Intel Core i3-1125G4 vs Intel Xeon D-1540 Comparison

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon D-1540 defeats the Intel Core i3-1125G4 in every single benchmark recorded in this comparison. Despite the Core i3 being a much newer part with a higher boost clock, the Xeon D-1540’s superior core count and thread count deliver a consistent, though not overwhelming, performance advantage across all six Cinebench tests. The Xeon wins 6 out of 6 head-to-head matchups, with margins ranging from 8.5% to 9%. The average benchmark score tells a similar story: the Xeon D-1540 scores 2467, while the Core i3-1125G4 scores 2451, a delta of 0.7% in favor of the server chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant victory for the Intel Xeon D-1540 comes in the single-core Cinebench R15 test, where it scores 121 against the Core i3-1125G4’s 111, a 9% advantage. This is notable because single-core performance is typically where a newer mobile chip like the Tiger Lake-based Core i3 would be expected to excel. The data shows otherwise, with the Xeon leading by 9% in this specific test. In the R20 and R23 single-core tests, the Xeon’s lead is slightly smaller but still consistent at 8.6% (505 vs 465) and 8.6% (1204 vs 1109), respectively.

The multi-core results follow the same pattern, with the Xeon D-1540 winning by a nearly identical margin across all three Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 859 versus the Core i3’s 792, an 8.5% win. The R20 multi-core test shows the Xeon at 3583 and the Core i3 at 3301, again an 8.5% margin. Finally, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon’s 8531 score beats the Core i3’s 7860 by 8.5%. The consistency of the 8.5% to 9% delta across both single- and multi-threaded workloads suggests a fundamental architectural efficiency advantage for the Xeon, rather than a workload-specific quirk.

It is also worth remembering the Core i3-1125G4 has a Geekbench result in its benchmark list (4509 multi-core, 1461 single-core), but no comparable Geekbench score exists for the Xeon D-1540 in the data. Therefore, that data point cannot be used for a direct comparison. The only apples-to-apples benchmarks available are the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 suites, and the Xeon D-1540 wins all six of those contests. The margin is not huge, but it is absolute; the Core i3-1125G4 records zero wins in this head-to-head.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from vastly different design philosophies and eras. The Intel Xeon D-1540 is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE variant, and uses a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. It is a server and workstation part, released in 2015, and is still listed as an active production part. Its die size is 246 mm² and it contains 3,200 million transistors. The Core i3-1125G4, in contrast, is a mobile processor from the Tiger Lake-U generation, using the Willow Cove architecture on a 10 nm process node. It was released in 2021 and is now marked as end-of-life. Its die size is much smaller at 144 mm², and its transistor count is not listed.

The most fundamental architectural difference lies in the core configuration. The Xeon D-1540 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core i3-1125G4 has 4 cores and 8 threads. This 2x core and thread advantage is the primary reason the Xeon wins the multi-core benchmarks. The cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Xeon D-1540 features 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with a large 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core. The Core i3-1125G4 has a larger L1 cache at 80 KB per core and a much larger L2 cache at 1.25 MB per core, but its L3 cache is 8 MB shared across all cores. The per-core L3 design of the Xeon versus the shared pool in the Core i3 represents a different approach to cache management.

Other key differences include the memory support: the Xeon D-1540 supports DDR3 and DDR4, while the Core i3-1125G4 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. The Xeon D-1540 supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server reliability, while the Core i3 does not. The PCIe support also differs, with the Xeon offering Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only) and the Core i3 offering Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Finally, the Core i3-1125G4 includes integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, while the Xeon D-1540 has no integrated graphics at all, reflecting its server-oriented role where a discrete GPU or no GPU is expected.

Where Each One Wins

Given the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon D-1540 wins in every workload category measured. The consistent 8.5% to 9% lead in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests means that for any CPU-bound task within those benchmarks, the Xeon is the faster processor. For single-threaded tasks, the Xeon’s lead is slightly more pronounced in the older R15 test (9%) than in the newer R20 and R23 tests (8.6%), but the direction is always the same. This suggests that even in lightly-threaded applications, the Xeon D-1540 holds a performance edge over the Core i3-1125G4.

