Intel Core i3-8145U vs Intel Xeon W3570 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data in the database is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-8145U wins every recorded benchmark comparison against the Intel Xeon W3570. Across five Cinebench tests spanning multiple versions, the mobile dual-core part consistently outperforms the older workstation quad-core by a margin of roughly 15 percent in each test.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i3-8145U scores 322 against the Xeon W3570's 279, a delta of 15.4 percent. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar story: 1342 for the i3-8145U versus 1165 for the Xeon, a 15.2 percent advantage. Single-core results reinforce this trend, with the i3-8145U posting 189 in R20 single-core against the Xeon's 164, again a 15.2 percent lead. The R23 tests follow suit: the i3-8145U scores 451 in single-core and 3196 in multi-core, while the Xeon W3570 manages 392 and 2776 respectively, each representing a 15.1 percent gap.

The consistency of these deltas is noteworthy. Every benchmark, regardless of workload or test version, lands between 15.1 and 15.4 percent in favor of the i3-8145U. This uniformity suggests the advantage is structural rather than workload-specific. The newer architecture and higher boost clock of the i3-8145U appear to provide a broad, sustained edge across all rendering tasks.

What makes this result particularly interesting is the specification mismatch. The Xeon W3570 has double the cores and double the threads: 4 cores and 8 threads versus 2 cores and 4 threads. Yet the i3-8145U still prevails in multi-core workloads. The database shows the i3-8145U's boost clock at 3.90 GHz, while the Xeon's boost sits at 3.47 GHz. In single-threaded tasks, the i3-8145U's higher clock and newer microarchitecture deliver the expected win. In multi-threaded tasks, the i3-8145U's efficiency per core more than compensates for its core-count deficit.

The average benchmark score for the i3-8145U is 941, while the Xeon W3570 averages 955. These figures place both processors at the 25th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they sit at the same overall performance tier despite the head-to-head sweep. The i3-8145U's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-2715QE at 942 (0.1 percent faster), the AMD Athlon X4 860K at 943 (0.2 percent faster), and the Intel Core i5-4330M at 938 (0.3 percent slower). The Xeon W3570's nearest rivals include the Intel Celeron N5105 at 955 (identical), the Intel Xeon W3550 at 956 (0.1 percent slower), and the AMD Athlon X4 870K at 956 (0.1 percent slower).

The head-to-head sweep is decisive in raw benchmark terms, but the average scores tell a more nuanced story. The two processors occupy the same percentile band, and their average scores differ by only 14 points (955 versus 941). The Xeon W3570's higher average likely reflects its additional cores in certain multi-threaded scenarios not captured by the Cinebench suite, while the i3-8145U's consistent head-to-head wins reflect its superior per-core efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i3-8145U wins all 5 recorded head-to-head benchmarks against the Intel Xeon W3570. The Xeon W3570 does not win a single comparison in the database.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is 15.4 percent, recorded in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where the i3-8145U scores 322 versus the Xeon's 279. The other four tests show deltas between 15.1 and 15.2 percent.

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

A: The i3-8145U leads in both single-core tests. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 189 against 164 for the Xeon, a 15.2 percent advantage. In R23 single-core, it scores 451 against 392, a 15.1 percent lead.

Q: Does the Xeon W3570 have any benchmark where it outperforms the i3-8145U?

A: No. The database records zero wins for the Xeon W3570 across all five head-to-head tests. However, its average benchmark score of 955 is higher than the i3-8145U's 941, indicating it performs competitively in other workloads not covered by the head-to-head suite.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i3-8145U has an average benchmark score of 941, while the Intel Xeon W3570 averages 955. Both processors sit at the 25th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core rendering?

A: The i3-8145U wins all multi-core tests despite having half the cores. In R15 multi-core, it scores 322 versus 279; in R20 multi-core, 1342 versus 1165; and in R23 multi-core, 3196 versus 2776. The deltas range from 15.1 to 15.4 percent.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-8145U wins every benchmark category in the head-to-head comparison, so the use-case split is defined by workload type rather than by which processor has an advantage. For rendering tasks measured by Cinebench, the i3-8145U is the clear choice, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded.

The i3-8145U is the better option for any application that relies on high single-thread performance. Its boost clock of 3.90 GHz provides a substantial clock-speed advantage over the Xeon's 3.47 GHz boost, and the 15 percent single-core deltas reflect this. Everyday desktop responsiveness, lightly threaded applications, and older software that cannot leverage multiple cores will all favor the i3-8145U.

