Intel Core i3-10105T vs Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 wins every single head-to-head test against the Intel Core i3-10105T, sweeping all six Cinebench comparisons with a consistent margin of roughly 7.3–7.5%. However, the two processors are far closer in overall standing than that sweep suggests, with the Xeon averaging a 2067 score against the i3's 2058, a gap of only 0.4%. The Xeon's victory is real but narrow in aggregate, driven by its higher base clock and larger cache, while the i3 counters with a dramatically lower power draw and a much newer platform. The choice between them hinges entirely on whether the workload prioritizes raw compute per thread or system efficiency and platform longevity.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 wins in every measured compute benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 720 against the i3's 670, a 7.5% advantage. That lead persists across every stress level: R20 multi-core shows 3001 versus 2795 (7.4%), and R23 multi-core shows 7146 versus 6656 (7.4%). Single-core results tell the same story, with the Xeon ahead by 7.4% in R15 (101 vs 94), 7.4% in R20 (423 vs 394), and 7.3% in R23 (1008 vs 939). The Xeon's 3.50 GHz base clock against the i3's 3.00 GHz, combined with its 8 MB shared L3 cache versus the i3's 6 MB, explains this consistent edge. The Xeon also supports ECC memory and DDR3 in addition to DDR4, making it the choice for data-integrity-sensitive server or workstation tasks.

The Intel Core i3-10105T wins where the benchmarks do not measure: power efficiency and platform currency. Its TDP is 35 watts against the Xeon's 65 watts, a massive 46% reduction in thermal design power. The i3 uses the Intel Socket 1200 platform with Comet Lake architecture, released in 2021, whereas the Xeon uses the older Intel BGA 1440 socket with Skylake-H architecture from 2016. The i3 also has higher memory bandwidth at 42.7 GB/s versus the Xeon's 34.1 GB/s, a 25% improvement despite the smaller cache. For a desktop build with modern DDR4-only memory and a low-power cooler, the i3 is the practical choice. Its UHD Graphics 630 integrated GPU is newer than the Xeon's Iris Pro Graphics P580, though neither is benchmarked here for graphics performance.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 if raw multi-threaded and single-threaded compute is the sole criterion. The data shows it outperforms the i3-10105T in every Cinebench test by a margin between 7.3% and 7.5%. This is a uniform, repeatable advantage across all six benchmarks, which indicates the Xeon's higher base clock and larger cache deliver a real performance lead, not a measurement artifact. The Xeon also brings ECC memory support, which is essential for error-correcting workloads in servers or workstations. Its 46th percentile ranking among all CPUs matches the i3's percentile exactly, but the Xeon's average benchmark score of 2067 edges out the i3's 2058, confirming a slight overall edge.

Pick the Intel Core i3-10105T if power consumption, platform longevity, or memory bandwidth matters more than a 7% compute lead. The i3 draws 35 watts versus 65 watts for the Xeon, making it far easier to cool in a compact desktop. It uses the active Socket 1200 platform with Comet Lake architecture, released in 2021, while the Xeon is end-of-life on the BGA 1440 socket. The i3's 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth is 25% higher than the Xeon's 34.1 GB/s, which can benefit memory-bound tasks even if Cinebench does not show it. For a new desktop build, the i3's active production status and modern socket make it a safer long-term investment, while the Xeon is a legacy server part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Xeon comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 720 against the i3's 670, a 7.5% delta. This is the only test where the margin exceeds 7.4%, and it reflects the Xeon's 3.50 GHz base clock providing a stronger sustained multi-threaded load than the i3's 3.00 GHz base. The i3's boost clock matches the Xeon at 3.90 GHz, but the Xeon holds its advantage in sustained workloads because it can maintain higher clocks without the i3's power constraints.

