Intel Core i5-750 vs Intel Xeon E5450 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E5450 across all five Cinebench comparisons, though the margins are consistently narrow. The largest advantage appears in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where the Xeon E5450 scores 130 against the Core i5-750's 128, a delta of 1.6%. This single-core edge is echoed in the R23 single-core run, with the Xeon at 310 and the i5-750 at 306, a 1.3% lead.

In multi-core workloads, the pattern holds but with slightly smaller deltas. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the Xeon E5450 at 221 versus 218 for the Core i5-750, a 1.4% difference. The R20 multi-core result is 923 to 912, a 1.2% gap, and the R23 multi-core result is 2198 to 2172, also a 1.2% difference. Across all five benchmarks, the Xeon E5450 wins every round, but the largest delta is just 1.6%, indicating that the two processors are functionally equivalent in raw throughput for these tests.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this near-parity. The Xeon E5450 posts an average score of 756, while the Core i5-750 averages 747. That is a 1.2% difference in the aggregate. Both processors sit at the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier relative to the broader market. The nearest rivals for the Xeon E5450 include the Intel Core i5-4250U at an identical 756 average (0.0% delta), the Intel Core i3-5020U at 757 (-0.2%), the Intel Core i5-3230M at 754 (+0.2%), and the Intel Core i5-3210M at 758 (-0.2%). For the Core i5-750, the closest neighbors are the Intel Core i5-4200U at 746 (+0.2%), the AMD A10 PRO-7800B at 746 (+0.2%), the AMD FX-9800P at 745 (+0.2%), and the Intel Xeon E5520 at 742 (+0.7%). In short, both chips sit in a dense cluster of similarly performing processors, and the head-to-head deltas are well within the noise of typical benchmark variation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E5450 wins with a score of 2198 against 2172 for the Intel Core i5-750, a delta of 1.2%.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Core i5-750 comes out ahead?

A: No. The database records zero wins for the Core i5-750 across all five head-to-head tests. The Xeon E5450 wins all five.

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

A: The Xeon E5450 leads in both single-core tests: 130 to 128 in Cinebench R20 (1.6% delta) and 310 to 306 in Cinebench R23 (1.3% delta).

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Xeon E5450 averages 756, while the Core i5-750 averages 747, a difference of 9 points or approximately 1.2%.

Q: Do both processors occupy the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the database, indicating they perform within the same broad tier.

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock?

A: The Xeon E5450 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz, while the Core i5-750 has a base clock of 2.67 GHz. However, the Core i5-750 has a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, which the Xeon E5450 lacks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors belong to different architectural families. The Intel Xeon E5450 is built on the Core 2 architecture with the codename Harpertown, while the Intel Core i5-750 uses the Nehalem architecture with the codename Lynnfield. Both are manufactured on a 45 nm process node at Intel, but the similarities end there.

The Xeon E5450 is a dual-die design: it has a die size of 2x 107 mm² and packs 820 million transistors. The Core i5-750 is a monolithic die at 296 mm² with 774 million transistors. This structural difference affects how cache is organized. The Xeon E5450 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 6 MB of L2 cache per die, with no L3 cache. The Core i5-750 also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but its L2 is smaller at 256 KB per core, and it compensates with an 8 MB shared L3 cache. This is a fundamental architectural split: the Xeon relies on larger per-die L2 slices, while the Core i5-750 uses a smaller per-core L2 plus a large shared L3 pool.

Memory support also diverges. The Xeon E5450 supports both DDR2 and DDR3, with the exact type depending on the motherboard. The Core i5-750 supports only DDR3. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the Xeon E5450 includes ECC memory support, while the Core i5-750 does not. This makes the Xeon suitable for error-correcting memory setups, a feature absent from the desktop-oriented Core i5-750.

The platform positioning differs as well. The Xeon E5450 targets the server/workstation segment and uses Intel Socket 771. The Core i5-750 is a desktop part using Intel Socket 1156. The Xeon E5450's PCIe implementation is listed as Gen 2, while the Core i5-750 specifies Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor includes integrated graphics.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5450 | Intel Core i5-750 |

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

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.67 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 80 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 771 | Intel Socket 1156 |

| Architecture | Core 2 | Nehalem |

| Codename | Harpertown | Lynnfield |

| Transistors | 820 million | 774 million |

| Die Size | 2x 107 mm² | 296 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | None | 8 MB (shared) |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2007-11-10 | 2009-09-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $915 | None recorded |

| Part Number | SLANQSLBBM | SLBLC |

The Xeon E5450 has a higher base clock (3.00 GHz vs. 2.67 GHz) but no boost capability, while the Core i5-750 can reach 3.20 GHz under boost. The Xeon E5450 has a lower TDP at 80 W versus 95 W for the Core i5-750. The Xeon uses a larger dual-die layout with a higher transistor count, while the Core i5-750 uses a smaller single die with a shared L3 cache. The Xeon supports ECC memory and a server socket, while the Core i5-750 is strictly a desktop part with no ECC support. The release dates differ by nearly two years, with the Xeon arriving in November 2007 and the Core i5-750 in September 2009.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E5450 wins every measured test. It leads in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench runs across R15, R20, and R23. The largest margin is 1.6% in Cinebench R20 single-core, and the smallest is 1.2% in three separate tests: R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, and R23 multi-core. For workloads that rely on raw Cinebench throughput, the Xeon E5450 is the better performer.

The Core i5-750 has no benchmark wins in this comparison. However, its boost clock of 3.20 GHz suggests an advantage in burst workloads that are not captured by these sustained Cinebench tests, though no such data appears in the database. The Core i5-750 also has a larger shared L3 cache (8 MB) which could benefit certain cache-sensitive applications, but again, no benchmark evidence supports this in the recorded results.

For server or workstation use, the Xeon E5450 offers ECC memory support and a lower TDP (80 W vs. 95 W), which are meaningful for reliability and thermal density in multi-socket configurations. The Core i5-750, as a desktop part, lacks ECC and uses a desktop socket, making it more appropriate for consumer builds where error-correcting memory is not required.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5450 outperforms the Intel Core i5-750 in every recorded benchmark. The wins are consistent but narrow, with all deltas between 1.2% and 1.6%. Neither processor shows a significant performance advantage in absolute terms; both sit at the 20th percentile of all CPUs, and their average scores (756 vs. 747) are separated by just 1.2%.

The choice between them should be guided by platform requirements, not performance. The Xeon E5450 is the correct pick for server or workstation builds that require ECC memory, use Socket 771, and can tolerate a dual-die design with no L3 cache. It also has a lower TDP and a higher base clock, making it attractive for power-constrained environments. The Core i5-750 is the better choice for desktop systems on Socket 1156, where a boost clock to 3.20 GHz and a shared 8 MB L3 cache are available, and where ECC is not a concern.

If raw benchmark scores are the sole criterion, the Xeon E5450 is the winner. If the platform dictates the socket and memory features, then the Core i5-750 is the only option for its respective ecosystem. The recorded data shows near-parity in throughput, so the decision rests on ECC support, socket compatibility, and power envelope rather than performance.