Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2

The Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 is a six-core, twelve-thread server processor built on the 22 nm Ivy Bridge-EN architecture. It targets the Intel Socket 1356 platform, a socket designed for dual-socket-capable but often used in single-socket servers and workstations. The chip supports DDR3 memory in a triple-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s, and it includes ECC memory support for error correction in critical workloads. PCIe connectivity is provided via Gen 3 with 24 lanes from the CPU itself. As a member of the Ivy Bridge generation, it uses the older Intel 1356 platform, which means the upgrade path is limited to other LGA 1356 Xeon processors; there is no forward compatibility with newer sockets. The processor was released in January 2014 and is now end-of-life, so it is not a current platform choice for new system builds, but it remains relevant for upgrading existing servers on that socket.

Platform and Compatibility

The E5-1428L v2 fits exclusively into Intel Socket 1356, a platform that Intel positioned below the more common LGA 2011 socket in the Xeon lineup. This socket supports only DDR3 memory, not DDR4, and the triple-channel memory bus delivers 32.0 GB/s of theoretical bandwidth. That bandwidth figure places it well below modern platforms, but for its era, triple-channel DDR3 was a standard server configuration. ECC memory support is included, which is a critical feature for server stability, allowing the system to correct single-bit memory errors without crashing. The PCIe implementation is Gen 3 with 24 CPU-attached lanes, which is sufficient for a single high-end GPU or several NVMe drives, though the platform lacks the PCIe lane expansion options of larger server sockets. The production status is end-of-life, and the part number is SR1B9. For upgrade paths, the only option is another Socket 1356 processor, and since the platform is discontinued, buyers are limited to the existing pool of E5-2400 v2 series parts. The architecture is Ivy Bridge-EN, a 22 nm process with 1,860 million transistors on a 257 mm² die, indicating a moderately sized chip optimized for power efficiency rather than raw throughput.

Power and Thermals

The thermal design power (TDP) for this processor is 60 watts, which is notably low for a six-core server part. This TDP class allows for passive cooling in a well-ventilated server chassis or a small, low-profile active cooler in a workstation. The low power envelope is a direct result of the low base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 2.70 GHz, which are modest by modern standards but keep heat generation minimal. The data suggests that a capable air cooler is sufficient; liquid cooling would be unnecessary and overkill for a 60-watt part. The 22 nm process node and the relatively small die size of 257 mm² contribute to the efficiency, as does the transistor count of 1,860 million, which is modest for a six-core design. In a dense server deployment, the low TDP means less heat to dissipate and lower power draw per socket, which is a key advantage for this chip. However, the trade-off is clear: the low power limit constrains the maximum clock speed, and benchmark scores reflect that the processor cannot sustain high frequencies under load. The boost clock of 2.70 GHz is only 0.5 GHz above the base clock, indicating limited headroom for thermal boosting.

How It Compares

The E5-1428L v2 sits at the 40th percentile of all CPUs in the benchmark database, with an average benchmark score of 1537. This places it in the lower-middle range of all processors, roughly equivalent to entry-level desktop chips from several years ago. Its nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 3 1200, which scores 1538, a delta of 0 percent. The two are effectively identical in overall performance, despite the Xeon having six cores and twelve threads versus the Ryzen's four cores and eight threads. The Ryzen 3 1200 achieves parity through higher clock speeds and a newer architecture, while the Xeon relies on additional cores to compensate for its lower frequency.

The Intel Core i5-7440HQ scores 1538, which is 0.1 percent lower than the Xeon's average score. This is a quad-core mobile processor, and the fact that a laptop chip can match a six-core server part underscores the age and efficiency gap between the Ivy Bridge architecture and newer designs. The Xeon's multi-thread advantage is offset by the i5's superior single-thread performance, leading to a near-tie in the averaged benchmark.

