Intel Core i3-1115G4 vs Intel Xeon D-2775TE Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1115G4 and Intel Xeon D-2775TE occupy opposite ends of Intel’s 10 nm lineup, and the benchmark data reflects a complete mismatch in workload focus. The Core i3 is a 2-core mobile part with a 15 W TDP, while the Xeon is a 16-core server/workstation processor with a 100 W TDP. Across the six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Xeon wins every single one, with deltas ranging from -78.7% to -78.8% relative to the i3. Yet the i3 still holds a slightly higher percentile rank (63rd vs 62nd) and a higher average benchmark score (6851 vs 6711), suggesting that its overall performance profile—likely dominated by single-threaded and consumer-oriented workloads—keeps it competitive in the broader database. This is a tale of two entirely different design philosophies, and the data invites a deeper look at what each processor is actually built to accomplish.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon D-2775TE wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, and the margins are staggering. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 23204 against the i3’s 4933, a -78.7% delta. In single-core R23, it scores 3275 against 696, a -78.7% delta. The pattern holds across R15 and R20, with deltas consistently near -78.7% or -78.8%. This is not a close contest; the Xeon outperforms the i3 by nearly 4.7x in multicore R23 and 4.7x in single-core R23. The Xeon’s 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with a 25 MB shared L3 cache, clearly drive its dominance in heavily threaded rendering workloads.

The i3’s wins are not in the head-to-head data—it has zero wins there—but its broader benchmark suite tells a different story. The i3 shows strength in specific PassMark tests: data compression at 62444, floating point math at 10791, and integer math at 17472. These scores, while not directly comparable to the Xeon (which lacks PassMark data in the pack), indicate that the i3 is no slouch in bursty, single-core-oriented tasks. Its 4.10 GHz boost clock and Tiger Lake architecture allow it to punch above its weight in latency-sensitive applications. The Xeon, with a 3.10 GHz boost, relies on core count rather than clock speed.

The use-case split is clear: the Xeon is for sustained, parallel workloads like server virtualization, database processing, and content rendering. The i3 is for mobile, power-constrained environments where single-threaded responsiveness matters more than raw throughput. The data shows the Xeon’s 93.9 GB/s memory bandwidth and quad-channel DDR4 support enable it to feed its 16 cores efficiently, while the i3’s dual-channel memory and 6 MB L3 cache are tuned for lighter tasks.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is substantial, despite both using Intel’s 10 nm process. The i3 is built on Tiger Lake (codename Tiger Lake-U) with a Willow Cove-U core generation, while the Xeon uses Ice Lake (codename Ice Lake-D) with an Ice Lake-D core generation. Both use the same 10 nm node and Intel as the foundry, but the similarities end there.

Core counts diverge sharply: the i3 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon has 16 cores and 32 threads. Cache hierarchies are identical at L1 (80 KB per core) and L2 (1.25 MB per core), but the L3 cache is 6 MB shared on the i3 versus 25 MB shared on the Xeon. This 4.2x difference in L3 capacity is critical for the Xeon’s ability to keep 16 cores fed with shared data.

Memory support also differs. The i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X in dual-channel mode, while the Xeon supports DDR4 in quad-channel mode with a rated bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i3 does not—a clear indicator of its server-grade reliability focus. PCIe lanes are another divider: the i3 offers Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Xeon provides Gen 4 with 32 lanes (CPU only). The i3 includes integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4; the Xeon has no integrated graphics.

Sockets are incompatible: the i3 uses Intel BGA 1449, while the Xeon uses Intel BGA 2579. The i3’s die size is 144 mm², while the Xeon’s die size is not listed. The i3 was released on 2020-09-01, the Xeon on 2022-02-23. The i3’s TDP is 15 W, the Xeon’s is 100 W—a 6.7x difference that explains the i3’s suitability for fanless or low-power mobile designs.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon D-2775TE is the superior processor in every measured head-to-head benchmark. With 16 cores versus 2, 25 MB L3 versus 6 MB, and quad-channel memory versus dual-channel, the Xeon delivers 78.7% higher scores across all Cinebench tests. Its 23204 R23 multicore score versus 4933 for the i3 makes it the obvious choice for any workload that can leverage multiple threads—rendering, server-side processing, or heavy scientific computing.

The i3-1115G4, however, is not without merit. Its 63rd percentile rank versus the Xeon’s 62nd, and its higher average benchmark score (6851 vs 6711), suggest that in the overall CPU landscape, the i3 holds its own in lighter, single-threaded scenarios. Its 4.10 GHz boost clock and integrated graphics make it a viable option for mobile devices where power efficiency (15 W TDP) and portability are paramount. The i3’s PassMark scores—62444 in data compression, 10791 in floating point math, 17472 in integer math—indicate solid real-world performance for everyday tasks.

