Intel Core i3-9350K vs Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 and Intel Core i3-9350K are both 4-core Intel processors from the 14 nm era, yet they target fundamentally different market segments. The Xeon is a Skylake-H part designed for servers and workstations, while the i3-9350K is a Coffee Lake desktop chip. Despite their contrasting designs—one a low-power mobile-derived chip and the other a high-frequency unlocked desktop part—their benchmark results are remarkably close. Across all six Cinebench tests in the data, the Xeon E3-1558L v5 edges out the Core i3-9350K, though the largest margin is just 1.1%. This analysis breaks down the architectural differences, spec-by-spec comparisons, and the benchmark data to determine which processor is the right choice based solely on the facts provided.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350K has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which is significantly higher than the Xeon E3-1558L v5's boost clock of 3.30 GHz.

Q: How do the two chips compare in terms of thread count?

A: The Xeon E3-1558L v5 supports 8 threads via Hyper-Threading on its 4 cores, while the Core i3-9350K has only 4 threads on its 4 cores, meaning it lacks Hyper-Threading.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Both processors support ECC memory. The Xeon E3-1558L v5 lists ECC memory as true, and the Core i3-9350K also lists ECC memory as true in its specifications.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The Xeon E3-1558L v5 has an average benchmark score of 1882, while the Core i3-9350K has an average score of 1867. This places the Xeon 15 points higher, a difference of roughly 0.8%.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Core i3-9350K has a TDP of 91 W, which is more than double the Xeon E3-1558L v5's TDP of 45 W.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Core i3-9350K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon E3-1558L v5 has a locked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different architectural generations and design philosophies. The Xeon E3-1558L v5 is built on the Skylake architecture with the codename Skylake-H, while the Core i3-9350K uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically from the Coffee Lake Refresh generation. Both are fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process, but the die sizes differ substantially. The Xeon's die size is 171 mm², whereas the Core i3's die is significantly smaller at 126 mm². The Xeon also reports a transistor count of 2,300 million, while no such figure is listed for the Core i3.

The Xeon's Skylake-H design targets mobile and embedded server workloads, reflected in its lower 45 W TDP. The Core i3-9350K, by contrast, is a desktop part with a much higher 91 W TDP, allowing for its dramatically higher clock speeds. The base clock of the Core i3 is 4.00 GHz, over twice the Xeon's 1.90 GHz base clock. The boost clock difference is also notable, with the Core i3 reaching 4.60 GHz versus the Xeon's 3.30 GHz.

Cache structures are identical in configuration: both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The key architectural divergence lies in thread support. The Xeon provides 8 threads through simultaneous multithreading, while the Core i3 is limited to 4 threads. This is a classic server versus desktop trade-off: the Xeon uses its thread count to maintain multi-tasking throughput at lower clocks, while the Core i3 relies on raw frequency for single-threaded performance.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Xeon ships with Iris Pro Graphics P555, a higher-tier GPU solution, while the Core i3-9350K includes the more basic UHD 630. Both processors support dual-channel memory and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, but the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, whereas the Core i3 is limited to DDR4 only.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for potential buyers, though the margins are extremely tight. The Xeon E3-1558L v5 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but it never wins by more than 1.1%. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, the Xeon leads by 0.8% each time. For single-core tests, the lead is also 0.8% in R20 and R23, and 1.1% in R15. This makes the Xeon the consistent, albeit marginal, performance leader in the Cinebench suite.

However, the choice is not purely about raw scores. The Xeon is a server/workstation part with a 45 W TDP, ECC memory support, and 8 threads. It is designed for environments where stability and multi-threaded efficiency are paramount. The Core i3-9350K, despite losing the benchmarks, offers a 4.60 GHz boost clock, an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and a desktop socket (Intel Socket 1151) that is more common in consumer systems. Its 91 W TDP suggests it can sustain higher clocks under load, even if the Cinebench results here do not show a win.