The Intel Core i7-4710HQ scores 1534, a delta of 0.2 percent above the Xeon. This is another quad-core mobile part, and the result is within the noise of measurement. The i7-4710HQ has a higher clock speed and four cores with hyper-threading, giving it eight threads, which is fewer than the Xeon's twelve, but its per-core speed is significantly higher. In single-thread workloads, the i7-4710HQ would win decisively, but the Xeon catches up in multi-threaded tasks.

The Intel Core i5-4670S scores 1528, which is 0.6 percent below the Xeon. This is a desktop quad-core part with a 65-watt TDP, similar to the Xeon's 60-watt TDP. The i5-4670S has no hyper-threading, so it only has four threads, yet it nearly matches the Xeon's twelve-thread performance. This illustrates that the Xeon's core count is its main asset, but each individual core is comparatively weak due to the low 2.70 GHz boost clock.

FAQ

Q: Does this processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, ECC memory support is listed as a feature, which is essential for error-free operation in server environments.

Q: What is the socket type for this Xeon?

A: It uses Intel Socket 1356, which is a server socket distinct from the mainstream LGA 115x sockets.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does the CPU provide?

A: The CPU provides 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes directly from the processor, not counting any additional lanes from the chipset.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of this chip?

A: The triple-channel DDR3 memory bus delivers a theoretical bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s.

Q: Is the processor still in production?

A: No, the production status is end-of-life, with a release date of January 2014.

Q: What is the boost clock speed?

A: The boost clock is 2.70 GHz, while the base clock is 2.20 GHz.

Who Should Consider It

This processor is suited for legacy server and workstation upgrades where the Socket 1356 platform is already in place. Given its 60-watt TDP and six cores, it is a reasonable choice for virtualization hosts running multiple low-to-moderate-load virtual machines, or for database servers with light to moderate query volumes. The multi-core benchmark scores — 535 in Cinebench R15, 2232 in R20, and 5316 in R23 — indicate that it can handle parallel workloads that scale across twelve threads, but the low single-core scores (75 in R15, 315 in R20, 750 in R23) mean it is not suitable for latency-sensitive single-threaded applications. For gaming, this processor is a poor fit; modern games prioritize high single-thread performance, and the Xeon's 2.70 GHz boost clock is far below what contemporary titles require. Content creation workloads such as video encoding or 3D rendering that are heavily multi-threaded would see reasonable performance, but the 40th percentile ranking means even those tasks would be better served by modern mid-range desktop chips. Office productivity tasks, which are largely single-threaded, would feel sluggish on this processor compared to even a low-end modern CPU. The launch MSRP was $494, which reflects its server positioning, but in the current second-hand market, its value depends entirely on the price of used Socket 1356 motherboards and memory.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The benchmark data reveals a stark contrast between single-thread and multi-thread performance. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score is 5316, while the single-core score is 750, yielding a ratio of approximately 7.1x. This indicates that the twelve threads scale reasonably well, but the absolute single-thread score is very low. For reference, the single-core score of 750 in R23 is less than half of what a modern mid-range desktop CPU achieves. The base clock of 2.20 GHz and boost clock of 2.70 GHz are the primary limiting factors for single-thread performance, as Ivy Bridge's older architecture cannot match the instructions-per-clock of newer designs. The multi-thread performance benefits from the six physical cores and twelve threads, allowing the processor to reach 2232 in Cinebench R20, which is respectable for a 60-watt part. However, in real workloads, this split means that any task that cannot utilize more than one or two threads will run slowly. For example, opening a large spreadsheet, compiling a small script, or browsing complex web pages would all be bottlenecked by the single-thread scores. Conversely, tasks like video transcoding, 3D rendering, or scientific simulations that use all twelve threads will see the processor perform close to its full potential, which is roughly equivalent to a Ryzen 3 1200 or Core i5-4670S. The practical implication is that this Xeon is a parallel-processing chip that rewards heavily threaded applications and punishes single-threaded ones. The 32.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is sufficient for these multi-threaded tasks, but it is not a limiting factor either way, as the CPU's compute capacity is the primary constraint.