Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 vs Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 and Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 are both 45W, four-core, eight-thread server/workstation processors built on Intel’s 14 nm process, but they represent two different architectural generations and physical platforms. The E3-1270L v4 is a Broadwell-DT part on Socket 1150, while the E3-1545M v5 is a Skylake-H mobile part on BGA 1440. Benchmark data shows the two are essentially performance twins in Cinebench tests, with the older Broadwell chip edging ahead by fractions of a percent in every workload, despite the newer Skylake part having a higher boost clock and more L3 cache. The real differences lie in platform support, memory compatibility, and integrated graphics, making the choice less about raw compute and more about system requirements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 has an average benchmark score of 1883, while the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 scores 1879. The difference is a mere 0.2% in favor of the Broadwell part, placing them in the same performance tier.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The E3-1270L v4 scores 6512 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the E3-1545M v5 scores 6497. That is a 0.2% lead for the E3-1270L v4, which is within run-to-run variance but consistently repeated across all tested Cinebench versions.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 and the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 support ECC memory, making both suitable for server and workstation reliability requirements.

Q: What is the key difference in memory compatibility?

A: The E3-1270L v4 supports only DDR3 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The E3-1545M v5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, offering dual-channel bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, which is a 14% increase in theoretical memory bandwidth.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 includes integrated graphics, specifically Iris Pro Graphics P580. The E3-1270L v4 has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output.

Q: What is the percentile ranking of these CPUs compared to all processors?

A: Both the E3-1270L v4 and the E3-1545M v5 rank in the 43rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they sit in the lower-middle range of overall performance in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural families within the same 14 nm process node. The Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 is based on Broadwell-DT, Intel’s fifth-generation core architecture, while the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 is based on Skylake-H, the sixth-generation design. Both use 4 cores and 8 threads with a 45W TDP, but the underlying designs differ in several material ways.

The E3-1270L v4 uses a 182 mm² die, whereas the E3-1545M v5 uses a smaller 171 mm² die. The Skylake-H part integrates 2,300 million transistors, a figure not listed for the Broadwell-DT chip. Cache configurations differ slightly: both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the E3-1270L v4 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the E3-1545M v5 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache — a 33% increase in the final cache level.

Memory support is a significant architectural split. The E3-1270L v4 is limited to DDR3 in a dual-channel configuration, while the E3-1545M v5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4. This gives the Skylake part a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s for the Broadwell part. Both processors feature PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and both support ECC memory. The E3-1545M v5 also includes Iris Pro Graphics P580, a feature entirely absent from the E3-1270L v4. The production status also differs: the E3-1545M v5 is marked as end-of-life, while the E3-1270L v4 has no production status listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows an unbroken, though narrow, sweep for the Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 across all six Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the E3-1270L v4 scores 656 against 654 for the E3-1545M v5, a 0.3% margin. The R15 singlecore test is a dead heat at 92 points each, with the winner listed as the E3-1270L v4 due to a 0% delta.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The E3-1270L v4 scores 2735 in multicore versus 2728 for the E3-1545M v5, again a 0.3% lead. The R20 singlecore result is identical at 385 points for both chips, with the E3-1270L v4 credited as the winner by the 0% delta tiebreaker.

In the most modern test, Cinebench R23, the E3-1270L v4 scores 6512 in multicore and 919 in singlecore. The E3-1545M v5 trails with 6497 in multicore and 917 in singlecore, representing 0.2% leads for the Broadwell chip in both cases. The total win count is 6 for the E3-1270L v4 and 0 for the E3-1545M v5, though the actual performance gap never exceeds 0.3% in any single test. These deltas are effectively negligible for real-world applications, but they are consistent and reproducible across all three Cinebench generations.

Specification Differences

The specification tables reveal several meaningful differences between the two processors beyond their benchmark scores. The base clocks are close: the E3-1270L v4 runs at 3.00 GHz, while the E3-1545M v5 runs slightly lower at 2.90 GHz. However, the boost clocks flip: the E3-1270L v4 boosts to 3.60 GHz, while the E3-1545M v5 boosts higher to 3.80 GHz. Despite the higher boost capability, the Skylake part does not translate that into higher benchmark scores.

The sockets are completely incompatible. The E3-1270L v4 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the E3-1545M v5 uses Intel BGA 1440, meaning the latter is soldered to the board and not upgradeable. The E3-1270L v4 has a part number of SR2AZ, while the E3-1545M v5 is SR2QU. The release dates differ, with the E3-1270L v4 launching on 2015-06-01 and the E3-1545M v5 on 2016-01-23.

Memory support is a major differentiator: the E3-1270L v4 is DDR3-only, while the E3-1545M v5 supports DDR3 and DDR4. The memory bandwidth figures reflect this, with 29.9 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. The E3-1545M v5 has 8 MB of L3 cache versus 6 MB on the E3-1270L v4. Integrated graphics are present only on the E3-1545M v5, as Iris Pro Graphics P580. The E3-1545M v5 has a listed launch MSRP of $679, while the E3-1270L v4 has no launch MSRP field. Both are locked multipliers, both have 45W TDPs, and both are marked as Server/Workstation market segments.

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 wins every single head-to-head benchmark, but by margins so small they are meaningless for performance selection. A 0.3% lead in Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore, and a 0.2% lead in R23, translates to no perceptible difference in any real workload. The singlecore tests are exact ties at 92, 385, and 919 points respectively, with the E3-1270L v4 credited as the winner only by the tiebreaker rule.

The real decision factors are platform and features. The E3-1270L v4 is a Socket 1150 part, compatible with standard desktop boards, but it lacks integrated graphics and is limited to DDR3 memory. The E3-1545M v5 is a BGA 1440 mobile part, soldered to the motherboard, which makes it a non-upgradeable option, but it supports both DDR3 and DDR4, includes Iris Pro Graphics P580, and offers higher theoretical memory bandwidth at 34.1 GB/s. It also carries a launch MSRP of $679, which is a listed fact, though no pricing analysis is provided here.

For pure compute, the E3-1270L v4 is technically the winner in the database. For platform flexibility and integrated graphics, the E3-1545M v5 is the more feature-rich choice. The 43rd percentile ranking for both chips suggests they are not high performers by modern standards, but they remain serviceable for their intended server and workstation roles. The end-of-life status of the E3-1545M v5 is a practical consideration for long-term availability.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 wins in all six benchmark tests, making it the clear compute winner in the database. Its advantages are largest in multicore workloads, where it leads by 0.3% in Cinebench R15 and R20, and by 0.2% in R23. It also holds the edge in singlecore tests, though by 0% margins that are pure tiebreakers. For any application that relies strictly on CPU rendering performance, the data shows the E3-1270L v4 as the marginally faster chip.

The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins in every non-benchmark category. It has a higher boost clock at 3.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, more L3 cache at 8 MB versus 6 MB, and support for DDR4 memory in addition to DDR3. Its memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s is 14% higher than the 29.9 GB/s of the E3-1270L v4, which can benefit memory-sensitive workloads. It is the only one of the two with integrated graphics, making it suitable for systems without a discrete GPU. For builds requiring a compact, soldered mobile platform with flexible memory options and onboard display output, the E3-1545M v5 is the better fit, despite being marked end-of-life.