Q: How do the two CPUs rank against all other CPUs in the benchmark database?

A: Both processors sit at the 38th percentile among all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are 1537 for the Xeon and 1527 for the i5, placing them within 0.7% of each other in overall performance.

Architecture Differences

The Xeon E5-1428L v2 is built on Intel’s 22 nm Ivy Bridge-EN process, with a die size of 257 mm² and 1,860 million transistors. It uses the Ivy Bridge architecture and is classified under the Xeon E5 generation. The Core i5-7440HQ, by contrast, is fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm Kaby Lake-H process with a much smaller die size of 126 mm². The Kaby Lake architecture is newer and more power-efficient per clock, but the Xeon compensates with additional cores and a larger cache.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Xeon has 15 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5 has only 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the Xeon’s six cores give it a larger total L1 and L2 footprint. The Xeon supports triple-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s and ECC error correction, while the i5 uses dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4 memory with no ECC support and no listed memory bandwidth figure.

PCIe lane counts also differ. The Xeon provides 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the i5 provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The Xeon is a server/workstation part on Intel Socket 1356, whereas the i5 is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1440. The Xeon’s TDP is 60 watts, which is higher than the i5’s 45 watts, but both are relatively low-power designs for their respective segments. The Xeon releases in January 2014, while the i5 arrives in January 2017.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Across all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Xeon E5-1428L v2 wins every single matchup against the Core i5-7440HQ. The most consistent margin is in the multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 535 versus the i5’s 463, a lead of 15.6%. That advantage carries through to Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Xeon hits 2232 against 1933, a 15.5% edge, and Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon posts 5316 versus 4603, again 15.5% ahead.

The single-core results are equally decisive for the Xeon, which is notable given the i5’s higher clock speeds. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 75 versus the i5’s 65, a 15.4% win. Cinebench R20 single-core shows the Xeon at 315 against 272, a 15.8% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core rounds out the sweep with the Xeon at 750 versus 649, a 15.6% margin.

The Xeon’s overall win count is 6 out of 6 head-to-head tests, with zero wins for the i5. Even though the i5 has a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 3.80 GHz, the Xeon’s older architecture and lower clocks still produce higher scores in every test. The i5 has one advantage in the data: it has a Geekbench multi-core score of 3043 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1184, but these tests were not run on the Xeon, so no direct comparison is available.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Xeon E5-1428L v2 outperforms the Core i5-7440HQ in every benchmark where both were tested. The Xeon leads by roughly 15% in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench workloads, across R15, R20, and R23 versions. Given that both CPUs occupy the same 38th percentile ranking, the Xeon’s consistent victory is not a matter of being in a different class — it is simply the stronger performer in this pairing.

However, the choice between these two is not just about raw scores. The Xeon is a server/workstation part with ECC memory support, triple-channel memory, and 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, making it suitable for a stationary build where reliability and memory integrity are priorities. The i5 is a mobile processor with integrated graphics, a lower TDP of 45 watts, and support for DDR4 memory, making it suited for a laptop or compact system where power efficiency and onboard display output matter. The Xeon’s launch MSRP of $494 is nearly double the i5’s $250, but that price gap reflects its server-grade features rather than its performance advantage.

For a user who already has a discrete GPU and can accommodate a socketed server motherboard, the Xeon is the better buy from a pure performance standpoint. For a user building a mobile system or one that relies on integrated graphics, the i5 is the only option that fits the form factor. The i5’s single-core deficit of 15.6% in Cinebench R23 means it will feel slower in lightly threaded tasks, but its lower power draw and newer process node are advantages that do not show up in these benchmark scores.

Specification Differences

The Xeon E5-1428L v2 and Core i5-7440HQ differ on nearly every specification field. The Xeon has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i5 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon’s base clock is 2.20 GHz and boost clock is 2.70 GHz, while the i5 runs at 2.80 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The Xeon has a TDP of 60 watts, the i5 has 45 watts.

The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1356, while the i5 uses Intel BGA 1440. The Xeon is built on 22 nm process with a 257 mm² die and 1,860 million transistors, while the i5 is on 14 nm with a 126 mm² die and no transistor count listed. The Xeon has 15 MB of shared L3 cache, the i5 has 6 MB. The Xeon supports DDR3 memory with triple-channel bus and 32.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5 supports DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and no bandwidth figure.

ECC memory is supported on the Xeon but not on the i5. The Xeon has 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, the i5 has 16. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the i5 includes Intel HD Graphics 630. The Xeon targets the server/workstation segment and launched in January 2014, while the i5 targets mobile and launched in January 2017. Both have locked multipliers and are end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5-1428L v2 wins in every Cinebench workload tested, so its advantages are straightforward. It is better for multi-threaded rendering tasks, as shown by its 15.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core (5316 versus 4603). It also wins in single-threaded tasks, despite lower clocks, with a 15.6% margin in Cinebench R23 single-core (750 versus 649). The Xeon’s 12 threads and 15 MB of L3 cache give it a clear edge in heavily threaded server or workstation workloads, and its ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive computing environments.

The Core i5-7440HQ’s wins are less about benchmark scores and more about platform attributes. It has integrated graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely, so it wins in any scenario where a separate GPU is not available. It has a lower TDP of 45 watts versus 60 watts, making it easier to cool in a compact or mobile chassis. It supports DDR4 memory, which is more modern than the Xeon’s DDR3-only support. Its BGA 1440 socket is designed for soldered mobile installations, which means it can be used in laptops where the Xeon’s Socket 1356 cannot.

The i5 also has a lower launch MSRP of $250 versus $494, but that price difference is not a performance advantage. In Geekbench tests, the i5 scores 3043 multi-core and 1184 single-core, but since the Xeon has no Geekbench scores, this is not a head-to-head comparison. Overall, the Xeon is the clear performance winner, while the i5 wins on form factor flexibility and integrated graphics.