Intel Core i3-1220P vs Intel Xeon D-1746TER Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score overall?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1746TER records an average benchmark score of 21635, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i3-1220P scores 21066 on average, putting it in the 74th percentile. The difference is less than 3%, so both sit in nearly the same performance tier.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Core i3-1220P edges out the Xeon by a hair, scoring 13314 versus 13311 in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The delta is effectively zero, meaning the 10-core Xeon and the 10-core Core i3 deliver identical sustained multi-threaded render performance in this test.

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Xeon D-1746TER claims 11 wins out of 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Core i3-1220P takes 6 wins. The Xeon dominates in compute-heavy server-oriented workloads, while the Core i3 wins decisively in single-threaded and floating-point tasks.

Q: What is the biggest single-benchmark advantage for the Xeon?

A: In the PassMark find prime numbers test, the Xeon scores 68 versus 33 for the Core i3, a 106.1% advantage. That is the largest margin in any head-to-head comparison between the two.

Q: What is the biggest single-benchmark advantage for the Core i3?

A: The Core i3 scores 3362 in PassMark single-thread, which is 46.9% higher than the Xeon’s 1785. This reflects the Core i3’s much higher boost clock and newer single-core architecture.

Q: Do both processors use the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are built on Intel’s 10 nm process node. The Xeon uses the Ice Lake-D architecture, while the Core i3 uses Alder Lake-P, so the process is identical but the microarchitecture and design goals differ.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon D-1746TER and Intel Core i3-1220P both come from Intel and both use 10 nm silicon, but they target entirely different market segments. The Xeon is a server and workstation part with a 67 W TDP, designed for dense, always-on compute environments. The Core i3 is a mobile processor with a 28 W TDP, built for laptops and portable devices where power efficiency is paramount.

The Xeon D-1746TER is based on the Ice Lake-D architecture, a derivative of Intel’s Ice Lake server line. It has 10 cores and 20 threads, meaning each core supports two threads via Hyper-Threading. The Core i3-1220P uses Alder Lake-P, Intel’s hybrid architecture, and has 10 cores but only 12 threads. This indicates that some cores in the Core i3 do not support simultaneous multithreading, a key architectural difference that affects multi-threaded throughput.

Clock speeds tell a stark story. The Xeon has a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 3100 MHz. The Core i3 has a base clock of 1500 MHz but a boost clock of 4400 MHz. The Core i3’s 41.9% higher boost clock explains its dominant single-thread performance, while the Xeon’s higher base clock suggests better sustained performance under continuous load.

Cache hierarchies are similar in structure but differ in total capacity. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. The Xeon has 15 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i3 has 12 MB. The Xeon’s extra 3 MB of L3 cache helps in server workloads where data reuse across cores is common.

Memory support diverges significantly. The Xeon supports DDR4 memory with a triple-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 64.0 GB/s. The Core i3 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus, but the database does not record a bandwidth figure for it. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for error-sensitive server applications. The Core i3 does not support ECC.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Xeon provides 16 Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i3 provides 20 Gen 4 lanes. The Core i3 also includes integrated UHD Graphics 64EU, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics, which is typical for server processors that rely on discrete GPUs or remote management.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clear split: the Xeon wins in most multi-threaded and integer-heavy tasks, while the Core i3 wins in single-threaded and floating-point workloads.

Starting with Cinebench results, the two chips are effectively tied across all four tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both score exactly 1341. In R15 single-core, both score 189. In R20 multi-core, the Core i3 scores 5591 versus the Xeon’s 5590, a 0% delta. In R23 multi-core, the Core i3 leads 13314 to 13311. In R20 and R23 single-core, both chips match exactly at 789 and 1879 respectively. These results indicate that for pure rendering workloads, the two processors are interchangeable.

The PassMark suite reveals the real divergence. The Xeon wins data compression with a score of 191594 versus 180528, a 6.1% margin. In extended instructions, the Xeon leads 12620 to 10051, a 25.6% advantage. The largest Xeon win comes in find prime numbers, where it scores 68 versus 33, a 106.1% margin. The Xeon also wins integer math (54482 versus 53507, 1.8% ahead), multithread (15660 versus 14481, 8.1% ahead), physics (859 versus 637, 34.9% ahead), and random string sorting (23732 versus 20846, 13.8% ahead).

