CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1220P and Intel Xeon 6325P occupy opposite ends of the Intel spectrum, yet their benchmark averages land remarkably close: 21,066 for the i3-1220P versus 20,821 for the Xeon 6325P. Both sit at the 74th percentile among all CPUs, and each processor’s nearest rivals hover within a fraction of a percent of its average score. The Xeon 6325P edges out the i3-1220P in overall wins, taking 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, but the i3-1220P counters with decisive victories in specific workloads. This is not a clean sweep; it is a split decision defined by workload type.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon 6325P’s strongest territory is single-threaded performance, where its lead is substantial. In PassMark single-thread, the Xeon scores 4,213 against the i3-1220P’s 3,362, a 20.2% advantage. Cinebench single-core results echo this trend, though with smaller margins: the Xeon leads by 3% in R15 (195 vs. 189), 3% in R20 (813 vs. 789), and 2.9% in R23 (1,936 vs. 1,879). The Xeon’s multicore Cinebench wins are narrower but consistent, with 3% leads in R15 (1,382 vs. 1,341) and R20 (5,761 vs. 5,591), and a 2.9% edge in R23 (13,717 vs. 13,314).

The Xeon’s most dramatic wins come in specialized compute tasks. In PassMark physics, it posts 1,020 versus the i3-1220P’s 637, a 37.5% margin. The find-prime-numbers test shows the Xeon doubling the i3-1220P’s output, 66 vs. 33, a 50% gap. PassMark extended instructions favor the Xeon by 13.7% (11,645 vs. 10,051), and the multithread score goes to the Xeon by 10.3% (16,138 vs. 14,481).

The i3-1220P answers with its own set of wins, led by data encryption. Its PassMark encryption score of 10,923 beats the Xeon’s 9,311 by 17.3%. Integer math also favors the i3-1220P, 53,507 vs. 49,151, an 8.9% margin. Random string sorting goes to the i3-1220P by 9.1% (20,846 vs. 19,113), and data compression is a narrow i3-1220P win, 180,528 vs. 178,020, a 1.4% edge. Floating-point math is essentially a tie, with the i3-1220P ahead by just 0.1% (37,294 vs. 37,265). The data shows a clear pattern: the Xeon dominates latency-sensitive and single-core-heavy tasks, while the i3-1220P wins where parallel memory operations or integer throughput matter.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data alone, the Intel Xeon 6325P is the stronger all-around processor. It wins the majority of tests, including every Cinebench iteration, and its single-thread superiority is decisive at 20.2%. The Xeon also carries a 10.3% multithread advantage, which is notable given that the i3-1220P has 10 cores and 12 threads versus the Xeon’s 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon’s physics score, 37.5% higher, suggests it handles complex simulations or real-time workloads with far greater ease.

The i3-1220P, however, is not without a case. Its 17.3% encryption win and 8.9% integer math lead point to strengths in security-related or data-processing tasks. The 1.4% compression win and 9.1% random-string-sorting win suggest file-handling or sorting workloads suit it better. For users whose primary load involves encryption, integer-heavy calculations, or sorting operations, the i3-1220P is the data-backed choice. For everything else, general productivity, single-threaded applications, and physics-based workloads, the Xeon 6325P is the pick. The Xeon’s 74th percentile standing, matched by the i3-1220P, confirms both are competent mid-pack performers, but the Xeon’s win count makes it the default recommendation unless the specific workload favors the i3-1220P’s niche strengths.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Core i3-1220P is built on Alder Lake, specifically the Alder Lake-P mobile variant, while the Intel Xeon 6325P uses Raptor Lake, from the Raptor Lake-R refresh line. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process, but the Xeon’s die size is listed at 163 mm², whereas the i3-1220P’s die size is not specified. Core counts diverge sharply: the i3-1220P has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Xeon 6325P has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i3-1220P’s extra cores are its main structural advantage, yet they do not translate into a multicore win in Cinebench.

Clock speeds tell the opposite story. The Xeon 6325P has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, compared to the i3-1220P’s 1.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. The Xeon’s higher clocks explain its single-thread dominance. Cache configurations are identical in structure, 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3, but the i3-1220P’s additional cores mean more aggregate L1 and L2 capacity across the chip.

Memory support is the same on paper: both support DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. The key memory difference is ECC support. The Xeon 6325P supports ECC memory, while the i3-1220P does not. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Xeon offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-1220P provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics separate them further, the i3-1220P includes UHD Graphics 64EU, while the Xeon 6325P has no integrated graphics. The Xeon’s market segment is listed as Server/Workstation, and its socket is Intel Socket 1700; the i3-1220P is a Mobile part on Intel BGA 1744. The Xeon’s launch MSRP is $281.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i3-1220P has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Xeon 6325P has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Why does the Xeon 6325P win most Cinebench multicore tests despite having fewer cores?

A: The Xeon 6325P has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz, compared to the i3-1220P’s 1.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. The higher clocks offset the core-count deficit in the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, where the Xeon leads by 3%, 3%, and 2.9%, respectively.

Q: Does the i3-1220P win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes. The i3-1220P beats the Xeon 6325P by 17.3% in PassMark data encryption (10,923 vs. 9,311), and by 8.9% in PassMark integer math (53,507 vs. 49,151).

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon 6325P supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i3-1220P does not.

Q: What is the biggest single benchmark gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find-prime-numbers, where the Xeon 6325P scores 66 versus the i3-1220P’s 33, a 50% difference in favor of the Xeon.

Q: Do both processors have the same L3 cache amount?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Core i3-1220P and the Intel Xeon 6325P have 12 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon 6325P is the clear winner for single-threaded and latency-sensitive tasks. Its 20.2% lead in PassMark single-thread, coupled with 3% Cinebench single-core wins across R15, R20, and R23, makes it the data-backed choice for applications that rely on one or two threads. The Xeon’s 37.5% physics advantage and 50% find-prime-numbers win further indicate strength in simulation, physics calculations, or prime-number-heavy workloads. Its 13.7% extended-instructions lead suggests the Xeon handles SIMD or specialized instruction sets more efficiently. For server or workstation environments where ECC memory is required, the Xeon 6325P is the only option between the two, as the i3-1220P lacks ECC support. The Xeon’s Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes also positions it for newer, faster peripherals.

The Intel Core i3-1220P wins where data throughput and parallel integer operations dominate. Its 17.3% encryption lead and 8.9% integer math win point to workloads like cryptography, hashing, or data transformation. The 9.1% random-string-sorting win and 1.4% data-compression edge suggest file management, database sorting, or compression tasks suit the i3-1220P better. Its 0.1% floating-point math win, though negligible, shows the i3-1220P is at least on par with the Xeon in that arena. The i3-1220P’s integrated UHD Graphics 64EU gives it a built-in display output capability that the Xeon lacks entirely, making it viable for systems without a discrete GPU. Its mobile BGA 1744 socket and 28 W TDP also indicate it is designed for portable or low-power deployments, whereas the Xeon’s 55 W TDP and Socket 1700 target stationary server or workstation builds. In short, the Xeon 6325P wins on raw compute speed and server features; the i3-1220P wins on encryption, integer throughput, and integrated graphics practicality.