For multi-threaded workloads, the Xeon’s 8-core, 16-thread configuration provides a clear advantage over the Core i3’s 4-core, 8-thread setup. The data shows an 8.5% win in all three multi-core Cinebench tests. This is a smaller margin than one might expect from a 2x core count difference, indicating that the Core i3’s newer architecture and higher boost clock (3.70 GHz vs 2.60 GHz) help it close the gap. However, the Xeon still wins. The Core i3-1125G4 has no benchmark wins to point to in this data set. Its strengths lie elsewhere, such as its integrated graphics, lower power consumption, and support for LPDDR4X memory, but in pure CPU benchmark performance against the Xeon D-1540, it falls short across the board.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two processors differ in nearly every field. The most obvious difference is the core and thread count: the Xeon D-1540 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core i3-1125G4 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clocks are identical at 2000 MHz, but the boost clocks diverge significantly: the Xeon D-1540 boosts to 2.60 GHz, while the Core i3-1125G4 boosts to 3.70 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) also differs drastically, with the Xeon rated at 45 watts and the Core i3 at just 15 watts, reflecting their respective server and mobile market segments.

The sockets are different: the Xeon D-1540 uses Intel BGA 1667, while the Core i3-1125G4 uses Intel BGA 1449. The process nodes are 14 nm for the Xeon and 10 nm for the Core i3. The die size is 246 mm² for the Xeon and 144 mm² for the Core i3. The cache configurations are entirely different, as detailed earlier. The Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the Core i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the Core i3 does not. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 24 lanes on the Xeon versus Gen 4 with 16 lanes on the Core i3. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the Core i3 has Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4. The market segments are Server/Workstation versus Mobile. The production status is Active versus End-of-life. The release dates are 2015-03-08 versus 2021-03-30. The part numbers are SR29A versus SRK8S. The launch MSRP is $581 for the Xeon and $281 for the Core i3. Both are multiplier-unlocked false.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1540 wins all single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 121 vs 111 in R15, 505 vs 465 in R20, and 1204 vs 1109 in R23, with deltaPct values of 9%, 8.6%, and 8.6%, respectively.

Q: How does the multi-core performance compare?

A: The Xeon D-1540 also wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 859 vs 792 (8.5% delta). In R20, it scores 3583 vs 3301 (8.5% delta). In R23, it scores 8531 vs 7860 (8.5% delta).

Q: Does the Core i3-1125G4 have any benchmark win over the Xeon D-1540?

A: No. The head-to-head benchmark data shows the Xeon D-1540 winning 6 out of 6 tests, with the Core i3-1125G4 recording zero wins.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Xeon D-1540 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Core i3-1125G4 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon D-1540 supports ECC memory. The Core i3-1125G4 does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Core i3-1125G4 has integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4. The Xeon D-1540 has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The data is clear: for raw CPU benchmark performance, the Intel Xeon D-1540 is the superior processor. It wins every single Cinebench test in this comparison, with margins between 8.5% and 9%. The Xeon’s 8-core, 16-thread configuration provides a decisive edge in multi-threaded workloads, and its architecture also proves faster in single-threaded tests despite the Core i3’s higher 3.70 GHz boost clock. The Xeon D-1540 is also the only one of the two that supports ECC memory, making it the appropriate choice for server and workstation environments where data integrity is paramount.

The Intel Core i3-1125G4 should not be dismissed, however. Its 15-watt TDP makes it far more power-efficient than the Xeon’s 45-watt TDP, and it includes integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, meaning it can run a system without a discrete GPU. Its support for LPDDR4X memory and PCIe Gen 4 lanes makes it a modern mobile platform. The data shows that its average benchmark score of 2451 is nearly identical to the Xeon’s 2467, placing both in the 48th percentile of all CPUs. The Core i3 is also an end-of-life product, while the Xeon remains active.

The verdict is straightforward. If a workload demands the maximum CPU benchmark score and requires ECC memory support, the Intel Xeon D-1540 is the correct choice. If a system requires integrated graphics, minimal power draw, and a newer socket, the Core i3-1125G4 is the practical option, but it will be slower in CPU benchmarks. The Xeon D-1540 is the performance winner in this matchup, and the Core i3-1125G4 is the efficiency and feature-set winner, but the latter cannot claim a single CPU benchmark victory.