Intel Core i3-9100F vs Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 Comparison

# Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 vs Intel Core i3-9100F

The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 is a mobile workstation processor from the Skylake-H generation, while the Intel Core i3-9100F is a desktop part from the Coffee Lake Refresh family. Despite the Xeon's server-oriented branding and older 2016 release date, benchmark data shows it consistently outperforms the i3-9100F across every Cinebench test in this comparison, with the i3-9100F only appearing in Geekbench results, where it posts a single-core score of 1378 and a multi-core score of 3962. The Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with margins ranging from 13.9% to 15% depending on the workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins every single benchmark where both processors are directly compared. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 654 against the i3-9100F's 574, a 13.9% advantage. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided: 92 versus 80, a full 15% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 2728 multi-core and 385 single-core, compared to 2392 and 337 for the i3-9100F, representing 14% and 14.2% leads respectively. In Cinebench R23, the Xeon's 6497 multi-core dwarfs the i3-9100F's 5697, and its 917 single-core beats the i3-9100F's 804 — again a 14% and 14.1% gap.

The i3-9100F does not win a single head-to-head test in this data set. However, it does have one advantage that the Xeon lacks entirely: the i3-9100F has a Geekbench multi-core score of 3962 and a single-core score of 1378, while the Xeon has no Geekbench results listed. This means if you strictly care about Geekbench performance, the i3-9100F at least has measurable results in that benchmark suite, whereas the Xeon has none available. For every other metric in this comparison, the Xeon E3-1545M v5 is the clear winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Xeon E3-1545M v5 uses the Skylake architecture on the Skylake-H codename, built on a 14 nm process node with 2,300 million transistors and a die size of 171 mm². The i3-9100F uses Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, also built on 14 nm but with a smaller 126 mm² die and no transistor count listed. Both are manufactured by Intel.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads, enabling simultaneous multithreading, while the i3-9100F has 4 cores and only 4 threads — no hyperthreading. Cache configurations also diverge: both share 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the Xeon has 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus 6 MB on the i3-9100F. Clock speeds favor the i3-9100F on paper, with a 3.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, compared to the Xeon's 2.90 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. Despite lower clocks, the Xeon's extra threads and larger cache help it win all benchmark comparisons.

Memory support differs as well. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory with dual-channel capability and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-9100F supports only DDR4 with dual-channel and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory, which is unusual for a desktop i3 but confirmed in the data. The Xeon includes integrated Iris Pro Graphics P580, while the i3-9100F has no integrated graphics at all. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The Xeon uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the i3-9100F uses Intel Socket 1151. The Xeon has a 45 W TDP, while the i3-9100F draws 65 W.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 outperforms the Intel Core i3-9100F in every Cinebench test where both are measured. The Xeon leads by roughly 14-15% across single-core and multi-core workloads in R15, R20, and R23. This is notable because the i3-9100F has higher clock speeds (3.60/4.20 GHz versus 2.90/3.80 GHz) and is a newer part by release date (2019 versus 2016). The Xeon's advantage comes from its 8 threads versus 4, plus its larger 8 MB L3 cache versus 6 MB.

Who should pick the Xeon E3-1545M v5? Anyone whose workload is represented by Cinebench — rendering, content creation, or any multithreaded application — should choose the Xeon based on this data. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, and its 45 W TDP means it delivers this performance at a lower power draw than the i3-9100F's 65 W. The Xeon also includes integrated Iris Pro Graphics P580, which is valuable if you need a display output without a discrete GPU.

Who should pick the i3-9100F? If you specifically need Geekbench results, the i3-9100F is the only one of the two with those scores listed — 1378 single-core and 3962 multi-core. The Xeon has no Geekbench data, so you cannot verify its performance there. The i3-9100F also uses the Socket 1151 platform, which is a standard desktop socket, whereas the Xeon requires BGA 1440 — a soldered mobile socket with no upgrade path. The i3-9100F also supports only DDR4, which simplifies memory compatibility compared to the Xeon's DDR3/DDR4 support. If you're building a desktop system and can't use a mobile BGA chip, the i3-9100F is the only practical choice despite losing every benchmark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. In R15 it scores 654 versus 574, in R20 it scores 2728 versus 2392, and in R23 it scores 6497 versus 5697. That is a 13.9%, 14%, and 14% advantage respectively.