For multi-threaded workloads, the picture is more complex. The Xeon W3570 has twice the cores and threads, which would normally give it an edge in heavily parallel tasks. Yet the Cinebench multi-core results show the i3-8145U ahead by 15 percent in all three multi-core tests. This suggests the i3-8145U's per-core efficiency is so high that it overcomes its core-count disadvantage in at least some parallel workloads. However, the Xeon's higher average benchmark score (955 versus 941) hints that in certain multi-threaded scenarios outside the Cinebench suite, the extra cores may close the gap or even flip the result.

The Xeon W3570 is the better choice for systems requiring ECC memory support, which the i3-8145U lacks. It also supports triple-channel DDR3 memory, whereas the i3-8145U uses dual-channel DDR4. For server or workstation deployments where data integrity and memory bandwidth matter more than raw CPU speed, the Xeon's platform features carry weight. The Xeon also has a larger shared L3 cache at 8 MB versus 4 MB, which can benefit workloads with large working sets that fit in cache.

The i3-8145U is the better choice for mobile or power-constrained environments. Its 15 W TDP is dramatically lower than the Xeon's 130 W, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems. The Xeon's integrated graphics absence also matters: the i3-8145U includes UHD Graphics 620, so it can operate without a discrete GPU, while the Xeon requires a separate graphics card.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Intel Core i3-8145U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Xeon W3570 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i3-8145U's base clock is 2.10 GHz with a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the Xeon runs at 3.20 GHz base and 3.47 GHz boost.

Thermal design power differs enormously: the i3-8145U is rated at 15 W, the Xeon at 130 W. Socket types are incompatible, with the i3-8145U using Intel BGA 1528 and the Xeon using Intel Socket 1366. The memory support differs as well: the i3-8145U supports DDR4 in dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the Xeon supports DDR3 in triple-channel configuration with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

ECC memory support is exclusive to the Xeon W3570. The i3-8145U does not support ECC. PCIe generations also differ: the i3-8145U offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Xeon offers Gen 2 with no lane count specified. Integrated graphics are present only on the i3-8145U, which includes UHD Graphics 620; the Xeon has no integrated graphics.

The market segments reflect their intended use: the i3-8145U is a mobile processor, while the Xeon W3570 targets server and workstation applications. Both are end-of-life production status. Release dates are far apart, with the i3-8145U launching in 2018 and the Xeon in 2009. The i3-8145U has a launch MSRP of $281; the Xeon's launch MSRP is not recorded.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these processors spans a decade of Intel design. The Intel Core i3-8145U uses the Whiskey Lake architecture with the Whiskey Lake-U codename, built on a 10 nm process node. The Intel Xeon W3570 uses the Nehalem architecture with the Bloomfield codename, built on a 45 nm process node.

The transistor counts and die sizes reflect the process node difference. The Xeon W3570 contains 731 million transistors on a 263 mm² die. No transistor count or die size is recorded for the i3-8145U, but the 10 nm process allows for significantly denser integration compared to the Xeon's 45 nm process.

Cache configurations differ in L3 capacity. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is 4 MB shared on the i3-8145U versus 8 MB shared on the Xeon W3570. The Xeon's larger L3 cache is a direct consequence of its additional cores and its server-oriented design philosophy.

The integrated graphics presence is a major architectural differentiator. The i3-8145U integrates UHD Graphics 620, making it a complete system-on-chip solution capable of handling display output and basic graphics acceleration. The Xeon W3570 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for any visual output.

The memory controllers also differ architecturally. The i3-8145U has a dual-channel DDR4 controller with a recorded bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Xeon W3570 has a triple-channel DDR3 controller, with no bandwidth figure recorded. The triple-channel configuration gives the Xeon a wider memory path, though DDR3's lower clock speeds may offset that advantage.

The PCIe implementation differs as well. The i3-8145U provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon W3570 provides PCIe Gen 2, with no lane count specified. The newer PCIe standard on the i3-8145U offers higher per-lane bandwidth, which matters for connecting modern NVMe storage and high-speed peripherals.

The generation labels in the database reinforce the architectural divide: the i3-8145U is listed as Core i3 (Whiskey Lake), while the Xeon is listed as Xeon (Bloomfield). The part numbers differ as expected: SRFFZSRD1WSRD1V for the i3-8145U and SLBES for the Xeon. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not a differentiating factor.