Intel Core i3-8100 vs Intel Xeon D-2799 Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-2799 and Intel Core i3-8100 represent opposite ends of the x86 spectrum, one a 20-core server/workstation powerhouse and the other a 4-core desktop part. The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Xeon D-2799 wins every single head-to-head test, often by margins exceeding 660%. However, the data also reveals a surprising quirk in the aggregate averages that complicates the story.

The Verdict

The Intel Xeon D-2799 is the clear choice for any workload that scales with core count or demands sustained multi-threaded throughput. Its 20 cores and 40 threads deliver Cinebench R23 multi-core scores of 28,723, a 662.1% advantage over the Core i3-8100’s 3,769. Even in single-core tests, where the i3-8100’s higher 3.60 GHz base clock might be expected to help, the Xeon D-2799 leads by 662.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core (4,055 vs 532). The data shows the Xeon is not merely faster; it is in a different performance class entirely.

The Intel Core i3-8100, despite being an end-of-life desktop chip, is the more appropriate pick for users constrained by platform requirements. It uses the ubiquitous Socket 1151, has a 65 W TDP versus the Xeon’s 129 W, and features integrated UHD Graphics 630, which the Xeon lacks entirely. Its 4 threads and 6 MB of shared L3 cache are modest, but the chip still posts a 64th percentile ranking among all CPUs, matching the Xeon D-2799’s percentile. For a basic desktop build with no discrete GPU, the i3-8100 is functionally viable; the Xeon D-2799 is not.

The verdict from the data is straightforward: pick the Xeon D-2799 for uncompromising compute density and server-class memory bandwidth (102.4 GB/s vs 38.4 GB/s). Pick the Core i3-8100 only if the socket, power envelope, or integrated graphics make it the only compatible option.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The Xeon D-2799 uses the Ice Lake-D architecture on a 10 nm process node, while the Core i3-8100 is based on Coffee Lake on a 14 nm node. The Xeon’s die is not specified in the data, but the i3-8100’s die size is listed at 126 mm².

Core and cache configurations diverge sharply. The Xeon D-2799 has 20 cores and 40 threads, with 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, plus a 30 MB shared L3 cache. The Core i3-8100 has 4 cores and 4 threads, with 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, and a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The Xeon’s cache hierarchy is designed for high-core-count scalability; the i3’s is a minimal desktop implementation.

Memory architecture is another major differentiator. The Xeon D-2799 supports quad-channel DDR4 with 102.4 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC memory. The i3-8100 is dual-channel with 38.4 GB/s and also supports ECC. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the Xeon provides Gen 4 with 32 lanes (CPU only), while the i3 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Xeon’s integrated graphics are absent (null in the data), whereas the i3-8100 includes UHD Graphics 630. The Xeon is an active server/workstation part released on 2022-02-23; the i3 is end-of-life, released on 2017-10-04.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2799 has 20 cores and 40 threads, while the Intel Core i3-8100 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon D-2799 scores 28,723 versus the i3-8100’s 3,769, a 662.1% delta in favor of the Xeon. The margin is similar in R15 (2,895 vs 379, 663.9%) and R20 (12,063 vs 1,582, 662.5%).

Q: Does the Core i3-8100 have any advantage in single-core tests?

A: No. Despite its higher 3.60 GHz base clock (the Xeon runs at 2.40 GHz base with a 3.40 GHz boost), the i3-8100 loses every single-core benchmark, including Cinebench R23 (532 vs 4,055, a 662.2% deficit).

Q: Are both processors compatible with the same memory?

A: Both support DDR4, but the Xeon D-2799 uses quad-channel memory with 102.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-8100 uses dual-channel with 38.4 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-8100 includes integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics 630. The Xeon D-2799 has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The Xeon D-2799 has an average benchmark score of 8,308, while the i3-8100 has an average score of 8,123. Both sit at the 64th percentile among all CPUs, but the Xeon’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8268 (score 8,315, delta -0.1%) and the i3’s rivals include the AMD EPYC 7302 (score 8,139, delta -0.2%).

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every measurable specification. The Xeon D-2799 has 20 cores and 40 threads; the i3-8100 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for the Xeon and 3.60 GHz for the i3; the Xeon adds a 3.40 GHz boost clock while the i3 has none listed. TDP is 129 W for the Xeon versus 65 W for the i3.

Sockets are incompatible: the Xeon uses Intel BGA 2579, the i3 uses Intel Socket 1151. Process nodes are 10 nm for the Xeon and 14 nm for the i3. Cache sizes differ: the Xeon has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core with 30 MB shared L3; the i3 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 6 MB shared L3.

Memory buses and bandwidth differ: quad-channel with 102.4 GB/s for the Xeon, dual-channel with 38.4 GB/s for the i3. PCIe is Gen 4 with 32 lanes on the Xeon versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the i3. The i3 includes UHD Graphics 630; the Xeon has no integrated graphics. Market segments are Server/Workstation for the Xeon and Desktop for the i3. Production status is Active for the Xeon and End-of-life for the i3. Release dates are 2022-02-23 and 2017-10-04, respectively. The die size for the i3 is 126 mm²; the Xeon’s is not listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon D-2799 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with deltas ranging from 662.1% to 669.8%. The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 408 versus the i3’s 53, a 669.8% advantage. This is notable because single-core performance typically favors higher-clocked desktop parts, but the Xeon’s newer Ice Lake architecture and 3.40 GHz boost clock overwhelm the i3’s 3.60 GHz fixed clock.

Multi-core results are similarly lopsided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon’s 2,895 crushes the i3’s 379 (663.9%). The R20 multi-core test shows 12,063 versus 1,582 (662.5%), and R23 multi-core shows 28,723 versus 3,769 (662.1%). The consistency of the delta across all three Cinebench versions—hovering around 662-664%—indicates the performance gap is structural, driven by the 5x core count and 10x thread count advantage, rather than workload-specific.

Single-core margins are slightly larger in percentage terms, which is counterintuitive given the i3’s higher base clock. In R15, the delta is 669.8%; in R20, it is 663.7%; in R23, it is 662.2%. The Xeon’s per-core performance, boosted by a 3.40 GHz turbo and 30 MB of L3 cache, more than compensates for the i3’s clock headroom.

The aggregate benchmark data tells a more nuanced story. Despite the Xeon’s dominance in Cinebench, the two chips have nearly identical average benchmark scores: 8,308 for the Xeon D-2799 and 8,123 for the Core i3-8100. Both are rated at the 64th percentile. The i3-8100’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8180M (score 8,110, delta 0.2%) and AMD EPYC 7302 (score 8,139, delta -0.2%), while the Xeon D-2799’s rivals include the Intel Xeon Platinum 8268 (score 8,315, delta -0.1%) and Intel Core i5-10210U (score 8,344, delta -0.4%). This suggests the average score is dominated by other benchmark suites not listed in the head-to-head, where the i3-8100’s higher clock speed and integrated graphics may contribute to different results. The Cinebench data, however, is unambiguous: the Xeon D-2799 is the superior processor in every render test conducted.