CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 and Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 are both 22 nm Haswell-EP server processors built for the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform, yet they are configured differently in core count and clock speed. The benchmark data from the FACT PACK shows a remarkably consistent pattern: the 10-core E5-4620 v3 edges out the 12-core E5-4640 v3 across every single Cinebench test, despite the latter having two more physical cores. This outcome is driven by the E5-4620 v3’s higher base clock of 2000.00 MHz compared to 1900.00 MHz for the E5-4640 v3, with both parts sharing the same 2.60 GHz boost clock. The result is a complete sweep for the lower-core-count processor, with all six head-to-head benchmark wins going to the E5-4620 v3 and zero to the E5-4640 v3.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking aspect of this comparison is the uniformity of the deltas. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the E5-4620 v3 scores 901 against 888 for the E5-4640 v3, a 1.5% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 127 versus 125, a 1.6% edge for the E5-4620 v3. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 3757 for the E5-4620 v3 and 3702 for the E5-4640 v3, again a 1.5% gap. The R20 single-core test shows 530 versus 522, a 1.5% lead. In Cinebench R23, the multicore result is 8946 against 8816, which is a 1.5% difference, and the single-core result is 1263 versus 1244, also 1.5%. Every deltaPct in the head-to-head data is either 1.5% or 1.6%, meaning the relative performance between the two chips is essentially constant regardless of workload intensity or thread count.

What makes this interesting is that the E5-4640 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, which is 20% more cores and threads than the E5-4620 v3’s 10 cores and 20 threads. In a purely thread-scalable workload, one would expect the 12-core part to pull ahead, but the data shows the opposite. The E5-4620 v3’s 2000.00 MHz base clock gives it a 5.3% clock advantage over the E5-4640 v3’s 1900.00 MHz base clock, and since both chips boost to the same 2.60 GHz, the E5-4620 v3 maintains its frequency lead throughout the boost range. The benchmark scores suggest that the extra 200 MHz on the base clock more than compensates for the two missing cores, at least in these Cinebench workloads. The average benchmark score for the E5-4620 v3 is 2587, while the E5-4640 v3 averages 2550, a difference of 37 points.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the Haswell-EP microarchitecture, using Intel’s 22 nm process node with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. They share the same foundry (Intel), the same socket (Intel Socket 2011-3), and the same generation (Xeon E5 Haswell-EP). The core configuration differs: the E5-4620 v3 packs 10 cores with 20 threads, while the E5-4640 v3 offers 12 cores with 24 threads. Cache hierarchies are also distinct. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache is larger on the E5-4640 v3 at 30 MB versus 25 MB on the E5-4620 v3. This 5 MB difference in L3 cache is directly tied to the two additional cores, as Haswell-EP allocates L3 slices per core.

Memory support is identical: both use DDR4 with a quad-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, and both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity is the same as well, with Gen 3 and 40 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor has integrated graphics, and both are marked as end-of-life production status, released on the same date of 2015-05-31. The part numbers differ (SR22K for the E5-4620 v3, SR22L for the E5-4640 v3), and the launch MSRP is higher for the E5-4640 v3 at $2859 versus $1668 for the E5-4620 v3. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option for either.

Where Each One Wins

The E5-4620 v3 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are narrow. Its strength lies in single-threaded responsiveness and lightly threaded workloads, where the higher base clock of 2000.00 MHz gives it a consistent edge. In the Cinebench R15 single-core test, it scores 127 versus 125, a 1.6% advantage, and in R20 single-core it posts 530 versus 522, a 1.5% lead. The R23 single-core result is 1263 versus 1244, another 1.5% win. For applications that rely on a few fast threads, such as database transaction processing or legacy single-threaded server utilities, the E5-4620 v3 is the better choice.

The E5-4640 v3, despite losing all benchmarks, has the structural advantage of 12 cores and 24 threads, plus a larger 30 MB L3 cache. In workloads that scale nearly perfectly with thread count and are not limited by memory bandwidth, the additional two cores could theoretically close the gap or reverse it. However, the data shows that in the Cinebench multicore tests, the E5-4640 v3 still trails by 1.5% in every case. This suggests that the 200 MHz base clock deficit is a heavier penalty than the two extra cores can overcome in these specific rendering workloads. The E5-4640 v3’s average benchmark score of 2550 places it slightly below the E5-4620 v3’s 2587, reinforcing the overall trend.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Q: What is the base clock difference between the two?

A: The E5-4620 v3 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz, which is 100 MHz higher than the E5-4640 v3’s 1900.00 MHz. Both processors share the same 2.60 GHz boost clock.

Q: Which chip wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The E5-4620 v3 wins with a score of 8946, compared to 8816 for the E5-4640 v3, a 1.5% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the E5-4620 v3 and the E5-4640 v3 support ECC memory, and both use DDR4 with a quad-channel memory bus.

Q: What is the L3 cache size on each processor?

A: The E5-4620 v3 has 25 MB of shared L3 cache, while the E5-4640 v3 has 30 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No, both are end-of-life products, with a release date of 2015-05-31.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 outperforms the Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 in every benchmark recorded, winning all six head-to-head tests with deltas of 1.5% or 1.6%. The E5-4620 v3 achieves this despite having two fewer cores, relying on its higher base clock of 2000.00 MHz versus 1900.00 MHz. For users prioritizing raw benchmark performance in Cinebench workloads, the E5-4620 v3 is the clear pick. It also carries a lower launch MSRP of $1668 compared to $2859 for the E5-4640 v3, though pricing is not a factor in performance analysis.

However, the E5-4640 v3 is not without its merits. Its 12 cores, 24 threads, and 30 MB L3 cache provide a structural foundation that could benefit highly parallel, cache-sensitive workloads that are not represented in the Cinebench suite. The E5-4620 v3’s 25 MB L3 cache and 10 cores are smaller in both dimensions. If the workload is known to scale beyond 10 cores and is not frequency-limited, the E5-4640 v3 might close the gap, but the available data does not support that hypothesis. Both chips sit at the 49th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores (2587 versus 2550) are within 1.5% of each other. The nearest rivals for the E5-4620 v3 include the Intel Xeon E-2174G with an average score of 2588, while the E5-4640 v3’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 at 2545. For a server/workstation deployment where single-threaded speed and consistent performance matter, the E5-4620 v3 is the better choice based strictly on the benchmark data.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 | Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 |

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

| Cores | 10 | 12 |

| Threads | 20 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 2000.00 MHz | 1900.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.60 GHz |

| L3 Cache (shared) | 25 MB | 30 MB |

| Launch MSRP | $1668 | $2859 |

| Part Number | SR22K | SR22L |