Why buy a Xeon over an i5?

[Bob Jim]

The Xeon 1231 V3 is the same specs as the I5 4690, but more expensive. Why would anyone consider that over the i5?

[Toddwjp]

it has hyper threading the i5 doesnt, so its better at cpu tasks, eg rendering, working in a server etc

[JuztBe]

The Xeon 1231 V3 is the same specs as the I5 4690, but more expensive. Why would anyone consider that over the i5?

Hyperthreading.

[TheRetiredSlave]

The Xeon has Hyperthreading, which can improve performance in very multithreaded workloads. For tasks like video editing, the Xeon can perform more like a "cheap i7" than an expensive i5.

 

It also has ECC, though that's probably less relevant to someone using it for gaming. 

 

It's not overclockable, but that isn't an issue for someone who isn't going to be overclocking anyway. (and if you're overclocking, you would need the 4690K, which is marginally more expensive than the Xeon.)

[Sauron]

it has hyper threading the i5 doesnt, so its better at cpu tasks, eg rendering, working in a server etc

 

this, and more cache (2 mb extra of cache are nothing to scoff at)

[ZetZet]

It's not overclockable, but that isn't an issue for someone who isn't going to be overclocking anyway. (and if you're overclocking, you would need the 4690K, which is marginally more expensive than the Xeon.)

and you would need z97 mobo to overclock on. Xeon's run just fine on h81.

[Guest trucker2]

It never seems to show up in the troubleshooting forum. 8MB smart cache and lets face it, everybody goes I5 which is boring. If I ever get seduced by the blue side of the force it is what I would choose