Q: Does the i3-9100F win any benchmark?

A: In the head-to-head benchmark set, the i3-9100F wins zero tests. However, it is the only processor of the two with Geekbench results listed: 1378 single-core and 3962 multi-core. The Xeon has no Geekbench scores in the data.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes. Both the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 and the Intel Core i3-9100F list ECC memory support in their specifications, which is notable for an i3-class desktop chip.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Xeon E3-1545M v5 has integrated graphics, featuring Iris Pro Graphics P580. The i3-9100F has no integrated graphics at all, meaning it requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Q: What are the socket differences?

A: The Xeon E3-1545M v5 uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile socket. The i3-9100F uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard desktop socket that allows for CPU upgrades without replacing the motherboard.

Q: How do clock speeds compare?

A: The i3-9100F has higher clocks: 3.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. The Xeon E3-1545M v5 runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. Despite this clock disadvantage, the Xeon wins all Cinebench tests, likely due to its 8 threads versus the i3's 4 threads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon E3-1545M v5 scores 92 against the i3-9100F's 80 — a 15% lead. This is surprising because the i3-9100F has a 400 MHz higher boost clock (4.20 GHz versus 3.80 GHz), and single-core tests typically favor higher clocks. The Xeon's 15% win suggests its Skylake architecture extracts more instructions per clock than Coffee Lake in this workload, or the benchmark favors the Xeon's cache layout.

In multi-core tests, the Xeon's thread advantage becomes clear. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 654 versus 574, a 13.9% margin. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 2728 versus 2392, a 14% margin. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 6497 versus 5697, again 14%. The consistency of these margins — all sitting between 13.9% and 14% — indicates a stable performance gap across different Cinebench versions, likely driven by the Xeon's 8 threads versus 4, plus its 8 MB L3 cache versus 6 MB.

Single-core results in R20 and R23 follow the same pattern as R15. R20 single-core: 385 versus 337, a 14.2% Xeon lead. R23 single-core: 917 versus 804, a 14.1% lead. Even on a per-core basis, the Xeon wins despite lower clock speeds. This points to architectural efficiency differences rather than raw clock speed being the deciding factor.

The i3-9100F does have a memory bandwidth advantage on paper — 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s — but this does not translate into benchmark wins. The i3 also has a higher TDP at 65 W versus 45 W, meaning the Xeon delivers better performance at lower power draw. The only benchmark data unique to the i3-9100F is Geekbench: 1378 single-core and 3962 multi-core. Without a Xeon Geekbench score to compare against, these numbers stand alone rather than as a head-to-head result.

Specification Differences

The Xeon E3-1545M v5 and i3-9100F differ in several key specification fields. The Xeon has 8 threads versus the i3's 4 threads, both with 4 cores. Base clock is 2.90 GHz on the Xeon versus 3.60 GHz on the i3, and boost clock is 3.80 GHz versus 4.20 GHz. TDP is 45 W for the Xeon and 65 W for the i3. Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1440 versus Intel Socket 1151. Architecture is Skylake versus Coffee Lake, with codenames Skylake-H and Coffee Lake respectively. Generation differs: Xeon E3 (Skylake-H) versus Core i3 (Coffee Lake Refresh).

Die size is 171 mm² for the Xeon versus 126 mm² for the i3, with the Xeon packing 2,300 million transistors while the i3 has no transistor count listed. L3 cache is 8 MB shared on the Xeon versus 6 MB shared on the i3. Memory support is DDR3 and DDR4 on the Xeon versus DDR4 only on the i3. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. The Xeon has integrated Iris Pro Graphics P580; the i3 has none. Release dates are January 2016 for the Xeon versus April 2019 for the i3. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $679, while the i3's is $122. Both are end-of-life, both are multiplier-unlocked, both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, and both support ECC memory.