Intel Core i3-9350K vs Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 and the Intel Core i3-9350K are both 4-core Intel parts, but they are separated by architecture, socket, and market intent. The benchmark data shows a remarkably consistent, if narrow, sweep: the Xeon wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, yet its average benchmark score of 1879 places it only 0.6% ahead of the i3-9350K’s 1867 average. The Xeon’s 43rd percentile ranking versus all CPUs edges out the i3’s 42nd percentile, but the margin is so thin that real-world differences will be imperceptible. The i3-9350K counters with a much higher clock speed and an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon brings ECC memory support and a lower power envelope. This is a tale of two different design philosophies producing nearly identical results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins every single benchmark in the comparison, but the margins are all under 1.2%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 654 against the i3-9350K’s 650, a 0.6% lead. The single-core R15 result is the largest delta of the entire set: 92 for the Xeon versus 91 for the i3, a 1.1% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon again takes multicore with 2728 points over 2711 (0.6%), and single-core with 385 over 382 (0.8%). The Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: multicore 6497 versus 6456 (0.6%) and single-core 917 versus 911 (0.7%).

The pattern is unmistakable. The Xeon’s advantage is consistent but never decisive, ranging from a razor-thin 0.6% to a still-modest 1.1%. The i3-9350K never manages a single victory, losing all six tests. Yet the practical takeaway is that these two CPUs are effectively tied in raw rendering performance. The largest gap, in R15 single-core, represents only one point on a 92-point scale — a margin that falls well within normal run-to-run variance. The data shows a sweep for the Xeon, but it is a sweep measured in fractions of a percent, not a knockout.

When placed against their nearest rivals, both CPUs sit in a crowded pack. The Xeon’s closest competitor is the Intel Processor U300, which scores 1881 on average, a 0.1% difference from the Xeon’s 1879. The i3-9350K’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-1630 v4 at 1869, a 0.1% gap, with the i3-9350K itself listed as a rival to the Xeon at a 0.6% delta. This clustering confirms that neither chip offers a meaningful performance edge over its immediate peers, let alone over each other.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins on raw benchmark scores across the board, but its victories are so narrow that they do not translate into a clear use-case advantage. Its six wins suggest it is the slightly faster chip for Cinebench-style rendering workloads, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded. The i3-9350K, despite losing every test, still posts scores within 0.6% to 1.1% of the Xeon. That means for any application that relies on CPU rendering, the i3-9350K will deliver virtually identical performance to the Xeon.

The real differentiators lie outside the benchmark scores. The Xeon supports ECC memory, has a 45W TDP, and features Iris Pro Graphics P580. The i3-9350K, by contrast, has a 91W TDP, an unlocked multiplier, a higher 4.00 GHz base clock, and a 4.60 GHz boost clock. The i3’s higher clocks do not translate into benchmark wins, but they do position it for overclocking, a capability the Xeon lacks entirely. For users who prioritize lower power consumption and error-correcting memory, the Xeon is the clear pick. For users who want headroom to push clocks beyond stock settings, the i3 is the only option.

The i3-9350K also has a higher memory bandwidth rating at 38.4 GB/s versus the Xeon’s 34.1 GB/s, though both use dual-channel memory. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i3 is DDR4-only. Neither chip wins on every secondary specification, making the choice dependent on platform and workload priorities rather than raw speed.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a narrow but unanimous winner: the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 takes all six Cinebench tests, from the 0.6% multicore margin in R15 to the 1.1% single-core lead in the same test. If the decision rests solely on measured performance, the Xeon is the pick. However, the margins are so small — an average score of 1879 against 1867, a 0.6% difference — that the Xeon’s victory is more symbolic than practical.

The i3-9350K is the better choice for users who plan to overclock. Its unlocked multiplier and 4.60 GHz boost clock offer headroom that the locked Xeon cannot match. The i3 also runs on the mainstream Socket 1151 platform, while the Xeon uses the mobile-oriented Intel BGA 1440 socket. For a desktop build where tweaking is part of the workflow, the i3-9350K’s lower launch MSRP of $184 (versus the Xeon’s $679) and unlocked design make it the more flexible option, despite losing every stock benchmark.

The Xeon E3-1545M v5 is the pick for stability-sensitive or power-constrained systems. Its 45W TDP is less than half the i3-9350K’s 91W, and it offers ECC memory support, which the i3 also lists but which is more commonly paired with Xeon-class platforms. The Xeon’s Iris Pro Graphics P580 is also a stronger integrated GPU than the i3’s UHD 630. If the workload involves error checking or runs on a compact, low-power platform, the Xeon’s benchmark sweep and feature set justify its higher price. For everyone else, the i3-9350K delivers nearly identical performance at a fraction of the cost, with overclocking potential thrown in.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 scores 6497 in Cinebench R23 multicore, beating the Intel Core i3-9350K’s 6456 by 0.6%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-9350K win any benchmark in the comparison?

A: No. The i3-9350K loses all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with the Xeon winning every multicore and single-core round.

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

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 92 versus the i3’s 91, a 1.1% lead for the Xeon.

Q: Can the Intel Core i3-9350K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the i3-9350K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon E3-1545M v5 does not.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Both CPUs list ECC memory support, but the Xeon E3-1545M v5 is a server/workstation part and supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i3-9350K is DDR4-only.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon E3-1545M v5 has an average benchmark score of 1879, which is 0.6% higher than the i3-9350K’s 1867.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel generations and are built on different microarchitectures. The Xeon E3-1545M v5 uses the Skylake architecture (codename Skylake-H) and is part of the Xeon E3 (Skylake-H) generation. The i3-9350K uses the Coffee Lake architecture (codename Coffee Lake) and belongs to the Core i3 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation. Both are manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but the Xeon’s die size is 171 mm² with 2,300 million transistors, while the i3’s die is smaller at 126 mm² and has no listed transistor count.

The Xeon is built for the mobile/server segment with an Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the i3 targets desktops with an Intel Socket 1151. The Xeon’s integrated graphics are Iris Pro Graphics P580, whereas the i3 uses UHD 630. The Xeon also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i3 is limited to DDR4. Both CPUs share the same per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes (64 KB and 256 KB respectively) and the same 8 MB shared L3 cache. The Xeon was released in January 2016, while the i3 came out in April 2019.

Specification Differences

The most striking specification difference is core count versus thread count. The Xeon E3-1545M v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i3-9350K has 4 cores and 4 threads. Despite this, the i3 posts nearly identical benchmark scores, thanks to its higher clocks: a 4.00 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost, compared to the Xeon’s 2.90 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The TDP reflects this too: the Xeon draws 45W, while the i3 draws 91W.

The launch MSRP also differs significantly: the Xeon launched at $679, while the i3 launched at $184. The Xeon supports ECC memory and both DDR3 and DDR4, whereas the i3 is DDR4-only. The i3 has a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s versus the Xeon’s 34.1 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Xeon’s multiplier is locked, while the i3’s is unlocked. Their part numbers are SR2QU for the Xeon and SRCZT for the i3. Both are end-of-life products, and neither has a 3D V-Cache. The Xeon’s percentile ranking is 43, one point higher than the i3’s 42, reinforcing the near-identical performance picture.