Intel Core i3-1125G4 vs Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 and the Intel Core i3-1125G4 serve two completely different computing segments, and the performance data reflects their distinct design goals. The Xeon E5-1650 v3 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking all 6 recorded tests. The Core i3-1125G4 does not win a single one of the shared Cinebench tests.

The Xeon E5-1650 v3 is a server and workstation part. Its 6 cores and 12 threads give it a clear edge in multi-threaded workloads. The data shows this most clearly in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon scores 8800 against the i3's 7860. For rendering, video encoding, or any task that scales across cores, the Xeon is the better choice. It also holds a smaller but consistent advantage in single-threaded tests, which means even lightly threaded applications like older games or basic office tools will perform better on the Xeon.

The Core i3-1125G4 is a mobile processor designed for laptops. Its 4 cores and 8 threads are enough for everyday productivity, but the benchmark results show it lagging behind the Xeon by 12% in every Cinebench test. The i3 does have one significant advantage that the raw benchmarks do not capture: integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4. The Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. For a compact laptop or an ultraportable system, the i3 can handle display output and light graphical tasks without a discrete GPU. The Xeon requires a separate graphics card.

The use-case split is therefore clear. The Xeon E5-1650 v3 is for workstation towers, server racks, and any environment where raw compute throughput matters more than power draw or physical footprint. The Core i3-1125G4 is for thin-and-light laptops where integrated graphics and low power consumption are essential.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different design philosophies. The Xeon E5-1650 v3 uses the Haswell-EP architecture on a 22 nm process node. It is built on the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform and was released as part of the Xeon E5 family. The Core i3-1125G4 uses the Tiger Lake-U architecture, specifically the Willow Cove-U core design, on a 10 nm process node. It uses the Intel BGA 1449 socket and belongs to the Core i3 generation.

The Xeon has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The i3 has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Xeon's higher base clock and two additional cores explain most of its benchmark advantage.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 15 MB L3 cache. The i3 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 8 MB L3 cache. The Xeon's larger L3 cache is a major advantage in workloads that repeatedly access the same data set. The i3 has a larger L2 cache per core, but the Xeon's total cache hierarchy is substantially bigger.

The Xeon supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The i3 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus, and its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the i3 does not. For server and workstation users, ECC is a critical feature that the mobile chip simply cannot offer.

PCIe support also differs. The Xeon provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU. The i3 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon has far more expansion capacity for multiple GPUs or high-speed storage controllers. The i3 has fewer lanes, but they are a newer generation, which offers higher per-lane bandwidth.

The Xeon has a 140 W TDP and a die size of 356 mm² with 2,600 million transistors. The i3 has a 15 W TDP and a die size of 144 mm². The Xeon's enormous power budget and physical die are typical of a high-end server processor. The i3's tiny 15 W envelope is designed for battery-powered devices.

The Xeon has an unlocked multiplier, which means it can be overclocked. The i3 has a locked multiplier. This is a notable difference for enthusiasts who want to push their hardware beyond stock settings.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E5-1650 v3 wins every head-to-head benchmark against the Core i3-1125G4. The margin is remarkably consistent, hovering around 12% across all six Cinebench tests.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 887 against the i3's 792, a 12% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 125 against 111, a 12.6% advantage. That single-core gap is the largest percentage difference in the entire comparison.

Cinebench R20 shows the same pattern. The Xeon scores 3696 in multi-core against the i3's 3301, a 12% lead. In single-core, the Xeon scores 521 against 465, again a 12% lead. The consistency suggests that the Xeon's advantage comes from its higher base clock and superior architecture, not from any workload-specific quirk.

Cinebench R23 repeats the trend. The Xeon scores 8800 in multi-core against 7860, a 12% lead. In single-core, it scores 1242 against 1109, a 12% lead. The multi-core gap of 940 points is the largest absolute difference in the entire benchmark set.

The i3 does have additional Geekbench results in the database, with a multi-core score of 4509 and a single-core score of 1461. However, no corresponding Geekbench scores exist for the Xeon, so a direct comparison in that test is not possible. The Cinebench suite is the only shared benchmark ground.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every specification category. The Xeon has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon's base clock is 3.50 GHz, while the i3's base clock is 2000.00 MHz. The boost clocks are closer, with the Xeon at 3.80 GHz and the i3 at 3.70 GHz.

The TDP difference is enormous. The Xeon draws 140 W, while the i3 draws just 15 W. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 2011-3, while the i3 uses the Intel BGA 1449. The Xeon is built on a 22 nm process, while the i3 uses a 10 nm process.

The L1 cache differs, with the Xeon at 64 KB per core and the i3 at 80 KB per core. The L2 cache also differs, with the Xeon at 256 KB per core and the i3 at 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is 15 MB shared on the Xeon and 8 MB shared on the i3.

Memory support differs. The Xeon uses DDR4 over a quad-channel bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. The i3 uses DDR4 and LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus, with no recorded bandwidth figure and no ECC support.

PCIe support differs. The Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes, while the i3 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the i3 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4.

The Xeon is a server and workstation part, released in 2014, and is now end-of-life. The i3 is a mobile part, released in 2021, and is also end-of-life. The Xeon has an unlocked multiplier, while the i3 is locked. The die size is 356 mm² for the Xeon and 144 mm² for the i3. The Xeon has 2,600 million transistors, while the i3's transistor count is not recorded. The launch MSRP for the i3 is $281; the Xeon has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 887 in R15, 3696 in R20, and 8800 in R23, compared to the Core i3-1125G4's 792, 3301, and 7860 respectively. The Xeon leads by 12% in each case.

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

A: The Xeon E5-1650 v3 also leads in single-core tests. It scores 125 in Cinebench R15, 521 in R20, and 1242 in R23. The i3-1125G4 scores 111, 465, and 1109 in the same tests. The Xeon leads by 12% to 12.6%.

Q: Does the Core i3-1125G4 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The i3-1125G4 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4. The Xeon E5-1650 v3 has no integrated graphics at all, so it requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Xeon E5-1650 v3 supports ECC memory. The Core i3-1125G4 does not. This makes the Xeon more suitable for servers and workstations where data integrity is critical.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Xeon E5-1650 v3 has an average benchmark score of 2545, placing it in the 49th percentile of all CPUs. The Core i3-1125G4 has an average score of 2451, placing it in the 48th percentile. The Xeon's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 at 2550, while the i3's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-8600 at 2454.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Xeon E5-1650 v3 has a TDP of 140 W. The Core i3-1125G4 has a TDP of 15 W. The i3 is designed for low-power mobile devices, while the Xeon is built for high-performance server and workstation systems.