Intel Core i7-4500U vs Intel Xeon X5492 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4500U and the Intel Xeon X5492 represent two distinct eras and purposes in Intel’s lineup, yet their aggregate benchmark scores place them within a fraction of a point of each other. The data shows a clear head-to-head sweep, but the underlying architecture and target markets could not be more different. This analysis walks through the benchmark results, architectural contrasts, and the specific use cases where each processor holds a definitive edge.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon X5492 wins every single comparison in the head-to-head suite, taking all five tests. The margins are remarkably consistent, hovering near a 14.5% advantage across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Xeon X5492 scores 249 against the i7-4500U’s 212, a delta of -14.9%. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows a similar gap, with the Xeon at 1039 and the i7 at 887, a -14.6% difference. The pattern holds for single-core performance as well. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon reaches 146 while the i7 manages 125, a -14.4% deficit for the mobile chip. The Cinebench R23 suite confirms the trend: multi-core scores of 2475 for the Xeon versus 2113 for the i7 (-14.6%), and single-core scores of 349 versus 298 (-14.6%).

The i7-4500U does have additional benchmark data that the Xeon lacks — Geekbench scores of 1562 multi-core and 818 single-core — but no direct comparison can be made there since the Xeon X5492 was not tested in Geekbench. In the tests where both processors appear, the Xeon’s victory is total. Its wins total five, while the i7-4500U records zero wins in the head-to-head suite.

Despite this sweep, the aggregate picture is much closer. The i7-4500U’s average benchmark score is 859, while the Xeon X5492’s is 852. The nearest rival data reinforces this near-parity. The i7-4500U sits just 0.1% behind the AMD A8-7650K (860) and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-2500T (856). The Xeon X5492, meanwhile, is 0.4% behind the Core i5-5250U (856) and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Athlon X4 830 (848). Both processors occupy the same percentile bracket, with the i7-4500U at the 23rd percentile and the Xeon X5492 also at the 23rd percentile.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon X5492 wins in absolute performance across all measured Cinebench workloads. The data indicates it is consistently about 14.5% faster in both single-core and multi-core tasks. This suggests that for any workload that can utilize the four physical cores of the Xeon, or even a single thread, the Xeon X5492 provides a measurable performance advantage. Its 3.40 GHz base clock, with no boost clock listed, delivers a sustained performance profile that the i7-4500U, with its 1.80 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, cannot match in these tests.

The i7-4500U’s win is not in raw performance but in efficiency and platform. Its 15-watt TDP is a fraction of the Xeon’s 150-watt TDP. This means the i7 is designed for environments where heat and power are limited, such as thin-and-light laptops. Its integrated graphics (Intel HD 4400) provide a complete platform solution, whereas the Xeon has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU. The i7 also supports a much newer memory standard (DDR3) and is built on a more advanced 22 nm process, whereas the Xeon supports both DDR2 and DDR3 and uses a larger 45 nm process.

In terms of benchmark positioning, the i7-4500U’s Geekbench scores (1562 multi-core, 818 single-core) are not directly comparable to the Xeon’s absent Geekbench results, but they do show the i7 is a capable performer in its own right. The Xeon’s strength lies in sustained multi-core throughput where its higher base clock and four physical cores shine, while the i7’s strength lies in delivering a usable level of performance within a much tighter power envelope.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is substantial. The i7-4500U is built on the Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-ULT codename, using a 22 nm process node. It packs 1,300 million transistors into a die size of 118 mm². The Xeon X5492, by contrast, is based on the much older Core 2 architecture, codenamed Harpertown, on a 45 nm process. It contains 820 million transistors spread across a dual-die design with each die measuring 107 mm², for a total of 2x 107 mm².

Core configuration differs significantly. The i7-4500U has 2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading, giving it 4 threads. The Xeon X5492 has 4 physical cores with no Hyper-Threading, also resulting in 4 threads. Cache layouts are distinct as well. The i7 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The Xeon has the same 64 KB L1 per core, but its L2 is organized as 6 MB per die, with no L3 cache at all.

