Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 vs Intel Xeon E5-4610 v3 Comparison

Both the Intel Xeon E5-4610 v3 and the Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 are Haswell-EP server processors on the LGA 2011-3 platform, but they are engineered for very different workloads. The 4610 v3 packs 10 cores and 20 threads, while the 2637 v3 is a 4-core, 8-thread part with a much higher 3.50 GHz base clock. Despite these stark architectural differences, benchmark results across the Cinebench suite show that the two processors land in a statistical dead heat, with the 4610 v3 taking a razor-thin lead in every single test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The performance gap between these two CPUs is almost imperceptible in the data, yet it consistently favors the 10-core Xeon E5-4610 v3. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 4610 v3 scores 619 against the 2637 v3's 617, a delta of just 0.3%. The single-core result in R15 is an exact tie at 87 points, with the 4610 v3 declared the winner by a 0% delta. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the 4610 v3 posts a multi-core score of 2580 compared to 2574 for the 2637 v3 (a 0.2% advantage), and a single-core score of 364 versus 363 (a 0.3% edge).

The most recent Cinebench R23 tests tell the same story. The 4610 v3 achieves a multi-core score of 6144, while the 2637 v3 hits 6130, leaving the 4610 v3 ahead by 0.2%. In single-core R23, the 4610 v3 scores 867 against 865, another 0.2% win. Across all six head-to-head benchmark tests, the 4610 v3 wins every single one, but the maximum delta is a minuscule 0.3%. This is a remarkable outcome given that the 4610 v3 has 150% more cores and 150% more threads than the 2637 v3.

The aggregate benchmark scores reinforce this parity. The 4610 v3 has an average benchmark score of 1777, while the 2637 v3 sits at 1773. The nearest rivals list confirms how tightly clustered these parts are: the 4610 v3 is just 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 (which scores 1778) and 0.2% ahead of the 2637 v3. The 2637 v3, in turn, is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-4870HQ and 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE. Both processors land in the 41st percentile of all CPUs tracked, meaning they outperform roughly 41% of the database while trailing the majority.

The Verdict

The data presents an unusual verdict: these two processors are functionally equivalent in the benchmark suite, despite having completely different core configurations. The 4610 v3 wins all six head-to-head tests, but the margins are so small—never exceeding 0.3%—that they fall well within normal run-to-run variance. If you are choosing strictly on benchmark scores, the 4610 v3 is the nominal winner, but the 2637 v3 is effectively tied in every measurable way.

For workloads that are heavily single-threaded, the 2637 v3's higher 3.50 GHz base clock and 3.70 GHz boost clock should theoretically give it an edge, yet the scores show no such advantage. Single-core R15 is a dead tie at 87, and R20 single-core favors the 4610 v3 by a single point (364 vs 363). This suggests that the 4610 v3's architecture extracts comparable per-thread performance despite its lower clock speed. The 2637 v3 does carry a higher TDP of 135 watts compared to 105 watts for the 4610 v3, which is an interesting inversion given that the 2637 v3 has fewer cores. That higher power budget is likely consumed by the aggressive clock speeds rather than core count.

The practical verdict is that neither processor offers a meaningful performance advantage over the other in Cinebench workloads. The 4610 v3's 10-core configuration provides more headroom for heavily threaded applications, but that headroom does not manifest in the measured scores. The 2637 v3's 4-core design is simpler and runs at higher clocks, but the benchmark results show it cannot convert that clock advantage into a score lead. Both parts are end-of-life products, so the decision should come down to platform needs beyond raw Cinebench throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The 4610 v3 wins all six head-to-head benchmark tests, but the margins are negligible. Its largest victory is a 0.3% lead in both Cinebench R15 multi-core (619 vs 617) and Cinebench R20 single-core (364 vs 363). It also edges out the 2637 v3 by 0.2% in R20 multi-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core. The only tie is in R15 single-core at 87 points. If you are looking for the processor that wins the most tests, the 4610 v3 is the clear choice on paper.

The 2637 v3 does not win a single benchmark test, but it does have a notable advantage in memory bandwidth. The 2637 v3 supports 68.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is 33.5% higher than the 4610 v3's 51.2 GB/s. Both parts use quad-channel DDR4 memory and support ECC, but the 2637 v3's higher bandwidth could benefit memory-intensive workloads that are not captured in Cinebench. The 2637 v3 also has a lower launch MSRP of $996 compared to $1219 for the 4610 v3.

For use cases, the 4610 v3's 10 cores and 20 threads make it the better fit for highly parallel server workloads such as virtualization or database processing, even if the benchmark scores do not show a large advantage. The 2637 v3's higher clock speeds and superior memory bandwidth make it more suitable for latency-sensitive tasks or applications that rely heavily on memory throughput. Both parts share the same 22 nm Haswell-EP architecture, 2,600 million transistors, 356 mm² die size, and 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, so platform compatibility is identical.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4610 v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Are the benchmark scores significantly different?

A: No. The 4610 v3 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, but the largest margin is 0.3% (in R15 multi-core and R20 single-core). The average benchmark scores are 1777 for the 4610 v3 and 1773 for the 2637 v3.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The 2637 v3 supports 68.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the 4610 v3 supports 51.2 GB/s. Both use quad-channel DDR4 memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The 2637 v3 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The 4610 v3 has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and no listed boost clock.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The 4610 v3 is 0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 (score 1778) and 0.2% ahead of the 2637 v3. The 2637 v3 is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-4870HQ and 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE.

Q: What is the TDP for each processor?

A: The 4610 v3 has a TDP of 105 watts, while the 2637 v3 has a TDP of 135 watts.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 22 nm Haswell-EP architecture, also known by the codename Haswell-EP. They share the same transistor count of 2,600 million and a die size of 356 mm², and both are manufactured by Intel. The socket is identical: Intel Socket 2011-3. The core count is the primary architectural difference, with the 4610 v3 featuring 10 cores and 20 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads on the 2637 v3. The 4610 v3 also has a larger L3 cache at 25 MB shared, compared to 15 MB shared on the 2637 v3. L1 cache is 64 KB per core and L2 cache is 256 KB per core on both parts.

Clock speeds diverge significantly. The 2637 v3 runs at a 3.50 GHz base clock with a 3.70 GHz boost clock, while the 4610 v3 has a much lower 1.70 GHz base clock and no boost clock listed. This clock difference is offset by the 4610 v3's additional cores, resulting in near-identical benchmark performance. The 2637 v3 has a higher TDP of 135 watts, while the 4610 v3 consumes 105 watts. Memory support is DDR4 on both, with quad-channel buses, but the 2637 v3 achieves 68.3 GB/s bandwidth versus 51.2 GB/s for the 4610 v3. Both support ECC memory and provide 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor has integrated graphics, and both are multiplier-unlocked false, meaning they cannot be overclocked via the multiplier. The 4610 v3 was released on May 31, 2015, with a launch MSRP of $1219, while the 2637 v3 came out earlier on September 7, 2014, with a launch MSRP of $996. Both are end-of-life products in the server/workstation market segment.