Intel Core i3-8300T vs Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. It takes all six recorded Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across three different Cinebench versions. The Core i3-8300T does not win any of the six head-to-head tests, so the use-case split is straightforward: for raw CPU compute in both lightly threaded and fully threaded workloads, the Xeon is the stronger part.

The Xeon's advantage is consistent across all workload types, not just in multi-core scenarios. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 568 against 469 for the i3, and in R15 single-core it scores 79 against 66. That pattern repeats in R20 and R23, with the Xeon holding a 21.1% lead in every multi-core test and a 21% to 21.1% lead in every single-core test. There is no benchmark category in the recorded data where the i3-8300T takes the lead.

What this means in practice is that the Xeon E5-2623 v3 is the better choice for any application where Cinebench-style rendering performance matters, whether the workload is a short single-threaded burst or a fully parallel multi-threaded render. The Core i3-8300T, by contrast, offers lower scores across the board, though it does bring an integrated GPU and a much lower TDP, which we will cover later.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and are built on different process nodes. The Xeon E5-2623 v3 uses the Haswell-EP architecture on a 22 nm process, while the Core i3-8300T uses Coffee Lake on a 14 nm process. The Xeon's die is 356 mm² with 2,600 million transistors, whereas the i3's die is 126 mm², and the database does not list a transistor count for the i3.

Both chips have 4 cores, but the Xeon has 8 threads while the i3 has 4 threads. That thread advantage is a major reason the Xeon pulls ahead in multi-core tests. The Xeon also has a larger L3 cache at 10 MB shared, compared to 8 MB shared on the i3. L1 and L2 caches are identical per core: 64 KB and 256 KB respectively.

The platform differences are significant. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3 with quad-channel DDR4 memory and a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The i3 uses Intel Socket 1151 with dual-channel DDR4 and 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The Xeon provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the i3 provides 16. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the i3 includes UHD Graphics 630. Both support ECC memory, and both are locked, with no unlocked multiplier.

The Xeon is a server and workstation part, released in September 2014, while the i3 is a desktop part, released in April 2018. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $444. The i3's launch MSRP is $138. Both are end-of-life products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E5-2623 v3 wins all six recorded head-to-head tests, and the margin is nearly identical across every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 568 against 469 for the i3, a 21.1% lead. In R15 single-core, it is 79 against 66, a 19.7% lead. The single-core gap in R15 is slightly smaller than the multi-core gap, but it is still a clear win.

In Cinebench R20, the Xeon scores 2367 in multi-core against 1955 for the i3, again a 21.1% lead. In R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 333 against 275, a 21.1% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 5637 against 4656 for the i3, a 21.1% lead. In R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 795 against 657, a 21% lead.

The consistency of the delta is notable. Across five of the six tests, the margin is exactly 21.1%, and in the sixth it is 21%. That uniformity suggests the performance difference is structural, not workload-dependent. It is not the case that the Xeon happens to be good at multi-core but weak at single-core; it wins both by the same proportion.

The i3's only additional recorded benchmarks are Geekbench scores, where it scores 3436 multi-core and 1171 single-core. The database does not include a Geekbench result for the Xeon, so these cannot be directly compared in the head-to-head data.

Looking at the broader database context, the Xeon sits at the 39th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1630. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8560U at 1631, the Intel Pentium Gold G7400T at 1628, the Intel Core i3-9100T at 1620, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200G at 1640. The Xeon is effectively tied with these parts, with deltas ranging from 0.6% ahead of the i3-9100T to 0.6% behind the Ryzen 3 PRO 2200G.

The i3-8300T also sits at the 39th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 1586. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1060G7 at 1591, the AMD Opteron 6282 SE at 1569, the Intel Core i3-9100E at 1605, and the Intel Core i3-8300 at 1564. The i3-8300T is 1.1% ahead of the Opteron and 1.4% ahead of the i3-8300, but 0.3% behind the i7-1060G7 and 1.2% behind the i3-9100E.

So while the Xeon beats the i3-8300T by a consistent 21% in the head-to-head tests, both chips occupy the same overall percentile rank in the database. That suggests the i3 pulls in results from other benchmark suites that are not part of the head-to-head comparison, but for the tests recorded, the Xeon is clearly ahead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Xeon E5-2623 v3 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i3-8300T has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon's base clock is 3.00 GHz with a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i3's base clock is 3.20 GHz and it has no listed boost clock.

The Xeon has a TDP of 105 W, while the i3 has a TDP of 35 W. That is a major difference in power draw. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3 and the i3 uses Intel Socket 1151. The Xeon is built on a 22 nm process with a 356 mm² die and 2,600 million transistors; the i3 is built on a 14 nm process with a 126 mm² die and no listed transistor count.

Memory support differs as well. The Xeon uses quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3 uses dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s. The Xeon provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the i3 provides 16. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the i3 includes UHD Graphics 630. Both support ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Xeon has 10 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3 has 8 MB. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core. The Xeon is a server and workstation part, while the i3 is a desktop part. The Xeon was released in September 2014 with a launch MSRP of $444; the i3 was released in April 2018 with a launch MSRP of $138.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3 is faster in every recorded multi-core test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core it scores 568 versus 469 for the Core i3-8300T, a 21.1% lead. In R20 multi-core it scores 2367 versus 1955, and in R23 multi-core it scores 5637 versus 4656, both also 21.1% leads.

Q: Does the Core i3-8300T win any benchmark against the Xeon?

A: No. In the six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Xeon wins all of them. The i3 has additional Geekbench scores of 3436 multi-core and 1171 single-core, but the database does not include a comparable Geekbench result for the Xeon.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Both have 4 cores, but the Xeon has 8 threads while the i3 has 4 threads. That thread advantage contributes to the Xeon's consistent 21.1% lead in multi-core tests.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Xeon has a TDP of 105 W, while the i3 has a TDP of 35 W. The i3 draws significantly less power.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Xeon E5-2623 v3 and the Core i3-8300T support ECC memory.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare?

A: The Xeon uses quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The i3 uses dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s. The Xeon provides higher memory bandwidth.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3 beats the Intel Core i3-8300T in every single recorded head-to-head benchmark, with a consistent margin of about 21% across both single-core and multi-core tests. Anyone choosing between these two strictly on CPU compute performance should pick the Xeon.

That said, the choice is not purely about compute. The Core i3-8300T has a much lower TDP at 35 W versus 105 W, includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, and fits a different platform with dual-channel memory and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. It also has a higher base clock at 3.20 GHz versus 3.00 GHz, though it lacks a listed boost clock while the Xeon boosts to 3.50 GHz.

The i3-8300T was released in April 2018 with a launch MSRP of $138, versus the Xeon's September 2014 release and $444 launch MSRP. Both are end-of-life products at the 39th percentile among all CPUs.

Users who need peak CPU rendering performance in a server and workstation context, with quad-channel memory bandwidth, 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and 8 threads, should favor the Xeon. Users who need an integrated GPU, a low-power desktop platform, and dual-channel memory should consider the i3, but they should be aware that they are giving up roughly 21% of the Xeon's Cinebench performance in both single-core and multi-core tests.

For a straightforward compute comparison, the Xeon E5-2623 v3 is the winner with six wins and zero losses. The i3-8300T does not have a single head-to-head win in the recorded data.