The Core i3 fights back in specific areas. Its biggest win is in single-thread performance, scoring 3362 versus 1785, a 46.9% margin. It also wins data encryption, scoring 10923 versus 9343, a 14.5% advantage. In floating-point math, the Core i3 leads 37294 versus 32772, a 12.1% margin.

Interpreting these numbers, the Xeon’s 20 threads give it a substantial edge in parallel integer workloads like compression, sorting, and prime number generation. The Core i3’s higher boost clock and newer core design give it a massive advantage in single-threaded tasks, which often dominate interactive and latency-sensitive applications.

The overall score distribution tells the story: the Xeon has 11 wins, the Core i3 has 6 wins. However, the average benchmark scores are close (21635 versus 21066), suggesting that the Core i3’s single-thread dominance nearly offsets the Xeon’s multi-thread wins in the aggregate.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category except core count and process node.

• Threads: Xeon 20, Core i3 12
• Base clock: Xeon 2000 MHz, Core i3 1500 MHz
• Boost clock: Xeon 3100 MHz, Core i3 4400 MHz
• TDP: Xeon 67 W, Core i3 28 W
• Socket: Xeon Intel BGA 2227, Core i3 Intel BGA 1744
• Architecture: Xeon Ice Lake, Core i3 Alder Lake
• Codename: Xeon Ice Lake-D, Core i3 Alder Lake-P
• L3 cache: Xeon 15 MB shared, Core i3 12 MB shared
• Memory support: Xeon DDR4, Core i3 DDR4 and DDR5
• Memory bus: Xeon triple-channel, Core i3 dual-channel
• Memory bandwidth: Xeon 64.0 GB/s, Core i3 not recorded
• ECC memory: Xeon supported, Core i3 not supported
• PCIe lanes: Xeon 16 Gen 4, Core i3 20 Gen 4
• Integrated graphics: Xeon none, Core i3 UHD Graphics 64EU
• Market segment: Xeon server/workstation, Core i3 mobile
• Release date: Xeon 2022-02-23, Core i3 2022-02-22 (one day apart)
• Part number: Xeon SRM1B, Core i3 SRLFY
• Launch MSRP: Xeon $1069, Core i3 not recorded

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1746TER is the clear choice for server and workstation environments. Its 20 threads, triple-channel DDR4 memory with ECC support, and 15 MB of L3 cache make it well-suited for virtualization, database serving, and data processing tasks. The benchmark data confirms this: it wins 11 of 17 tests, including decisive victories in extended instructions (25.6% ahead), physics (34.9% ahead), and find prime numbers (106.1% ahead). The 64.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and ECC support are critical for workloads where data integrity and memory throughput matter more than raw clock speed.

The Intel Core i3-1220P excels in mobile and single-threaded scenarios. Its 46.9% lead in PassMark single-thread performance and 12.1% lead in floating-point math make it superior for everyday applications, web browsing, office productivity, and light content creation. The 28 W TDP means it can run in thin-and-light laptops without aggressive cooling, while the integrated UHD Graphics 64EU eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. The Core i3 also supports DDR5 memory, which future-proofs mobile designs even though the database does not record a bandwidth advantage.

For rendering workloads, the choice is a wash. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 scores are nearly identical across both chips, with deltas of 0% in every test. This means creative professionals using CPU rendering will see no practical difference between the two, regardless of platform.

For data encryption, the Core i3 wins by 14.5%, which is notable for VPN endpoints or encrypted storage applications. However, the Xeon’s ECC memory support may be more valuable in those same environments for ensuring data integrity.

For integer-heavy server tasks like compression, random string sorting, and prime number calculation, the Xeon is overwhelmingly superior. Its 20 threads provide a 8.1% multithread advantage and a 13.8% random string sorting advantage, making it the better choice for backend processing, file servers, and scientific computing.

In summary, the Xeon D-1746TER is a specialized server part that wins where thread count and memory reliability matter. The Core i3-1220P is a general-purpose mobile chip that wins where clock speed and single-thread responsiveness matter. The 75th and 74th percentiles respectively show that both are above-average processors, but their strengths do not overlap.