Xeon D-1521 vs Core i5-4690K
Xeon D-1521
Core i5-4690K
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Xeon D-1521 is positioned at rank 505 and the Core i5-4690K is on rank 718, so the Xeon D-1521 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon D-1521
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4690K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon D-1521 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($101) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell (2015−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon D-1521 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+138%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($101) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon D-1521 and Core i5-4690K
Xeon D-1521
The Xeon D-1521 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 November 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (per core). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1667. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,703 points. Launch price was $199.
Core i5-4690K
The Core i5-4690K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 88 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 5,689 points. Launch price was $300.
Processing Power
The Xeon D-1521 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-4690K's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Xeon D-1521 versus 3.9 GHz on the Core i5-4690K — a 36.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-4690K (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Xeon D-1521 uses the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-4690K uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon D-1521 scores 5,703 against the Core i5-4690K's 5,689 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon D-1521. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (per core) on the Xeon D-1521 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-4690K.
| Feature | Xeon D-1521 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.9 GHz+44% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.5 GHz+46% |
| L3 Cache | 1.5 MB (per core) | 6 MB (total)+300% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell (2015−2019) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 5,703 | 5,689 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon D-1521 uses the FCBGA1667 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-4690K uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon D-1521 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1667 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon D-1521) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-4690K). The Core i5-4690K includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4600), while the Xeon D-1521 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4690K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Xeon D-1521 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4600 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Xeon D-1521 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Core i5-4690K debuted at $243. At current prices ($241 vs $101), the Core i5-4690K is $140 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon D-1521 delivers 23.7 pts/$ vs 56.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-4690K — making the Core i5-4690K the 81.7% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon D-1521 | Core i5-4690K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199-18% | $243 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $241 | $101-58% |
| Performance per Dollar | 23.7 | 56.3+138% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2014 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon D-1521 and Core i5-4690K
