Intel Core i5-1130G7 vs Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a consistent, though narrow, victory for the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 across every Cinebench workload in the database. The benchmark suite includes six tests spanning three generations of the Cinebench renderer, and in all six, the Xeon posts the higher score. The margins are tight, however, never exceeding 1.1%, which places these two processors in essentially the same performance tier for the workloads measured.

The largest relative gap appears in the multi-core Cinebench R20 and R23 tests. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon E3-1270 v5 scores 2974 against the Core i5-1130G7's 2942, a delta of 1.1%. The same 1.1% margin repeats in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon reaches 7082 and the Core i5 sits at 7006. These are the only two tests where the gap stretches beyond 1%, and even then, the difference is small enough that run-to-run variance on either chip could plausibly close it.

Single-core results follow the same pattern with slightly smaller deltas. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 100 versus 99 for the Core i5, a 1% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 419 against 415, again a 1% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core rounds out the sweep with 999 versus 989, once more a 1% margin. Across all three single-core tests, the Xeon leads by exactly 1%, while the multi-core tests show either 1% or 1.1%.

The overall benchmark average reinforces this near-parity. The Xeon E3-1270 v5 carries an average benchmark score of 2048, while the Core i5-1130G7 averages 2026. That is a 22-point gap, or roughly 1.1%, when measured against the Core i5's baseline. For context, the Xeon's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-7820HK at an identical 2048 average score, the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U at 2046 (0.1% behind), and the Intel Xeon E3-1275 v5 at 2043 (0.2% behind). The Core i5's nearest rivals are similarly clustered: the Intel Core i5-1145GRE at 2025 (0.1% behind), the Intel Xeon E3-1260L v5 at 2029 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 at 2029 (0.1% ahead). Both processors sit in the middle of the database population, with the Xeon at the 46th percentile of all CPUs and the Core i5 at the 45th.

What the head-to-head data does not show is any workload where the Core i5-1130G7 pulls ahead. Wins are tallied at 6 for the Xeon and 0 for the Core i5. The Core i5 never closes the gap to a dead heat in any single test, but it also never threatens the Xeon's lead by more than a hair in any multi-core scenario. If the benchmark suite had included a test heavily favoring the Tiger Lake architecture's newer memory subsystem, the outcome might differ, but within the recorded Cinebench results, the Xeon's advantage is uniform.

The percentile scores tell the same story from a different angle. With a 46th percentile ranking versus 45th, the Xeon places one percentile point higher in the global distribution. That is a negligible separation in the broader CPU landscape, but it is consistent with the per-test deltas. The data paints a picture of two processors that were designed for different markets and different power envelopes, yet land within 1.1% of each other on every benchmark in this comparison.

The Verdict

The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 is the winner on raw score in every recorded benchmark. The data shows a 1% to 1.1% advantage across all six Cinebench tests, with an average benchmark score of 2048 versus 2026 for the Core i5-1130G7. Anyone selecting strictly on the basis of the recorded Cinebench numbers should choose the Xeon, as it holds the higher score in every single workload and every multi-core and single-core category.

The Xeon also brings platform features that the Core i5 lacks. It supports ECC memory, a capability absent from the Core i5, and it offers memory compatibility with both DDR3 and DDR4, whereas the Core i5 supports only DDR4. Its memory bandwidth is recorded at 34.1 GB/s, which is lower than the Core i5's 68.3 GB/s, so for memory-bandwidth-bound tasks, the Core i5 might close the gap despite its lower Cinebench scores. The Xeon is also an end-of-life product, while the Core i5 is marked active in production status.

The Core i5-1130G7 is the better choice for a fundamentally different reason: power and platform integration. Its TDP is recorded at 15 watts against the Xeon's 80 watts. That fivefold difference in thermal design power is the most dramatic specification gap between the two. The Core i5 is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1598 socket, and it includes integrated Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all and requires a discrete GPU. The Core i5 also runs on a newer PCIe generation, Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, versus Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes for the Xeon.

