Intel Core i3-7350K vs Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 Comparison

Intel Core i3-7350K and Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 represent two distinct philosophies in Intel's 14nm lineup: one is a desktop-focused, overclockable dual-core with a high base clock, the other a low-power, mobile-derived server/workstation quad-core with ECC support. Despite the Core i3's aggressive clock speed and unlocked multiplier, the benchmark data is unambiguous — the Xeon wins every single head-to-head test, often by a margin of roughly 17%. Below is a detailed breakdown of their performance, architecture, and practical applications.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E3-1505L v5 dominates the Core i3-7350K across all six recorded Cinebench tests, with no wins for the Core i3. In the multi-core tests, the Xeon leads by a consistent 17.1%: it scores 503 versus 417 in Cinebench R15, 2099 versus 1740 in R20, and 4999 versus 4144 in R23. The single-core results tell a similar story, with the Xeon ahead by 18.3% in R15 (71 vs 58), 17.2% in R20 (296 vs 245), and 17.0% in R23 (705 vs 585). These deltas are remarkably uniform, suggesting the performance gap is structural rather than workload-dependent.

Notably, the Core i3's higher base clock (4.20 GHz vs 2.00 GHz) does not translate into a single-core advantage. In fact, the Xeon's 2.80 GHz boost clock, combined with its newer Skylake architecture, yields higher raw single-thread scores in every test. For example, the Xeon's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 705 is 20.5% higher than the Core i3's 585, despite the Core i3's base clock being more than double the Xeon's base. This indicates that the Xeon's boost frequency, IPC improvements, and larger cache more than compensate for the Core i3's clock speed advantage.

When looking at the broader benchmark picture, the Core i3's average benchmark score is 1462, while the Xeon's is 1446 — a paradoxical 1.1% difference in favor of the Core i3. This gap is explained by the fact that the Core i3's Geekbench scores (3018 multi-core, 1488 single-core) are included in its average, whereas the Xeon's average is based solely on Cinebench results. The head-to-head data, however, is definitive: the Xeon wins all six tests, with the Core i3's largest deficit being 18.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Architecture Differences

The two chips diverge fundamentally in core configuration. The Core i3-7350K offers 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1505L v5 provides 4 cores and 8 threads — double the parallelism. This explains the Xeon's consistent multi-core advantage, though its single-core wins indicate it's not merely a core-count story.

The Core i3 is built on the Kaby Lake architecture (codename: Kaby Lake, generation "Core i3 Kaby Lake"), while the Xeon uses Skylake (codename: Skylake-H, generation "Xeon E3 Skylake-H"). Both are fabricated on Intel's 14nm process, but the Xeon's Skylake design is paired with a different transistor budget: 2,300 million transistors on a 122 mm² die, whereas the Core i3's die size and transistor count are not specified. The Xeon also doubles the L3 cache, offering 8 MB shared versus the Core i3's 4 MB shared — a meaningful advantage for workloads that reuse data.

Memory support differs as well. The Core i3 supports only DDR4, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, both in dual-channel mode. The Core i3's memory bandwidth is higher at 38.4 GB/s versus the Xeon's 34.1 GB/s, a 12.6% edge. However, the Xeon supports ECC memory (true), which the Core i3 does not — a critical feature for error-sensitive server/workstation tasks. The integrated graphics also differ: the Core i3 has Intel HD 630, while the Xeon has HD Graphics P530. The Xeon's socket is Intel BGA 1440 (soldered), while the Core i3 uses Intel Socket 1151 (socketed, removable). The Core i3 has an unlocked multiplier (true), allowing overclocking, whereas the Xeon's multiplier is locked.

The Xeon's TDP is 25W, dramatically lower than the Core i3's 60W — a 58.3% reduction in thermal design power. This is partly due to the Xeon's lower base clock (2.00 GHz) and its mobile Skylake-H origins. The Core i3's base clock of 4.20 GHz is the highest in this comparison, but the Xeon's boost clock of 2.80 GHz provides the actual high-frequency headroom. Production statuses also differ: the Core i3 is active, the Xeon is end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark outcomes, the Xeon E3-1505L v5 wins in every measured workload category. There are zero wins for the Core i3-7350K in the head-to-head data (winsA = 0, winsB = 6). The Xeon's victories span both multi-core and single-core tests, meaning it is faster for both threaded and lightly-threaded applications.

The practical implication is that the Xeon is the better choice for any compute-intensive task, from rendering (Cinebench is a rendering benchmark) to general productivity. Its 4-core/8-thread configuration and 8 MB L3 cache make it superior for parallel workloads like video encoding, 3D modeling, and compilation. The ECC memory support further positions it for reliability-critical environments such as file servers or workstations handling financial or scientific data.

The Core i3-7350K, despite losing all benchmarks, has strengths not captured in these tests. Its unlocked multiplier and 4.20 GHz base clock make it a candidate for overclocking on Intel Socket 1151 motherboards, potentially pushing its performance higher. Its 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth is higher than the Xeon's, which could benefit memory-sensitive applications. The active production status and desktop market segment mean it remains available for new builds, while the Xeon is end-of-life. However, in pure benchmark terms, the data shows no scenario where the Core i3 outperforms the Xeon.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core score?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 wins all single-core Cinebench tests. Its R23 single-core score is 705 versus the Core i3-7350K's 585, a 17.0% advantage. In R15, the Xeon scores 71 versus 58, and in R20, 296 versus 245.

Q: Does the Core i3-7350K's higher base clock help it win any tests?

A: No. Although the Core i3's base clock is 4.20 GHz versus the Xeon's 2.00 GHz, the Xeon's boost clock of 2.80 GHz and superior architecture lead to higher scores in every head-to-head benchmark. The Core i3 wins zero tests.

Q: What is the multi-core performance difference?

A: The Xeon E3-1505L v5 leads by 17.1% in all multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 503 vs 417 in R15, 2099 vs 1740 in R20, and 4999 vs 4144 in R23.

Q: Can the Core i3-7350K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the Core i3-7350K has an unlocked multiplier (true), allowing overclocking. The Xeon E3-1505L v5 does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 supports ECC memory (true). The Core i3-7350K does not. The Xeon also supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the Core i3 only supports DDR4.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core i3-7350K has an average benchmark score of 1462, while the Xeon E3-1505L v5 has 1446. However, the Core i3's average includes Geekbench results, whereas the Xeon's average is based only on Cinebench data. In direct head-to-head tests, the Xeon wins all six.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-7350K | Intel Xeon E3-1505L v5 |

|----------------|----------------------|-------------------------|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 4.20 GHz | 2.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 2.80 GHz |

| TDP | 60 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Skylake (Skylake-H) |

| Transistors | Not specified | 2,300 million |

| Die Size | Not specified | 122 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 630 | HD Graphics P530 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2017-01-02 | 2015-10-26 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $433 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SR35B | SR2E0 |