Intel Core i3-13100T vs Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear, consistent pattern: the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 wins all six shared benchmark comparisons, though by narrow margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 1137 against the Core i3-13100T's 1092, a 4.1% advantage. The single-core R15 result is similar: 160 versus 154, a 3.9% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 4739 multicore and 669 single-core, while the i3-13100T records 4552 and 642, respectively. The deltas here are 4.1% and 4.2%. In Cinebench R23, the Xeon reaches 11285 multicore and 1593 single-core, compared to the i3-13100T's 10840 and 1530, again a 4.1% gap on both metrics.

The margins are remarkably consistent across all six tests, ranging from 3.9% to 4.2%. This uniformity suggests the performance difference is structural rather than workload-specific. The Xeon's lead does not grow in multicore tests despite having double the core count, which indicates that the i3-13100T's higher boost clock compensates significantly for its fewer cores. The i3-13100T boosts up to 4.20 GHz versus the Xeon's 3.80 GHz, and that clock advantage keeps the single-core and multicore gaps nearly identical.

The database also records an average benchmark score for each part. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 averages 3264, while the i3-13100T averages 3198. Both sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite their architectural differences. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 at 3265 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2516 at 3277 (-0.4% delta), while the i3-13100T's closest neighbors are the Intel Core i7-9700E at 3197 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-1240P at 3202 (-0.1% delta). This places the two processors in adjacent performance neighborhoods, with the Xeon holding a slim aggregate edge.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from entirely different eras and design philosophies. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 uses the Broadwell-EP architecture on a 14 nm process, fabricated by Intel with 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3-13100T, by contrast, is built on Raptor Lake-S, using a 10 nm process with a 163 mm² die size. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

The cache organization differs meaningfully. The Xeon's per-core L1 is 64 KB, while the i3-13100T has 80 KB per core. The L2 cache shows a larger divergence: 256 KB per core on the Xeon versus 1.25 MB per core on the i3-13100T. The Xeon compensates with a larger shared L3 pool of 20 MB against the i3-13100T's 12 MB. Total cache capacity, however, does not tell the full story because the i3-13100T has only half the cores, so its per-core L2 allocation is substantially larger for the threads it does run.

Memory support also splits the two. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 supports DDR4 through a quad-channel memory bus, delivering 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth. It also supports ECC memory. The i3-13100T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 through a dual-channel bus, and the database lists no memory bandwidth figure for it. ECC memory is not supported on the i3-13100T. The Xeon's quad-channel controller and ECC support reflect its workstation heritage, while the i3-13100T's dual-channel flexibility targets mainstream desktop builds.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU, whereas the i3-13100T provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The i3-13100T also includes integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics 730, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics listed. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3, and the i3-13100T uses Intel Socket 1700, so they are not socket-compatible.

The production status also contrasts sharply. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 is end-of-life, released in June 2016. The i3-13100T is active, released in January 2023. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $1113, while the i3-13100T's launch MSRP is $134. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5-1660 v4 wins every recorded benchmark comparison, so its advantages are straightforward to characterize. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multicore, the Xeon leads by roughly 4%. This makes it the stronger choice for any workload captured by the Cinebench suite, which stresses both single-threaded responsiveness and multithreaded rendering. The Xeon's 8 cores and 16 threads provide a structural advantage in multithreaded tasks, and its 20 MB of shared L3 cache helps when working sets exceed the i3-13100T's 12 MB.

The i3-13100T, despite losing all head-to-head comparisons, has attributes that matter in contexts the Cinebench tests do not fully capture. It has a higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz versus 3.80 GHz, which keeps its single-core scores within 4% of the Xeon despite the Xeon's older architecture and higher launch price. The i3-13100T also fits a completely different platform: Socket 1700 with Gen 5 PCIe lanes, while the Xeon requires Socket 2011-3 with Gen 3 lanes. The i3-13100T includes UHD Graphics 730, so systems using it do not require a discrete GPU for basic display output. The Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

The i3-13100T also supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, giving builders a wider choice of memory technologies. The Xeon is limited to DDR4, though it accesses it through a quad-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a substantial advantage for memory-heavy workloads. The i3-13100T's dual-channel bus has no listed bandwidth figure, but the channel count alone indicates lower peak memory throughput potential.

The Xeon's ECC memory support makes it relevant for error-sensitive applications, while the i3-13100T's lack of ECC support excludes it from such use cases. The Xeon's 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes exceed the i3-13100T's 20 Gen 5 lanes in lane count, though Gen 5 offers higher per-lane bandwidth. The Xeon remains in production as an end-of-life part, whereas the i3-13100T is actively produced, which affects long-term availability and platform support.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i3-13100T has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for the Xeon and 2.50 GHz for the i3-13100T, but boost clocks reverse the order: 3.80 GHz for the Xeon and 4.20 GHz for the i3-13100T. Thermal design power is dramatically different: 140 watts for the Xeon and 35 watts for the i3-13100T.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 2011-3 for the Xeon and Intel Socket 1700 for the i3-13100T. The architectures differ as Broadwell versus Raptor Lake, with codenames Broadwell-EP and Raptor Lake-S, respectively. Process nodes are 14 nm for the Xeon and 10 nm for the i3-13100T. The Xeon has 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die; the i3-13100T has no transistor count listed but uses a 163 mm² die.

Cache layouts differ per core and in total. The Xeon has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3. The i3-13100T has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for the Xeon and DDR4/DDR5 for the i3-13100T. Memory buses are quad-channel for the Xeon and dual-channel for the i3-13100T. The Xeon lists 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth; the i3-13100T has no bandwidth figure. ECC support is present on the Xeon and absent on the i3-13100T.

PCIe configurations differ: Gen 3 with 40 lanes for the Xeon, Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the i3-13100T. Integrated graphics are absent on the Xeon and present as UHD Graphics 730 on the i3-13100T. Production status is end-of-life for the Xeon and active for the i3-13100T. Release dates are June 2016 for the Xeon and January 2023 for the i3-13100T. Launch MSRP values are $1113 for the Xeon and $134 for the i3-13100T. Both have locked multipliers. Part numbers are SR2PK for the Xeon and SRMBT for the i3-13100T.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 scores 11285 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core i3-13100T scores 10840, giving the Xeon a 4.1% lead.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The Xeon leads in all three single-core Cinebench tests. In R15, it scores 160 versus 154 (3.9% ahead); in R20, 669 versus 642 (4.2% ahead); in R23, 1593 versus 1530 (4.1% ahead).

Q: Does the i3-13100T have any advantages in clock speed?

A: Yes, the i3-13100T has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, which is higher than the Xeon's 3.80 GHz. However, the Xeon has a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 2.50 GHz.

Q: What memory technologies does each processor support?

A: The Xeon E5-1660 v4 supports DDR4 through a quad-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The i3-13100T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 through a dual-channel bus and does not support ECC memory.

Q: Are these processors socket-compatible?

A: No. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 uses Intel Socket 2011-3, while the i3-13100T uses Intel Socket 1700.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the i3-13100T includes integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics 730. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon E5-1660 v4 averages 3264, and the i3-13100T averages 3198. Both are at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs in the database.