Intel Xeon E5430

Intel Xeon E5430 is a 4-core, 4-thread server/workstation processor from the Core 2 architecture family, codename Harpertown, released on 2007-11-10. It runs at a base clock of 2.67 GHz with no listed boost clock, uses Intel Socket 771, and carries an 80 W TDP. The part is built on a 45 nm process with 820 million transistors and a die size of 2x 107 mm², with 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 6 MB of L2 cache per die. It supports DDR2 and DDR3 memory depending on the motherboard, over a dual-channel memory bus, with ECC support, and it uses PCIe Gen 2. The production status is end-of-life. In the database its average benchmark score is 658, placing it at the 16th percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rival scores clustering around 655 to 659.

Benchmark Performance

The aggregate benchmark score of 658 is the primary summary of the E5430's position. The AMD Phenom II X4 925 records 659, with a deltaPct of -0.1; the Intel Core i5-650 records 657, with a deltaPct of 0.1. The AMD Athlon II X4 635 records 656, with a deltaPct of 0.4, and the Intel Core i5-3427U records 655, also with a deltaPct of 0.4. The nearest rivals all sit within a narrow score band, and the listed deltaPct values are all 0.4 or smaller in absolute terms. In practical terms, the E5430 is not separating itself from this group by any large margin; the aggregate score is close enough to call each comparison a statistical tie. The percentile rank of 16 is a separate, stronger signal: the E5430 sits in the lower portion of the database. The Cinebench results in the data reinforce that placement: R15 multicore is 192, R20 multicore is 803, and R23 multicore is 1913. On the single-core side, R20 is 113 and R23 is 270. These scores are consistent with a 4-core/4-thread processor running at 2.67 GHz without a boost clock. The performance picture is therefore one of modest absolute results, with a fixed base frequency and a 4-thread ceiling.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The single-core scores in the data are 113 in Cinebench R20 and 270 in Cinebench R23. The multi-core scores are 803 in R20 and 1913 in R23. The multi-core values are much larger than the single-core values, which is what a 4-core/4-thread part with no extra threads should produce when a threaded workload can use all 4 logical processors. Because the data lists no boost clock, the single-thread performance is tied to the 2.67 GHz base clock alone. Applications that depend on one core will behave according to the low single-core scores, while applications that parallelize properly can move closer to the multicore scores. The R15 multicore result of 192 follows the same pattern as the R20 and R23 results. The gap between single-core and multi-core scores is expected for the core count, but it also means the E5430's relative strength is in batch-style threaded work, not in single-thread responsiveness. In the database, this split is the defining trait: 4 threads deliver a multi-core score that is several times the single-core score, yet the single-core score itself is low in absolute terms.

Power and Thermals

The E5430 is rated at a TDP of 80 W. It is fabricated on Intel's 45 nm process, containing 820 million transistors on a die size listed as 2x 107 mm². That package is a dual-die design, so thermal load is distributed across two physical die regions rather than a single die. No temperature measurements are present in the data, but the 80 W TDP places the CPU in a moderate cooling class. A capable air cooler designed for the Socket 771 mounting is sufficient in that class. Since the data lists no integrated graphics, a system using this CPU must add a discrete graphics component, which also contributes to the overall thermal envelope. The server/workstation market segment and ECC memory support point to sustained-load operation, and the 80 W TDP is consistent with that role. There is no boost clock in the data to create transient higher-power states; the power and thermal behavior is based on a fixed 2.67 GHz operating point.

How It Compares

The E5430's average score of 658 sits between the Phenom II X4 925 at 659 and the Core i5-650 at 657. Against the Intel Core i5-650, the comparison is essentially even: the i5-650 averages 657, with a deltaPct of 0.1. The aggregate difference is negligible, so the E5430's platform features are the only differentiators in this comparison.

Against the AMD Phenom II X4 925, the E5430 is on the trailing side of the pair: the Phenom II X4 925 averages 659, with a deltaPct of -0.1. The E5430's deficit is minimal, and the two are effectively tied within the summarized benchmark data.

Against the AMD Athlon II X4 635, the E5430 holds a slight aggregate advantage: the Athlon II X4 635 averages 656, with a deltaPct of 0.4. The margin is small, but it is the same deltaPct value recorded against the Core i5-3427U, showing that the E5430's lead over these rivals is similar.

Against the Intel Core i5-3427U, the E5430 leads by the largest amount in the nearest-rival set: the i5-3427U averages 655, with a deltaPct of 0.4. Even this largest lead is still a small percentage difference. Across the four comparisons, the E5430 sits in the middle of a very tight cluster, with a 16th percentile rank that places the entire cluster low in the database.

Who Should Consider It

The combination of 4 cores, 4 threads, and no boost clock describes a CPU that fits a narrow workload profile. For creation workloads that use threaded rendering, the R20 multicore score of 803 and the R23 multicore score of 1913 are usable figures. However, the R20 single-core score of 113 and the R23 single-core score of 270 mean interactive parts of the same workload will not feel fast. For office work, common tasks that rely on one thread will be limited by the same single-core results, and the 16th percentile placement reinforces that this is not a general-purpose desktop pick. For gaming, there is no integrated graphics in the data, so a discrete GPU is mandatory, and the low single-core scores suggest CPU-bound scenarios will be constraining. The best fit is a server or workstation environment that needs ECC memory support, already uses Socket 771, and runs parallel batch workloads where the multi-core scores matter more than the single-core scores. The E5430's end-of-life status also means it is an older platform choice, and the data does not include any indication of continued availability.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Intel Xeon E5430 use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 771.

Q: Does it support ECC memory?

A: Yes. The data lists ECC memory support as true, with DDR2 and DDR3 support depending on the motherboard and a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Does it have integrated graphics?

A: No. The data lists no integrated graphics, so a discrete graphics solution is required for display output.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No. The data lists multiplierUnlocked as false.

Q: What was the launch MSRP?

A: The launch MSRP was $455.

Q: What are the Cinebench scores in the database?

A: Cinebench R15 multicore is 192; Cinebench R20 single-core is 113 and multicore is 803; Cinebench R23 single-core is 270 and multicore is 1913.