For users prioritizing low power consumption and maximum multi-threaded throughput in a compact or server-oriented platform, the Xeon E3-1558L v5 is the logical pick. For desktop users who value overclocking headroom and higher clock speeds, the Core i3-9350K is the more flexible choice, despite its benchmark deficit. The Xeon's 43rd percentile ranking versus all CPUs is only one point higher than the Core i3's 42nd percentile, reinforcing that they perform in the same tier.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: Both have 4 cores, no difference.
• Threads: Xeon E3-1558L v5 has 8 threads; Core i3-9350K has 4 threads.
• Base Clock: Xeon is 1.90 GHz; Core i3 is 4.00 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Xeon is 3.30 GHz; Core i3 is 4.60 GHz.
• TDP: Xeon is 45 W; Core i3 is 91 W.
• Socket: Xeon uses Intel BGA 1440; Core i3 uses Intel Socket 1151.
• Architecture: Xeon is Skylake; Core i3 is Coffee Lake.
• Codename: Xeon is Skylake-H; Core i3 is Coffee Lake.
• Die Size: Xeon is 171 mm²; Core i3 is 126 mm².
• Transistors: Xeon is 2,300 million; Core i3 has no listed value.
• Memory Support: Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4; Core i3 supports only DDR4.
• Memory Bandwidth: Xeon is 34.1 GB/s; Core i3 is 38.4 GB/s.
• Integrated Graphics: Xeon has Iris Pro Graphics P555; Core i3 has UHD 630.
• Market Segment: Xeon is Server/Workstation; Core i3 is Desktop.
• Release Date: Xeon is 2016-05-30; Core i3 is 2019-04-22.
• Launch MSRP: Xeon is $396; Core i3 is $184.
• Multiplier Unlocked: Xeon is false; Core i3 is true.
• Part Number: Xeon is SR2TU; Core i3 is SRCZT.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent, with the Xeon E3-1558L v5 taking a narrow victory in every single test. Starting with Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 655 against the Core i3's 650, a 0.8% lead. The single-core R15 test shows the Xeon at 92 versus 91, a 1.1% margin, which is the largest win for the Xeon across the entire suite.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore test gives the Xeon 2733 points versus 2711 for the Core i3, again a 0.8% difference. The R20 single-core test shows 385 for the Xeon and 382 for the Core i3, also a 0.8% lead. In Cinebench R23, the multicore scores are 6508 for the Xeon and 6456 for the Core i3, another 0.8% gap. The R23 single-core test rounds out the comparison with 918 for the Xeon and 911 for the Core i3, holding the same 0.8% margin.

The pattern is clear: the Xeon wins all six tests, but the Core i3 is never more than 0.8% behind except in R15 single-core where the gap is 1.1%. The Xeon's average benchmark score of 1882 is 0.8% higher than the Core i3's 1867, which matches the typical head-to-head delta. Notably, the Core i3's single-core scores are consistently lower than the Xeon's, despite having a 1.30 GHz higher boost clock. This suggests the Xeon's architecture or memory configuration compensates for its clock disadvantage in these specific workloads.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 Wins:

• All six Cinebench benchmarks, including both single-core and multi-core variants across R15, R20, and R23.
• Multi-threaded workloads, thanks to its 8 threads versus the Core i3's 4 threads, which helps it achieve higher multicore scores.
• Power efficiency, with a 45 W TDP that is less than half of the Core i3's 91 W TDP, making it suitable for low-power or dense server environments.
• Memory flexibility, as it supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the Core i3 is restricted to DDR4.
• Higher-tier integrated graphics with Iris Pro Graphics P555, which outperforms the UHD 630 in the Core i3.
• ECC memory support, which is crucial for error-correcting workloads in server or workstation applications.

Intel Core i3-9350K Wins:

• Clock speed, with a 4.00 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost that far exceed the Xeon's 1.90 GHz and 3.30 GHz, respectively.
• Overclocking potential, as its unlocked multiplier allows users to push frequencies even higher, a feature the Xeon lacks.
• Memory bandwidth, offering 38.4 GB/s versus the Xeon's 34.1 GB/s, which could benefit memory-intensive tasks.
• Desktop compatibility via the Intel Socket 1151, which is more common in consumer motherboards than the Xeon's BGA 1440 socket.
• A much lower launch MSRP of $184 compared to the Xeon's $396, though this is not a performance metric.
• Higher base clock, which may provide better responsiveness in lightly-threaded tasks that are not reflected in these Cinebench results.