Intel Core i3-12100T vs Intel Xeon D-1587 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12100T has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon D-1587 offers four times the core count and four times the thread count.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100T has a higher base clock of 2.20 GHz and a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Intel Xeon D-1587 has a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 2.30 GHz, making the i3-12100T significantly faster in raw clock frequency.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i3-12100T does not. This makes the Xeon D-1587 more suitable for error-sensitive server workloads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 has an average benchmark score of 3350, placing it at the 54th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i3-12100T has an average benchmark score of 3277, placing it at the 53rd percentile.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-12100T have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i3-12100T includes UHD Graphics 730. The Intel Xeon D-1587 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 is built on a 14 nm process with a die size of 246 mm². The Intel Core i3-12100T uses a 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm², indicating a more modern manufacturing technology.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon D-1587 and Intel Core i3-12100T represent two fundamentally different design philosophies from Intel. The Xeon D-1587 belongs to the Broadwell-DE generation, a server-focused architecture built on a 14 nm process. It features 16 cores based on the Broadwell microarchitecture, with a transistor count of 3,200 million and a die size of 246 mm². The core i3-12100T, in contrast, is part of the Alder Lake-S generation, a desktop-oriented design on a 10 nm process with a smaller die size of 163 mm².

The cache layouts differ substantially. The Xeon D-1587 allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core, which scales with its 16-core configuration. The i3-12100T uses 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. This means the Xeon D-1587 has a larger aggregate cache pool across all cores, while the i3-12100T provides a shared L3 pool for its four cores.

Memory support is another key divergence. The Xeon D-1587 supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus, and it includes ECC memory support, a critical feature for server reliability. The i3-12100T supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, also with a dual-channel bus, but lacks ECC support entirely. The PCIe capabilities differ as well: the Xeon D-1587 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-12100T provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), giving the newer chip higher bandwidth potential per lane.

The socket types are incompatible. The Xeon D-1587 uses Intel BGA 1667, a soldered embedded socket, while the i3-12100T uses Intel Socket 1700, a standard LGA socket for desktop motherboards. The Xeon D-1587 is marketed for the Server/Workstation segment, whereas the i3-12100T targets the Desktop segment. The i3-12100T also includes integrated UHD Graphics 730, a feature absent from the Xeon D-1587, which has no integrated graphics. The Xeon D-1587 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i3-12100T has a lower TDP of 35 watts, reflecting its more power-efficient desktop design.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a consistent pattern across all six Cinebench tests: the Intel Xeon D-1587 wins every single benchmark. The margin is remarkably uniform, hovering around 10% across both multi-core and single-core workloads.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon D-1587 scores 1167 against the i3-12100T's 1057, a 10.4% advantage. The single-core test tells a similar story: 164 for the Xeon D-1587 versus 149 for the i3-12100T, a 10.1% lead. This is notable because single-core performance typically favors newer architectures with higher clock speeds, yet the Xeon D-1587 with its lower 2.30 GHz boost clock still outperforms the i3-12100T's 4.10 GHz boost.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon D-1587 scores 4865 in multi-core versus 4405 for the i3-12100T, again a 10.4% difference. In single-core R20, the Xeon scores 686 against 622, a 10.3% margin. The pattern continues in Cinebench R23, where the Xeon D-1587 achieves 11585 in multi-core and 1635 in single-core, compared to the i3-12100T's 10490 and 1481, respectively. Both R23 tests show a 10.4% delta.

The data indicates that the Xeon D-1587's advantage is not workload-dependent in this test suite. It outperforms the i3-12100T by nearly identical margins in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded scenarios. This suggests the Broadwell architecture's per-core efficiency, despite its older process node and lower clocks, delivers higher sustained performance than the Alder Lake desktop chip in these specific Cinebench workloads. The i3-12100T does have additional Geekbench scores recorded (6055 multi-core, 1957 single-core), but these have no corresponding Xeon D-1587 measurements, so they cannot be compared directly in the head-to-head data.

