Intel Core i3-8130U vs Intel Xeon X3470 Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a clear picture: the Intel Core i3-8130U wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Xeon X3470, despite being a much newer, lower-power mobile part. The i3-8130U takes every Cinebench test, with margins ranging from 4.7% to 4.9%. If you are choosing between these two for a system that can accommodate either socket, the i3-8130U is the better performer in every measured workload.

The Xeon X3470, however, is not without its own rationale. It offers eight threads versus the i3's four, which matters in heavily threaded scenarios, but the recorded data does not show that advantage translating into a single benchmark win. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a feature entirely absent on the i3-8130U. For a workstation or server application where data integrity is non-negotiable and you are locked into the Intel Socket 1156 platform, the Xeon remains a functional option. For anyone building fresh or upgrading a mobile platform, the i3-8130U is the pick based on raw benchmark output.

The percentile data reinforces this: the i3-8130U sits at the 27th percentile among all CPUs, while the Xeon X3470 sits at the 26th. The average benchmark score difference is similarly narrow, 994 for the i3 versus 983 for the Xeon. This is not a generational rout in the database numbers, but the i3-8130U holds a consistent edge in every direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design eras and serve different market segments. The Intel Core i3-8130U is built on the 14 nm process node, uses the Kaby Lake architecture (specifically Kaby Lake-R), and is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP. It features 2 physical cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. It integrates UHD 620 graphics and supports DDR4 memory. It does not support ECC memory.

The Intel Xeon X3470 is a server/workstation processor from the Nehalem generation, codenamed Lynnfield. It is built on the older 45 nm process node and carries a 95 W TDP. It has 4 physical cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.93 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Its cache is larger on the L3 level: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Xeon uses DDR3 memory, supports ECC memory, and has a dual-channel memory bus with a recorded memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s. It has no integrated graphics. The Xeon's die is significantly larger at 296 mm² with 774 million transistors, versus the i3's 123 mm² die. The Xeon is also marked end-of-life in the database, while the i3-8130U is listed as active.

The transistor count and die size differences reflect the process node gap: 14 nm for the i3 versus 45 nm for the Xeon. The Xeon's higher TDP (95 W versus 15 W) indicates a much higher power envelope, which is expected for an older server part. The i3-8130U's lack of ECC support and its mobile socket (Intel BGA 1356) versus the Xeon's Intel Socket 1156 further separate their intended use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison data shows the Intel Core i3-8130U winning all five recorded tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3 scores 301 against the Xeon's 287, a 4.9% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the i3 scores 1257 versus 1199, a 4.8% lead. The single-core results follow the same pattern: Cinebench R20 single-core sees the i3 at 177 against the Xeon's 169, a 4.7% difference. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the i3 at 2995 versus 2857, again a 4.8% margin, and Cinebench R23 single-core gives the i3 422 versus the Xeon's 403, a 4.7% gap.

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Every test, whether single-core or multicore, lands within a tight band of 4.7% to 4.9%. This suggests the i3-8130U's architectural efficiency and newer process node offset the Xeon's higher core count and thread count in these specific workloads. The Xeon has twice the cores and threads, yet it loses every time. The recorded data does not show a single benchmark where the Xeon pulls ahead.

The i3-8130U also has additional benchmark scores not available for the Xeon: Geekbench multicore at 1762 and single-core at 898, plus Cinebench R15 single-core at 139. The Xeon lacks those entries in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in almost every core specification.

• Cores: 2 (i3-8130U) versus 4 (Xeon X3470)
• Threads: 4 (i3-8130U) versus 8 (Xeon X3470)
• Base Clock: 2.40 GHz (i3-8130U) versus 2.93 GHz (Xeon X3470)
• Boost Clock: 3.40 GHz (i3-8130U) versus 3.60 GHz (Xeon X3470)
• TDP: 15 W (i3-8130U) versus 95 W (Xeon X3470)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1356 (i3-8130U) versus Intel Socket 1156 (Xeon X3470)
• Architecture: Kaby Lake (i3-8130U) versus Nehalem (Xeon X3470)
• Process Node: 14 nm (i3-8130U) versus 45 nm (Xeon X3470)
• Die Size: 123 mm² (i3-8130U) versus 296 mm² (Xeon X3470)
• Transistors: Not listed (i3-8130U) versus 774 million (Xeon X3470)
• L3 Cache: 4 MB shared (i3-8130U) versus 8 MB shared (Xeon X3470)
• Memory Support: DDR4 (i3-8130U) versus DDR3 (Xeon X3470)
• ECC Memory: No (i3-8130U) versus Yes (Xeon X3470)
• Integrated Graphics: UHD 620 (i3-8130U) versus none (Xeon X3470)
• Market Segment: Mobile (i3-8130U) versus Server/Workstation (Xeon X3470)
• Production Status: Active (i3-8130U) versus End-of-life (Xeon X3470)
• Release Date: 2018-02-12 (i3-8130U) versus 2009-09-07 (Xeon X3470)
• PCIe: Not listed (i3-8130U) versus Gen 2, 16 Lanes CPU only (Xeon X3470)
• Memory Bus: Not listed (i3-8130U) versus Dual-channel (Xeon X3470)
• Memory Bandwidth: Not listed (i3-8130U) versus 21.3 GB/s (Xeon X3470)
• Part Number: Not listed (i3-8130U) versus SLBJH (Xeon X3470)

The Xeon's launch MSRP was $589, stated once here as historical context. The i3-8130U has no launch MSRP recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon X3470 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-8130U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-8130U beat the Xeon X3470 in any benchmark?

A: Yes. The i3-8130U wins all five recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, with deltas between 4.7% and 4.9%. The Xeon wins zero tests in the database.

Q: Does the Xeon X3470 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon X3470 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i3-8130U does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The Intel Core i3-8130U has a TDP of 15 W, compared to the Xeon X3470's 95 W. This is a substantial difference in power envelope.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The Intel Core i3-8130U supports DDR4 memory. The Intel Xeon X3470 supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s.

Q: What is the production status of each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i3-8130U is listed as Active, while the Intel Xeon X3470 is listed as End-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the recorded benchmarks, the Intel Core i3-8130U wins every workload category measured. It leads in Cinebench R15 multicore (301 versus 287), R20 multicore (1257 versus 1199), R20 single-core (177 versus 169), R23 multicore (2995 versus 2857), and R23 single-core (422 versus 403). The margin is consistent across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests, which means the i3's efficiency advantage is not limited to lightly threaded tasks. It simply outperforms the Xeon in all available data points.

The Intel Xeon X3470, however, wins in areas not covered by the benchmark suite. It offers ECC memory support, which the i3 lacks, making it the correct choice for memory-sensitive server or workstation tasks where corrupted data is unacceptable. It also has double the L3 cache (8 MB versus 4 MB) and a higher base and boost clock (2.93 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost versus 2.40 GHz and 3.40 GHz). The Xeon's 8 threads provide more parallel execution capacity in theory, and its PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes is a recorded feature, but the database shows no benchmark where that translates into a win.

For a mobile user, the i3-8130U is the obvious choice: active production status, 15 W TDP, integrated UHD 620 graphics, and DDR4 support. For a legacy socket 1156 workstation that requires ECC memory, the Xeon X3470 remains the only option between these two, despite losing every benchmark comparison. The data is clear: the i3-8130U is the faster processor, and the Xeon's only advantages are its feature set for specific enterprise use cases.