Intel Core i3-1115G4E vs Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-1428L v2 wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i3-1115G4E, despite being an older, end-of-life server part. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Xeon leads by a consistent margin of roughly 15.5% to 16%, making it the clear performance victor in this matchup. The Core i3, however, counters with a far more modern architecture, a much lower thermal envelope, and integrated graphics—features that may matter more than raw render scores depending on the use case.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E5-1428L v2 sweeps the entire benchmark suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 535 against the Core i3's 452, a 15.5% deficit for the i3. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 75 for the Xeon versus 63 for the i3, a 16% gap. These margins are not isolated to one test—they replicate almost exactly across every other workload.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon again delivers 2232 multi-core points to the i3's 1887, and 315 single-core points to the i3's 266. The deltas remain at -15.5% and -15.6%, respectively. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23, where the Xeon posts 5316 multi-core and 750 single-core, while the i3 manages 4493 and 634. The consistency of these margins—all between 15.5% and 16%—suggests a uniform per-clock advantage for the Xeon rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The i3's lack of a single win is notable. Even in single-core tests, where newer architectures typically excel, the older Xeon's higher base clock of 2.20 GHz and boost of 2.70 GHz outpace the i3's 2.20 GHz base, though the i3's 3.90 GHz boost is far higher. The data shows the Xeon's 6 cores and 12 threads provide a structural advantage in multi-threaded tasks, while its single-core scores benefit from a more efficient per-thread execution in these specific Cinebench versions. The i3's 4,493 R23 multi-core score is respectable, but it trails the Xeon's 5,316 by a clear 823 points.

The Verdict

For pure compute performance, the Xeon E5-1428L v2 is the superior processor. It wins all six benchmarks with a decisive, uniform margin. Anyone prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering or heavily threaded workloads should choose the Xeon without hesitation. Its 6 cores and 12 threads double the i3's 2-core, 4-thread configuration, and the 15 MB shared L3 cache dwarfs the i3's 6 MB.

However, the i3 is not without merit. Its 15W TDP is a fraction of the Xeon's 60W, making it suitable for fanless or battery-powered mobile designs. The i3 also includes UHD Graphics G4 48EU, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU. The i3's Tiger Lake architecture (10 nm process) is generations newer than the Xeon's Ivy Bridge (22 nm), and it supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory versus the Xeon's DDR3. For embedded or mobile applications where power efficiency and onboard graphics are critical, the i3 is the logical pick, even if it loses every benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different eras and design philosophies. The Core i3-1115G4E is built on Tiger Lake-U, a 10 nm Intel process, with a die size of 144 mm². Its Willow Cove cores run at a 2.20 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost, and it supports dual-channel DDR4 or LPDDR4X memory. The i3 has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, plus 6 MB of shared L3 cache. It uses the Intel BGA 1449 socket and is classified as a mobile part.

The Xeon E5-1428L v2, in contrast, is an Ivy Bridge-EN server chip built on Intel's 22 nm process, with a die size of 257 mm² and 1,860 million transistors. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a 2.20 GHz base and 2.70 GHz boost. Its cache hierarchy is smaller per core—64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2—but the shared L3 cache is 15 MB, more than double the i3's. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 1356 and supports triple-channel DDR3 memory with a 32.0 GB/s bandwidth rating. It also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server reliability that the i3 lacks.

The i3's PCIe implementation is Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, while the Xeon offers Gen 3 with 24 lanes. This gives the Xeon far more expansion capability for server workloads, though the i3's newer PCIe generation offers higher per-lane bandwidth. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $494, while the i3's was $285; both are locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Xeon E5-1428L v2 scores 5,316 versus the Core i3-1115G4E's 4,493, a 15.5% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: Does the Core i3 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i3-1115G4E includes UHD Graphics G4 48EU. The Xeon E5-1428L v2 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X in dual-channel mode. The Xeon supports DDR3 in triple-channel mode with a 32.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Is ECC memory supported?

A: Yes, the Xeon E5-1428L v2 supports ECC memory. The Core i3-1115G4E does not.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Xeon has 6 cores and 12 threads. The i3 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which has a higher boost clock?

A: The i3-1115G4E boosts to 3.90 GHz, while the Xeon E5-1428L v2 boosts to 2.70 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5-1428L v2 wins every benchmark test in this comparison, making it the outright performance leader. Its 15.5% to 16% margins across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 indicate a consistent advantage in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration with 15 MB of L3 cache is clearly better suited for rendering, server-side processing, and any CPU-bound task that can utilize multiple threads. Its 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes and ECC support further cement its role in server and workstation environments.

The Core i3-1115G4E wins on platform efficiency and integration. Its 15W TDP allows for compact, low-power designs where the Xeon's 60W requirement would be prohibitive. The integrated UHD Graphics G4 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic display tasks. The i3's newer 10 nm process and support for DDR4/LPDDR4X memory make it a better fit for modern mobile or embedded systems. Its PCIe Gen 4 interface, while limited to 4 lanes, offers higher per-lane throughput for fast NVMe storage. The i3's higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz also provides headroom for bursty, single-threaded tasks, even if it loses the single-core Cinebench comparisons.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The i3-1115G4E has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon E5-1428L v2 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Both have a 2.20 GHz base clock, but the i3 boosts to 3.90 GHz versus the Xeon's 2.70 GHz. The i3's TDP is 15W versus the Xeon's 60W. The i3 uses the Intel BGA 1449 socket; the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1356.

The i3 is built on Tiger Lake (10 nm) with a 144 mm² die, while the Xeon is Ivy Bridge (22 nm) with a 257 mm² die and 1,860 million transistors. Cache configurations differ significantly: the i3 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core with 6 MB shared L3; the Xeon has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 15 MB shared L3. The i3 supports dual-channel DDR4/LPDDR4X, while the Xeon supports triple-channel DDR3 with a 32.0 GB/s bandwidth. The i3 has no ECC support; the Xeon does. PCIe differs as well: the i3 offers Gen 4 with 4 lanes, the Xeon Gen 3 with 24 lanes. The i3 includes UHD Graphics G4 48EU; the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The i3 is a mobile part, released September 2020, while the Xeon is a server/workstation part from January 2014, now end-of-life. Their launch MSRPs were $285 and $494, respectively.