Intel Core i3-7350K vs Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-7350K is a desktop-focused, unlocked dual-core processor built on the Kaby Lake architecture, while the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is a mobile server/workstation quad-core chip based on Skylake-H. Despite the i3’s higher base clock and desktop pedigree, the benchmark data shows the Xeon winning every single head-to-head test by a consistent margin of roughly 18%. Both processors sit at the 38th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are separated by only 0.4% (1462 vs 1456), indicating that while the Xeon dominates in raw compute, the i3 is not far behind in overall synthetic performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-7350K has 2 cores and 4 threads. This gives the Xeon a 2x advantage in both core and thread counts.

Q: How do the base clocks compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core i3-7350K runs at a base clock of 4.20 GHz, which is significantly higher than the Xeon E3-1515M v5’s 2.80 GHz base clock. The Xeon does offer a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, but the i3 has no boost clock listed.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i3-7350K does not. This is a key differentiator for the Xeon’s server/workstation market segment.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i3-7350K has an average benchmark score of 1462, while the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 scores 1456. The i3 is 0.4% ahead of the Xeon, and the Xeon is 0.4% behind the i3 in the nearest rival data.

Q: In the head-to-head Cinebench tests, how many wins does each processor have?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins all 6 head-to-head benchmark tests. The Intel Core i3-7350K has 0 wins in these comparisons.

Q: What is the manufacturing process node for both chips?

A: Both the Intel Core i3-7350K and the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 are built on a 14 nm process node by Intel.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split here is generational and functional. The Intel Core i3-7350K is based on the Kaby Lake architecture, while the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 uses the Skylake-H architecture. Both are manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but the design goals diverge sharply. The i3 is a desktop part with a market segment of “Desktop,” whereas the Xeon targets “Server/Workstation,” which explains the Xeon’s ECC memory support and its BGA 1440 socket versus the i3’s Intel Socket 1151.

Cache configuration is a major difference. The i3-7350K has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 matches the per-core L1 and L2 sizes but doubles the shared L3 cache to 8 MB. The Xeon also lists 2,300 million transistors and a die size of 171 mm², while these figures are not provided for the i3. This suggests a more complex die for the Xeon, which aligns with its higher core count and integrated Iris Pro Graphics P580, compared to the i3’s Intel HD 630.

The Xeon’s base clock of 2.80 GHz is far lower than the i3’s 4.20 GHz, but the Xeon compensates with a 3.70 GHz boost clock. The i3 has no boost clock listed, meaning its 4.20 GHz is the maximum sustained frequency. The i3 is multiplier-unlocked for overclocking, while the Xeon is locked. Memory support also differs: the i3 supports DDR4 only with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a slightly lower bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Both are dual-channel and use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the faster processor in every measured test. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with deltas ranging from -17.7% to -18.3% against the i3-7350K. If the priority is raw multi-threaded or single-threaded compute, the Xeon is the clear choice. However, the i3-7350K is not without merit. Its average benchmark score of 1462 is actually 0.4% higher than the Xeon’s 1456, and it sits at the same 38th percentile. This indicates that in a broader synthetic average, the i3 is competitive, likely due to its high 4.20 GHz base clock.

Who should pick which? The data suggests that users needing maximum performance in Cinebench workloads should choose the Xeon E3-1515M v5. Its 4 cores and 8 threads, combined with 8 MB of L3 cache, deliver scores of 507 in Cinebench R15 multicore and 5036 in R23 multicore, versus the i3’s 417 and 4144. The Xeon’s ECC memory support and server/workstation segment also make it suitable for reliability-focused tasks. Conversely, the i3-7350K, with its unlocked multiplier and desktop socket, is positioned for users who prioritize overclocking and a more conventional desktop platform. Its 38% percentile ranking and higher average score suggest it is not a slouch, but the head-to-head results show it is consistently behind.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The i3-7350K has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon E3-1515M v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 4.20 GHz for the i3 and 2.80 GHz for the Xeon, with the Xeon adding a 3.70 GHz boost clock that the i3 lacks. The i3 has a TDP of 60 watts, while the Xeon is more power-efficient at 45 watts. Sockets differ: the i3 uses Intel Socket 1151, and the Xeon uses Intel BGA 1440.

L3 cache is 4 MB shared on the i3 versus 8 MB shared on the Xeon. Memory support is DDR4-only for the i3, but the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4. Memory bandwidth is higher on the i3 at 38.4 GB/s compared to the Xeon’s 34.1 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon. Integrated graphics differ: the i3 has Intel HD 630, while the Xeon has Iris Pro Graphics P580. The market segments are Desktop for the i3 and Server/Workstation for the Xeon. Production status is Active for the i3 and End-of-life for the Xeon. The i3 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon is locked. The Xeon lists 2,300 million transistors and a 171 mm² die size; the i3 does not provide these figures. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $489. The release dates are January 2017 for the i3 and January 2016 for the Xeon.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 507 against the i3-7350K’s 417, a delta of -17.8% for the i3. The single-core R15 test shows the Xeon at 71 versus the i3’s 58, a -18.3% difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon’s multicore score of 2115 beats the i3’s 1740 by -17.7%, and the single-core score of 298 beats 245 by -17.8%. In Cinebench R23, the Xeon again leads in multicore with 5036 versus 4144 (-17.7%) and in single-core with 711 versus 585 (-17.7%).

The consistency of the margin is notable. Across all six tests, the delta percentage hovers tightly between -17.7% and -18.3%, suggesting a systematic performance advantage for the Xeon rather than a workload-specific anomaly. The Xeon’s 4-core/8-thread configuration and double the L3 cache likely drive the multicore wins, while its 3.70 GHz boost clock keeps it competitive in single-core tests despite a lower base clock than the i3. The i3’s highest single-core score, 585 in R23, still trails the Xeon’s 711 by a substantial margin. Even in the average benchmark score, where the i3 edges ahead by 0.4%, the head-to-head data tells a different story. The i3’s wins are zero; the Xeon’s are six. For anyone comparing these two directly, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the definitive performance winner.