Intel Core i3-8350K vs Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data paints a remarkably one-sided picture. Across all six Cinebench tests in the database, the Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 takes the win, and it does so by a nearly identical margin every time. The Intel Core i3-8350K, despite its higher base clock, trails by roughly 17.6% to 17.8% in every workload. This consistency is striking; it suggests a systemic advantage for the Xeon rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 720 against the i3's 593, a delta of -17.6%. The single-core test shows the same trend: 101 versus 83, a -17.8% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 3001 multi-core and 423 single-core, while the i3 manages 2471 and 348 respectively, each a -17.7% difference. Cinebench R23 continues the pattern: 7146 versus 5884 multi-core, and 1008 versus 830 single-core, again a -17.7% delta.

What is notable here is that the margin barely moves whether the test is single-threaded or multi-threaded. The Xeon's advantage is not simply a matter of its extra threads. In single-core tests, where the i3's 4.00 GHz base clock should theoretically help, the Xeon still leads by the same percentage. The Xeon's boost clock of 3.90 GHz, combined with its architecture, appears to deliver higher effective single-thread performance despite the lower base frequency.

The i3-8350K does not win a single head-to-head benchmark in the database. The wins tally is 0 for the i3 and 6 for the Xeon. For buyers looking at raw benchmark scores, this is not a close contest. The Xeon E3-1585 v5 is ahead in every measured metric, and the consistency of the delta across all three Cinebench versions reinforces that this is a fundamental performance gap, not an anomaly.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is straightforward based on the recorded data: the Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 wins everywhere that Cinebench measures. That includes both multi-core rendering workloads, where its 8 threads provide a clear advantage, and single-core workloads, where its architecture and boost clock carry the day. The Xeon's 4 cores and 8 threads give it a structural lead in heavily threaded tasks, but the fact that it also wins single-core tests means there is no scenario in the benchmark suite where the i3-8350K comes out ahead.

The Intel Core i3-8350K, by contrast, has no winning benchmark categories in the database. Its strengths lie elsewhere, in areas not captured by Cinebench. The i3 has an unlocked multiplier, a feature the Xeon lacks, and it is built for the desktop socket 1151 platform, whereas the Xeon uses BGA 1440. The i3 also supports DDR4 memory with a higher theoretical bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s versus the Xeon's 34.1 GB/s. However, these specification advantages do not translate into benchmark wins in the recorded data.

For users prioritizing Cinebench-style workloads, such as 3D rendering or video encoding, the Xeon is the clear choice. For users who value overclocking headroom or a desktop-replaceable CPU, the i3 has qualitative appeal, but the benchmark data does not support a performance win. The Xeon also comes with Iris Pro Graphics P580, a more capable integrated GPU than the i3's UHD Graphics 630, which could matter for light graphics work without a discrete card.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-8350K has a base clock of 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz. Despite this, the Xeon wins all benchmark comparisons.

Q: Does the Xeon E3-1585 v5 support more threads?

A: Yes. The Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-8350K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Hyper-threading gives the Xeon a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon leads by -17.8%. The multi-core R15 test shows -17.6%, and all other tests show -17.7%.

Q: Does the i3-8350K have any benchmark wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 0 wins for the i3-8350K and 6 wins for the Xeon E3-1585 v5 across all Cinebench tests.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i3-8350K has an average benchmark score of 2096, while the Xeon E3-1585 v5 has an average of 2067. However, this average includes Geekbench results for the i3, which are not present for the Xeon in the database, so the averages are not directly comparable across the full suite.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the i3-8350K and the Xeon E3-1585 v5 have ECC memory support listed in the database.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ on several key specification points, even though both share a 14 nm process node from Intel.

| Specification | Intel Core i3-8350K | Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 |

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

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None listed | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 91 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | Iris Pro Graphics P580 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2017-10-04 | 2016-05-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $168 | $556 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 171 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 2,300 million |

The i3-8350K has a higher base clock by 500 MHz, but the Xeon counters with a 3.90 GHz boost clock. The i3 has a higher TDP at 91 W versus 65 W, which reflects its unlocked multiplier and desktop orientation. The Xeon is a mobile/server chip on BGA 1440, not socketed, meaning it is not user-replaceable. The i3 supports only DDR4, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The Xeon also carries a much higher launch MSRP of $556 versus $168 for the i3.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is clear: the i3-8350K is Coffee Lake, while the Xeon E3-1585 v5 is Skylake-H. Both are built on Intel's 14 nm process, but they target different platforms and use cases.

The i3-8350K is a desktop part from the Core i3 generation, with a codename of Coffee Lake. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, no boost clock listed, and a 91 W TDP. Its cache structure is 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration. The integrated GPU is UHD Graphics 630. The multiplier is unlocked, making it an overclocking-oriented part. Its die size is 126 mm².

The Xeon E3-1585 v5 is a server/workstation processor from the Skylake-H generation. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, a base clock of 3.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Its TDP is a lower 65 W, which is notable given that it outperforms the i3 in every benchmark. The Xeon uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered socket, and its die size is larger at 171 mm² with 2,300 million transistors. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, with a slightly lower theoretical bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Its integrated GPU is the more powerful Iris Pro Graphics P580. The multiplier is locked, and the market segment is server/workstation.

The core count and thread count difference is the most significant architectural factor. The Xeon's 8 threads allow it to process more work in parallel, which directly explains its multi-core Cinebench lead. However, the single-core lead is more interesting: the Xeon's boost clock of 3.90 GHz is lower than the i3's 4.00 GHz base clock, yet the Xeon still wins single-core tests by 17.7% to 17.8%. This suggests the Skylake-H architecture has a higher instructions-per-clock (IPC) efficiency in these workloads, or that the i3's base clock is not sustainable in practice. The database does not include clock-by-clock efficiency data, but the benchmark results are unambiguous: the Xeon is faster in every measured scenario.