The wins tally is decisive: the Xeon D-1587 records 6 wins and the i3-12100T records 0 wins across the shared benchmark suite. The average benchmark scores reflect this overall dominance, with the Xeon D-1587 at 3350 versus 3277 for the i3-12100T.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The core count is a 16 versus 4 split, with thread counts of 32 against 8. Base clocks differ: the Xeon D-1587 runs at 1.70 GHz, while the i3-12100T runs at 2.20 GHz. Boost clocks show an even wider gap: 2.30 GHz for the Xeon versus 4.10 GHz for the i3. The TDP ratings are 65 watts for the Xeon D-1587 and 35 watts for the i3-12100T.

The process nodes are 14 nm for the Xeon D-1587 and 10 nm for the i3-12100T. Die sizes are 246 mm² and 163 mm², respectively. The Xeon D-1587 has a transistor count of 3,200 million, while the i3-12100T has no recorded transistor count. Cache configurations differ: the Xeon D-1587 has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, while the i3-12100T has 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core. The L3 cache is 1.5 MB per core for the Xeon D-1587 versus 12 MB shared for the i3-12100T.

Memory support is DDR3 and DDR4 for the Xeon D-1587 versus DDR4 and DDR5 for the i3-12100T. Both use dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory is supported on the Xeon D-1587 but not on the i3-12100T. PCIe generation and lane counts differ: Gen 3 with 24 lanes for the Xeon D-1587, Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the i3-12100T. The Xeon D-1587 has no integrated graphics, while the i3-12100T includes UHD Graphics 730.

The sockets are Intel BGA 1667 for the Xeon D-1587 and Intel Socket 1700 for the i3-12100T. The Xeon D-1587 targets the Server/Workstation market segment, while the i3-12100T is a Desktop processor. The Xeon D-1587 has a recorded launch MSRP of 1549, and the i3-12100T has a launch MSRP of $122. Both processors have locked multipliers, and both are currently in active production. The Xeon D-1587 has a release date of 2016-02-23, while the i3-12100T has no recorded release date.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1587 wins in every shared benchmark comparison, making it the clear performance leader in Cinebench workloads. Its advantage spans both multi-core and single-core tests, with deltas consistently around 10.4%. This makes the Xeon D-1587 the stronger choice for compute-heavy server and workstation tasks where sustained throughput across many threads is essential. Its 16 cores and 32 threads provide ample parallelism for virtualization, database workloads, and content rendering that can scale across cores. The ECC memory support adds reliability for long-running server operations where data integrity is paramount. The 65 watt TDP, while higher than the i3-12100T, is modest for a 16-core server part and suits dense embedded or edge computing deployments.

The Intel Core i3-12100T wins in other dimensions that the benchmark data does not capture. Its 35 watt TDP makes it significantly more power-efficient, which is valuable in compact desktop builds or always-on systems where thermal output is a concern. The higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz and newer 10 nm process give it a raw clock speed advantage that could translate to better responsiveness in lightly threaded interactive workloads, even though the recorded Cinebench single-core scores favor the Xeon D-1587. The integrated UHD Graphics 730 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic desktop use, simplifying system builds and reducing component requirements. Its Socket 1700 platform supports modern DDR5 memory, which offers a path to higher memory bandwidth in future upgrades. The i3-12100T also benefits from a more recent architecture generation, which typically includes newer instruction set extensions and platform features.

The percentile rankings are close, with the Xeon D-1587 at the 54th percentile and the i3-12100T at the 53rd percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rival data places the Xeon D-1587 within 1.2% of the Intel Core i5-11400T and within 0.5% of the Intel Core i7-7800X, while the i3-12100T sits within 0.4% of the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 and exactly tied with the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2516. This suggests that despite the Xeon D-1587's benchmark sweep, the two processors occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance distribution. The choice ultimately depends on the use case: the Xeon D-1587 for server-grade reliability and raw multi-threaded compute, the i3-12100T for low-power desktop systems with modern platform features and integrated graphics.