The verdict hinges on workload. For a server or workstation where multi-threaded performance is non-negotiable, the Xeon D-2775TE is the only choice from this data. For a thin-and-light laptop or embedded system where power draw is critical and workloads are bursty, the i3-1115G4 offers a compelling balance. The Xeon’s launch MSRP is $1751, the i3’s is $281—but the data shows the Xeon’s 4.7x multicore advantage justifies its positioning for enterprise use. The i3, despite its lower absolute scores, remains a capable mobile part in its percentile tier, rivaling the AMD Athlon X4 970 and Athlon Silver 10 with near-zero deltaPct.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Xeon D-2775TE in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Xeon scores 23204 versus the i3’s 4933, a -78.7% delta, meaning the Xeon is approximately 4.7x faster in that specific test.

Q: Does the Core i3-1115G4 win any head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 6 wins for the Xeon D-2775TE and 0 wins for the i3-1115G4 across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests.

Q: Which processor has more memory bandwidth?

A: The Xeon D-2775TE has a rated memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s with quad-channel DDR4 support. The i3-1115G4 has dual-channel DDR4/LPDDR4X support, but its bandwidth is not listed in the data.

Q: Can the Core i3-1115G4 support ECC memory?

A: No. The i3-1115G4 has no ECC memory support. The Xeon D-2775TE supports ECC memory, which is typical for server-grade reliability.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i3-1115G4 has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon D-2775TE has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i3-1115G4 has an average benchmark score of 6851, while the Xeon D-2775TE has an average score of 6711, despite the Xeon winning all head-to-head tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are a one-sided affair, with the Xeon D-2775TE dominating every metric. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 2338 against the i3’s 497, a -78.7% delta. The single-core R15 test shows 330 versus 70, a -78.8% delta. Moving to R20, the multicore test yields 9745 for the Xeon and 2071 for the i3 (-78.7%), while single-core shows 1375 versus 292 (-78.8%). The R23 results follow the same pattern: multicore 23204 versus 4933 (-78.7%) and single-core 3275 versus 696 (-78.7%).

The consistency of the -78.7% delta across all multicore tests is striking—it suggests that the performance gap is driven by the core count differential (16 vs 2) rather than per-core efficiency differences. The single-core deltas, ranging from -78.7% to -78.8%, are equally consistent, implying that the Xeon’s Ice Lake cores are not just more numerous but also individually faster than the i3’s Willow Cove cores in Cinebench. This is counterintuitive for a mobile part, but the data is clear: the Xeon’s 3.10 GHz boost, while lower than the i3’s 4.10 GHz, still produces 4.7x better single-core scores in R23.

The i3’s PassMark results, while not part of the head-to-head, provide context for its strengths. Its data compression score of 62444 and integer math score of 17472 suggest that in non-rendering workloads, the i3 can be competitive. However, without matching PassMark data for the Xeon, these numbers cannot be directly compared. The i3’s nearest rivals include the AMD Athlon X4 970 (deltaPct 0) and Intel Xeon W-2195 (deltaPct -0.6), while the Xeon’s rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 5317 (deltaPct 0) and AMD EPYC 72F3 (deltaPct 0.2). These rival comparisons place both CPUs in similar percentile territory, despite their wildly different architectures.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The i3-1115G4 has 2 cores and 4 threads; the Xeon D-2775TE has 16 cores and 32 threads. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz for the i3 and 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz) for the Xeon, with boost clocks of 4.10 GHz and 3.10 GHz, respectively. TDPs are 15 W versus 100 W. Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1449 for the i3, Intel BGA 2579 for the Xeon.

Architecture and codename differ: Tiger Lake (Tiger Lake-U) for the i3 versus Ice Lake (Ice Lake-D) for the Xeon. Generations are listed as Core i3 (Willow Cove-U) versus Xeon D (Ice Lake-D). Both use 10 nm process and Intel as foundry, but die size is 144 mm² for the i3 and not listed for the Xeon. L1 cache (80 KB per core) and L2 cache (1.25 MB per core) are identical, but L3 cache is 6 MB shared for the i3 and 25 MB shared for the Xeon.

Memory support differs: the i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X in dual-channel mode; the Xeon supports DDR4 in quad-channel mode with 93.9 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is false for the i3 and true for the Xeon. PCIe is Gen 4 with 4 lanes for the i3 and Gen 4 with 32 lanes for the Xeon. The i3 has integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4; the Xeon has no integrated graphics. Market segments are Mobile (i3) versus Server/Workstation (Xeon). Release dates are 2020-09-01 for the i3 and 2022-02-23 for the Xeon. Launch MSRPs are $281 for the i3 and $1751 for the Xeon. Part numbers are SRK08 for the i3 and SRM26SRLCM for the Xeon. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.