Intel Core i3-10305T vs Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 and the Intel Core i3-10305T are both 4-core, 8-thread processors from Intel, but they serve different market segments. The Xeon is a server/workstation part released in January 2016, while the i3 is a desktop part released in March 2021. Benchmark data from the database shows the i3 winning every recorded Cinebench test, though by a narrow margin of roughly 2%. This analysis walks through the specifications, benchmark results, and use cases for each processor.

The Verdict

Based on the head-to-head benchmark data, the Intel Core i3-10305T is the faster processor in all six Cinebench tests. It wins the R15 multi-core with 669 points against 654, the R15 single-core with 94 against 92, the R20 multi-core with 2791 against 2728, the R20 single-core with 393 against 385, the R23 multi-core with 6647 against 6497, and the R23 single-core with 938 against 917. The deltas range from -2.0% to -2.3%, meaning the i3 is consistently about 2% ahead. The Xeon E3-1545M v5 does offer ECC memory support and compatibility with both DDR3 and DDR4, which the i3 lacks. However, for raw compute performance, the i3 is the clear winner. The i3 also has a higher average benchmark score of 1922 versus 1879, and a lower TDP of 35W versus 45W. Therefore, the i3 is the better choice for workloads that prioritize speed and efficiency, while the Xeon remains relevant only for specific server or workstation requirements that demand ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process and feature 4 cores and 8 threads. They share the same cache hierarchy: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The fundamental difference lies in the microarchitecture. The Xeon E3-1545M v5 uses the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-H codename, while the i3-10305T uses Comet Lake, with the codename Comet Lake-R. The Xeon is part of the Xeon E3 (Skylake-H) generation, whereas the i3 belongs to the Core 10th Gen (Comet Lake) family. The Xeon has a transistor count of 2,300 million and a die size of 171 mm²; the i3 does not have these figures recorded. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i3 supports only DDR4. The Xeon has ECC memory support, the i3 does not. The integrated graphics differ: the Xeon has Iris Pro Graphics P580, the i3 has UHD Graphics 630. The Xeon is a server/workstation part, the i3 is a desktop part. The Xeon is end-of-life, the i3 is active. The Xeon was released in January 2016, the i3 in March 2021. The Xeon uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, the i3 uses Intel Socket 1200. The Xeon has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost of 3.80 GHz, while the i3 has a base of 3.00 GHz and boost of 4.00 GHz. The TDP is 45W for the Xeon and 35W for the i3. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s for the Xeon and 42.7 GB/s for the i3. Both have PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Both have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-10305T has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E3-1545M v5 has ECC memory support. The Core i3-10305T does not.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i3 supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The Core i3-10305T has a TDP of 35W, compared to the Xeon's 45W.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i3 has an average benchmark score of 1922, while the Xeon has 1879. The i3 is about 2.3% higher.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The i3 was released in March 2021, while the Xeon was released in January 2016. The i3 is also marked as active, while the Xeon is end-of-life.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 | Intel Core i3-10305T |

| Base clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Skylake-H | Comet Lake-R |

| Generation | Xeon E3 (Skylake-H) | Core i3 (Comet Lake) |

| Series | (none) | Core 10th Gen |

| Transistors | 2,300 million | (not recorded) |

| Die size | 171 mm² | (not recorded) |

| Memory support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Pro Graphics P580 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release date | 2016-01-23 | 2021-03-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $679 | $143 |

| Part number | SR2QU | SRH3M |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results are unambiguous: the Core i3-10305T wins all six Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3 scores 669 against the Xeon's 654, a 2.2% lead. In R15 single-core, the i3 scores 94 against 92, a 2.1% lead. Moving to R20, the i3 leads multi-core with 2791 versus 2728 (2.3% ahead) and single-core with 393 versus 385 (2.0% ahead). In R23, the i3 scores 6647 versus 6497 in multi-core (2.3% ahead) and 938 versus 917 in single-core (2.2% ahead). The deltas are consistent, ranging from -2.0% to -2.3%, indicating a uniform performance advantage for the i3 across all tested workloads. The i3 also has a higher average benchmark score of 1922 compared to the Xeon's 1879, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-6700T, scores 1918, which is 0.2% lower than the i3. The Xeon's nearest rival, the Intel Processor U300, scores 1881, which is 0.1% higher than the Xeon's 1879. These figures place both processors in the 43rd percentile of all CPUs, but the i3's absolute scores are higher.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the Core i3-10305T wins in every performance metric. It is the faster processor for multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads alike. The i3 also has a lower TDP (35W vs 45W), making it more power-efficient. Its higher memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s vs 34.1 GB/s) could benefit memory-intensive tasks. The i3 is also a newer, active product, while the Xeon is end-of-life. Therefore, for any new build or upgrade, the i3 is the logical choice.

The Xeon E3-1545M v5, however, has specific advantages that the i3 lacks. It supports ECC memory, which is critical for error-correcting workloads in servers or workstations. It also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, offering flexibility for existing systems. The Xeon's integrated graphics, Iris Pro Graphics P580, may differ from the i3's UHD Graphics 630, but the database does not provide comparative graphics benchmarks. The Xeon's market segment is server/workstation, and it was designed for that role. For applications that require ECC and can tolerate a slightly lower performance, the Xeon remains a viable option, though its end-of-life status and older release date are drawbacks.

In summary, the i3 wins on performance, efficiency, and modernity. The Xeon wins on ECC support and memory flexibility. The choice depends on whether ECC is a hard requirement.