Intel Core i3-8145UE vs Intel Xeon E5640 Comparison

# Intel Core i3-8145UE vs Intel Xeon E5640: Benchmark Analysis

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database places these two processors in direct competition across five Cinebench workloads. The Intel Core i3-8145UE wins every single test, with a consistent performance advantage of 1.5% in each workload. The margins are narrow but uniform across all tests.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i3-8145UE scores 337 against 332 for the Xeon E5640. That 5-point gap translates to a 1.5% lead. The single-core result in the same test shows 198 versus 195, again a 1.5% edge for the mobile-oriented chip.

Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i3-8145UE delivers 1408 points versus 1387 for the Xeon. The single-core result follows the same pattern: 198 versus 195, with the same 1.5% delta.

Cinebench R23 confirms the trend. Multi-core performance gives the i3-8145UE a 3354 to 3303 advantage, while single-core shows 473 versus 466. The data indicates a consistent, if modest, 1.5% performance lead for the Intel Core i3-8145UE in every recorded workload.

The pattern is clear: this is not a case of one chip winning on some tests and losing on others. The i3-8145UE demonstrates a systematic, if small, advantage across all tested Cinebench versions, in both multi-core and single-core configurations. The near-identical scores suggest these chips are extremely close in raw computing capability, with architectural differences likely accounting for the slight but consistent edge.

The Verdict

The data is unusually clear-cut: the Intel Core i3-8145UE wins all five head-to-head comparisons, always by exactly 1.5%. This consistency across both multi-core and single-threaded tests is remarkable. In most CPU comparisons, the winner varies by workload type, but here the mobile Whiskey Lake part outperforms the older Westmere server chip in every metric recorded.

For whom does this matter? The i3-8145UE is the stronger choice if the data is taken at face value. Its wins are not spectacular, but they are absolutely consistent. The Intel Xeon E5640, meanwhile, remains competitive in every benchmark, sitting within 1.5% of the leader in all tested workloads. The Xeon never loses by more than a narrow margin, and its multi-core advantage is not enough to overturn the i3 in the Cinebench suite.

Strictly from the recorded benchmark scores, the Intel Core i3-8145UE is the winner across all tested scenarios. The Xeon E5640's performance is not embarrassing in any single test, but it never takes the lead. The measured data suggests the i3 is the better pick for workloads dominated by Cinebench rendering, while the Xeon remains a viable, closely matched alternative.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras, and the node and cache configurations reflect that.

The Intel Core i3-8145UE is built on the Whiskey Lake architecture, a mobile-oriented design. It uses a 10 nanometer process node, produced by Intel. The chip has 2 cores and 4 threads, running at a 2.20 GHz base clock with a 3.90 GHz boost. Cache layout is generous for a mobile part: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The memory controller supports DDR4 RAM in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Notably, ECC memory is not supported.

The Intel Xeon E5640, by contrast, is built on the Westmere architecture, specifically Westmere-EP, and manufactured on Intel's 32 nm process. It presents a substantially different compute profile: 4 cores and 8 threads, at a 2.67 GHz base clock boosting to 2.93 GHz. Cache memory includes 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a large 12 MB shared L3 cache. It supports DDR3 memory across a triple-channel memory bus. ECC memory is supported, a feature absent from the i3. The integrated graphics processor is absent here, as this is a server/workstation part. The Xeon contains 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die.

The fundamental architectural divergence is clear: the i3-8145UE is a low-power, dual-core mobile part (15 W TDP) while the Xeon E5640 is a power-hungry server chip with a published 80 W TDP, four cores, a much larger L3, and memory capacities. The Whiskey Lake part is the one with integrated UHD Graphics 620, while the Westmere chip relies on a separate, non-integrated graphics solution.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-8145UE support ECC memory?

A: No. The Core i3-8145UE memory controller supports DDR4 modules only, without ECC support. In contrast, the Intel Xeon E5640 is ECC-capable, which matters for mission-critical workloads where data corruption must be caught.

Q: Is the Core i3-8145UE a 2-core or 4-core processor?

A: It is a 2-core, 4-thread processor. The Xeon E5640 doubles that, with 4 cores and 8 threads. In multi-threaded Cinebench R23, the i3 still manages to score 3354 versus 3383 for the Xeon, showing that thread count alone does not decide real-world performance.

Q: Can I use the Core i3-8145UE for a server?

A: Technically no; its market segment is "Mobile" and its socket is Intel BGA 1528. The Xeon E5640 is the server/workstation product, using Intel Socket 1366. The i3 is a BGA package (a low-profile mobile socket), which is not a typical server-based platform.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Core i3-8145UE reports 38.4 GB/s (dual-channel DDR4). The Xeon E5640 has no memory bandwidth in the database; it supports triple-channel DDR3 memory. The memory type is different (DDR3 vs DDR4) so direct bandwidth comparisons are not possible from the recorded figures.

Q: What are the main use cases for these chips?

A: The i3-8145UE is a mobile processor with integrated UHD Graphics 620. The Xeon E5640 is a server-slash-workstation part with no integrated graphics. The Xeon has a larger L3 cache (12 MB) and more cores, which makes it suited to server virtualization and heavy multi-threaded workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-8145UE is the winner in every single benchmark test recorded in this database. It dominates the head-to-head set with a 5-0 record. Its advantage, while small (1.5% in every test), is uniform across the Cinebench suite.

The Intel Xeon E5640, despite losing all five comparisons, never loses by more than 1.5%. It is the chip with the architectural muscle: a 4-core, 8-thread Westlake part with the large 12 MB L3 cache and triple-channel DDR3. This Xeon is designed for multi-threaded server workloads, not for winning Cinebench races against a processor from a later generation.

So the final recommendation depends on the workload. For pure Cinebench workloads, the data says Intel Core i3-8145UE. For large-memory, multi-threaded server environments where ECC and a big L3 matter, the Intel Xeon E5640 is the more appropriate infrastructure piece, even if it loses, narrowly, in all recorded benchmarks.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i3-8145UE | Intel Xeon E5640 |

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

| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8 |

| Base / Boost Clock | 2.20 / 3.90 GHz | 2.67 / 2.93 GHz |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | (not recorded) | 1,170 million |

| Die Size | (not recorded) | 239 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 620 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

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

| Part Number | SRFDT | SLBVC |

| Release Date | 2018-10-01 | 2010-03-16 |