For a workstation or server build where ECC memory, socket compatibility with Intel Socket 1151, and the highest possible Cinebench scores matter, the Xeon E3-1270 v5 is the data-backed pick. For a low-power mobile system where integrated graphics, a 15-watt TDP, and newer PCIe generation take priority, the Core i5-1130G7 is the appropriate selection. The benchmark scores are close enough that the deciding factors should come from the platform and power specifications, not from the 1% Cinebench delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and are built on different process nodes. The Xeon E3-1270 v5 uses the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-DT codename, on Intel's 14 nm process. The Core i5-1130G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-U, on Intel's 10 nm process. The process node difference is one generation apart, and the Xeon's transistor count is recorded at 1,750 million with a die size of 122 mm², while the Core i5's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i5 has larger per-core cache allocations, with 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache, but the shared L3 is also 8 MB. Both chips therefore match on total L3 capacity at 8 MB, but the Core i5's per-core L1 and L2 allocations are larger, which can benefit workloads that fit within these smaller cache levels.

The memory architecture also diverges. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the Core i5 supports only DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the Core i5's recorded memory bandwidth is 68.3 GB/s, double the Xeon's 34.1 GB/s. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the Core i5 does not. This is a meaningful architectural distinction for reliability-sensitive server workloads, as ECC memory can detect and correct certain types of data corruption.

PCI Express generations differ by one generation. The Xeon uses Gen 3 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes, while the Core i5 uses Gen 4 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes. The Core i5's Gen 4 interface offers higher bandwidth per lane than the Xeon's Gen 3, though the recorded data does not include a specific bandwidth figure for either PCIe generation.

The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the Core i5 includes Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU. The Xeon's market segment is a server and workstation part, and the Core i5 is a mobile part. The Xeon's release date is recorded as 2015-10-18, and the Core i5's release date is 2020-09-01, placing the Xeon about five years earlier in the product cycle. The Xeon's production status is end-of-life, while the Core i5 remains active.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors in the recorded data:

• Base clock: The Xeon runs at 3.60 GHz, while the Core i5 runs at 1100.00 MHz. This is a massive difference in base clock, though the boost clocks are identical at 4.00 GHz for both.
• TDP: The Xeon draws 80 watts, the Core i5 draws 15 watts.
• Socket: The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, the Core i5 uses Intel BGA 1598.
• Process node: The Xeon is on 14 nm, the Core i5 is on 10 nm.
• Transistors: The Xeon has 1,750 million transistors; the Core i5's transistor count is not recorded.
• Die size: The Xeon is 122 mm²; the Core i5's die size is not recorded.
• L1 cache: The Xeon has 64 KB per core, the Core i5 has 96 KB per core.
• L2 cache: The Xeon has 256 KB per core, the Core i5 has 1.25 MB per core.
• Memory support: The Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4, the Core i5 supports only DDR4.
• Memory bandwidth: The Xeon is recorded at 34.1 GB/s, the Core i5 at 68.3 GB/s.
• ECC memory: Supported by the Xeon, not supported by the Core i5.
• PCIe: The Xeon uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes, the Core i5 uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes.
• Integrated graphics: The Xeon has none, the Core i5 has Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU.
• Market segment: The Xeon is server/workstation, the Core i5 is mobile.
• Production status: The Xeon is end-of-life, the Core i5 is active.
• Release date: The Xeon released 2015-10-18, the Core i5 released 2020-09-01.
• Launch MSRP: The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $339; the Core i5 has no recorded launch MSRP.
• Part number: The Xeon is SR2LF; the Core i5 has no recorded part number.

Fields where the two match include manufacturer (Intel), cores (4), threads (8), boost clock (4.00 GHz), cache L3 (8 MB shared), memory bus (dual-channel), PCIe lane count (16), and multiplier unlock status (both locked).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 scores 7082 against the Core i5-1130G7's 7006, a 1.1% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: How does the base clock differ between the two?

A: The Xeon has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Core i5 has a base clock of 1100.00 MHz. Both share a 4.00 GHz boost clock.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: The Xeon E3-1270 v5 supports ECC memory. The Core i5-1130G7 does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The Xeon is recorded at 34.1 GB/s, while the Core i5 is recorded at 68.3 GB/s, both on a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Core i5-1130G7 includes Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU. The Xeon E3-1270 v5 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the TDP values for these CPUs?

A: The Xeon has a TDP of 80 watts, and the Core i5 has a TDP of 15 watts.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon averages 2048, and the Core i5 averages 2026. The Xeon sits at the 46th percentile of all CPUs, and the Core i5 sits at the 45th.