Memory support reveals another generational gap. The i7-4500U supports DDR3 memory and does not support ECC. The Xeon X5492 supports both DDR2 and DDR3, features a dual-channel memory bus, and importantly, supports ECC memory, which is critical for server and workstation reliability. The Xeon also lists PCIe Gen 2 support, while the i7’s PCIe information is not provided in the data.

The market segments are clearly different: the i7-4500U is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1168 socket, while the Xeon X5492 is a server/workstation part on Intel Socket 771. The Xeon is marked as end-of-life, whereas the i7’s production status is not specified. The i7 was released on 2013-06-03, while the Xeon was released on 2008-09-07, making the Xeon nearly five years older.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon X5492 wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 249 in R15 versus 212 for the i7-4500U, 1039 in R20 versus 887, and 2475 in R23 versus 2113. The Xeon’s margin is approximately -14.6% in each case.

Q: Does the i7-4500U win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The Xeon X5492 wins all five head-to-head tests, including both single-core and multi-core Cinebench R20 and R23, plus Cinebench R15 multi-core. The i7-4500U has zero wins in the head-to-head data.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-4500U has an average benchmark score of 859, while the Xeon X5492 has an average score of 852. This places the i7 slightly ahead on average, despite losing every direct head-to-head test, because the averages are computed across different sets of benchmarks.

Q: What is the TDP difference, and why does it matter?

A: The i7-4500U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Xeon X5492 has a TDP of 150 watts. The 15-watt figure indicates the i7 is designed for mobile, power-constrained environments, while the 150-watt Xeon is intended for server/workstation use where power is less of a concern.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon X5492 supports ECC memory and supports both DDR2 and DDR3. The i7-4500U does not support ECC and only supports DDR3.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i7-4500U has integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 4400. The Xeon X5492 has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear performance hierarchy in the tested workloads: the Intel Xeon X5492 is the faster processor. Its consistent ~14.5% lead across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single-core and multi-core, is a decisive result. For any user whose priority is raw compute throughput in applications similar to Cinebench, the Xeon X5492 is the better choice based on these benchmarks.

However, the i7-4500U is not without its merits. Its 15-watt TDP, integrated Intel HD 4400 graphics, and mobile socket (Intel BGA 1168) make it a complete, low-power solution for laptops and ultraportables. The Xeon’s 150-watt TDP, lack of integrated graphics, and server socket (Intel Socket 771) render it unsuitable for such a role. The i7 also benefits from a newer architecture (Haswell on 22 nm versus Core 2 on 45 nm), a newer release date (2013 versus 2008), and a higher transistor count (1,300 million versus 820 million).

The choice comes down to platform and workload. The Xeon X5492 is the winner for sustained, multi-threaded server or workstation tasks where its higher base clock (3.40 GHz) and four physical cores can be fully utilized, and where ECC memory support is a requirement. The i7-4500U is the appropriate selection for mobile computing where power efficiency, integrated graphics, and a modern feature set matter more than the marginal performance deficit shown in these benchmarks. The aggregate scores are nearly identical (859 vs. 852), but the Xeon’s head-to-head sweep makes it the definitive performance leader in the tests where both were evaluated.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4500U | Intel Xeon X5492 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 1800.00 | 3.40 |

| Boost Clock | 3.00 | null |

| TDP | 15 | 150 |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel Socket 771 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Core 2 |

| Codename | Haswell-ULT | Harpertown |

| Generation | Core i7 (Haswell) | Xeon (Harpertown) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 45 nm |

| Transistors | 1,300 million | 820 million |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 2x 107 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | null |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR2, DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | null | Dual-channel |

| ECC Memory | false | true |

| PCIe | null | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4400 | null |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | null | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2013-06-03T17:00:00.000Z | 2008-09-07T17:00:00.000Z |

| Part Number | SR16Z | SLBBD |

| Multiplier Unlocked | false | false |