Every other multi-core test shows a nearly identical 7.4% gap. Cinebench R20 multi-core has the Xeon at 3001 versus 2795, and R23 multi-core has it at 7146 versus 6656. This consistency across three different Cinebench versions indicates the performance difference is structural, not workload-specific. The single-core tests follow the same pattern: R15 single-core shows 101 vs 94 (7.4%), R20 single-core shows 423 vs 394 (7.4%), and R23 single-core shows 1008 vs 939 (7.3%). The slightly smaller single-core margin in R23 suggests the i3's higher boost clock helps it close the gap slightly in lightly threaded tasks, but the Xeon still wins.

The i3's only benchmark advantage is in Geekbench, where it scores 3649 multi-core and 1265 single-core, but the Xeon has no Geekbench results in the data for comparison. The head-to-head table lists only Cinebench tests, all six won by the Xeon. The i3's average benchmark score of 2058, which includes the Geekbench results, lands within 0.4% of the Xeon's 2067 average, showing that the Geekbench scores partially offset the Cinebench losses.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 averages 2067 across its benchmark results, while the Intel Core i3-10105T averages 2058, a 0.4% difference in the Xeon's favor.

Q: Does the Xeon win all head-to-head tests?

A: Yes, the Xeon wins all 6 head-to-head Cinebench tests against the i3, with deltas ranging from 7.3% in R23 single-core to 7.5% in R15 multi-core. The i3 has zero wins in the head-to-head data.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Xeon has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i3 has a TDP of 35 watts. The i3 draws 46% less power under load, making it significantly more efficient for desktop use.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No, the Xeon supports ECC memory, while the i3 does not. This makes the Xeon the only option for error-correcting memory workloads.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The Xeon has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3 has 6 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures?

A: The i3 has a higher memory bandwidth at 42.7 GB/s, while the Xeon is at 34.1 GB/s. The i3 also supports only DDR4, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4.

Architecture Differences

The Xeon E3-1585 v5 uses the Skylake-H architecture on a 14 nm Intel process, with a die size of 171 mm² and 2,300 million transistors. The i3-10105T uses the Comet Lake-R architecture, also on a 14 nm process, but its transistor count and die size are not listed. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, with the same 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The Xeon's L3 cache is 8 MB shared, while the i3's is 6 MB shared, a 33% difference.

The Xeon's integrated graphics is Iris Pro Graphics P580, while the i3 uses UHD Graphics 630. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, whereas the i3 supports only DDR4. The Xeon has ECC memory support, which the i3 lacks. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, but the Xeon's socket is Intel BGA 1440, while the i3 uses Intel Socket 1200. The Xeon is a server/workstation part from 2016 and is end-of-life, while the i3 is an active desktop part from 2021.

The Xeon's architecture is older but designed for sustained server workloads, which explains its higher TDP of 65 watts and larger cache. The i3's Comet Lake architecture is newer and optimized for efficiency, with a 35 watt TDP and higher memory bandwidth. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are manufactured by Intel on a 14 nm process. The i3's part number is SRH3R, while the Xeon's is SR2RB.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The base clock is 3.50 GHz for the Xeon versus 3.00 GHz for the i3, a 16.7% advantage for the Xeon. Both have a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The TDP differs significantly: 65 watts for the Xeon versus 35 watts for the i3. The Xeon uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the i3 uses Intel Socket 1200. The Xeon's memory support includes DDR3 and DDR4, while the i3 supports only DDR4. The memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s for the Xeon and 42.7 GB/s for the i3.

The Xeon has 8 MB shared L3 cache versus the i3's 6 MB. The Xeon supports ECC memory, while the i3 does not. The integrated graphics differ: Iris Pro Graphics P580 for the Xeon versus UHD Graphics 630 for the i3. The market segment is server/workstation for the Xeon and desktop for the i3. The production status is end-of-life for the Xeon and active for the i3. Release dates are 2016-05-30 for the Xeon and 2021-03-15 for the i3. The launch MSRP is $556 for the Xeon and $134 for the i3. Both have 4 cores, 8 threads, dual-channel memory bus, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and locked multipliers.