Intel Core i5-1130G7 vs Intel Xeon E3-1275 v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E3-1275 v5 across every Cinebench workload, though the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 712 against 706 for the Core i5-1130G7, a 0.8% advantage. The single-core R15 result is closer still: 100 versus 99, a 1% edge for the Xeon. These are the tightest deltas in the entire comparison, and they set the tone for the rest of the benchmark suite.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon again leads in multicore with 2967 points versus 2942, a 0.8% gap. The single-core R20 result shows 418 against 415, a 0.7% difference. In Cinebench R23, the pattern holds: the Xeon posts 7065 multicore against 7006 for the i5-1130G7, another 0.8% margin, and 997 single-core versus 989, a 0.8% delta. Across all six head-to-head tests, the Xeon wins every round, but no single workload produces a double-digit percentage lead.

The average benchmark scores in the database confirm this near-parity. The Xeon E3-1275 v5 carries an average score of 2043, while the Core i5-1130G7 sits at 2026. That difference is less than 1%. Both processors land at the 45th percentile among all CPUs tracked, meaning they occupy identical positions in the overall performance distribution. The nearest rivals for the Xeon include the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U at 2046 (a 0.1% gap) and the Intel Core i7-7700T at 2039 (0.2% gap). The i5-1130G7's closest competitors are the Intel Core i5-1145GRE at 2025 (0.1% gap) and the Intel Xeon E3-1260L v5 at 2029 (0.1% gap). In practical terms, these two chips are interchangeable in raw compute throughput.

What matters more than the headline scores is context. The Xeon achieves its results with a 80 W TDP and a 3.60 GHz base clock, while the i5-1130G7 does nearly the same work at a 15 W TDP and a 1100.00 MHz base clock. The i5's boost clock matches the Xeon at 4.00 GHz, which explains why single-core performance is so close. The Xeon's advantage in multicore is real but small, likely a function of sustained all-core boost behavior rather than any fundamental architectural superiority.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1275 v5 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The largest margin is 1% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and the smallest is 0.7% in Cinebench R20 single-core.

Q: How close are the average benchmark scores?

A: The Xeon averages 2043 across all recorded benchmarks, and the Core i5-1130G7 averages 2026. That is a difference of 17 points, under 1% of the total score.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The Xeon E3-1275 v5 supports ECC memory, while the Core i5-1130G7 does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Core i5-1130G7 has a dual-channel memory bus rated at 68.3 GB/s, double the Xeon's 34.1 GB/s. Both support dual-channel operation, but the i5 supports DDR4 only, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 45th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their nearest rivals have nearly identical average scores, confirming that neither chip offers a meaningful overall performance advantage.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Xeon E3-1275 v5 has a 3.60 GHz base clock, far higher than the Core i5-1130G7's 1100.00 MHz base clock. Their boost clocks are identical at 4.00 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different eras and design philosophies. The Xeon E3-1275 v5 is built on Intel's 14 nm process, using the Skylake-DT architecture, and it targets the server and workstation segment. It packs 1,750 million transistors into a 122 mm² die. The Core i5-1130G7 uses the 10 nm Tiger Lake-U architecture, built on the Willow Cove core design, and targets mobile devices. Its transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database, so a direct comparison of those figures is not possible.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Xeon allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The i5-1130G7 steps up to 96 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, also with 8 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L2 on the i5 is a notable architectural upgrade, though it does not translate into a benchmark advantage in the recorded Cinebench results.

PCIe support also differs. The Xeon offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i5-1130G7 provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes. The i5's integrated graphics is Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU, a more modern GPU than the Xeon's HD Graphics P530. Memory support diverges as well: the Xeon handles both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i5 supports DDR4 only. The i5's memory bandwidth is 68.3 GB/s, exactly double the Xeon's 34.1 GB/s, which reflects the newer memory controller.

The production status tells a clear story. The Xeon is end-of-life, released in October 2015, while the i5 is active, released in September 2020. The i5's launch MSRP is not recorded in the database, but the Xeon carries a launch MSRP of $350. Both processors are locked, with no unlocked multiplier. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5 uses Intel BGA 1598, meaning the Xeon is socketed and the i5 is soldered to the board.

The Verdict

The benchmark data says these processors are effectively tied in raw compute. The Xeon E3-1275 v5 wins every head-to-head Cinebench test, but the margins are microscopic: the largest is 1%, and most are 0.8% or 0.7%. Both sit at the 45th percentile, and their average scores differ by only 17 points out of roughly 2000. A user moving from one to the other would not notice a difference in CPU-bound tasks.

The real differentiators are platform and purpose. The Xeon is a server and workstation part with ECC memory support, a socketed design, and a 80 W TDP. It is end-of-life, so it is a legacy option for existing Socket 1151 boards. The i5-1130G7 is an active mobile processor with a 15 W TDP, double the memory bandwidth, and a newer 10 nm process. It is not a drop-in replacement for anything; it is soldered to the board, so it only matters for laptop buyers or compact systems built around BGA 1598.

For a builder assembling a new system today, the i5-1130G7 is the practical choice because it is still in production and offers comparable performance at a fraction of the power draw. For someone maintaining or upgrading an existing Socket 1151 workstation that requires ECC memory, the Xeon remains a valid option, but its performance edge over the i5 is negligible. The verdict is not a clear win for either side in compute terms, it is a platform decision first.

The i5-1130G7's active status and 10 nm node give it a longevity advantage over the end-of-life Xeon, whose 14 nm process is older technology by the time the i5 launched. The Xeon counters with ECC support, a feature the i5 simply does not offer. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking headroom is not a consideration for either.

Specification Differences

Only the fields where the two processors differ in the database are listed here. Both are Intel parts, with 4 cores and 8 threads. Both have an identical 4.00 GHz boost clock. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. Both have 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Both are locked processors. Neither has recorded 3D V-Cache.

The Xeon E3-1275 v5 has a 3.60 GHz base clock, 80 W TDP, and Intel Socket 1151. It uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process with 1,750 million transistors on a 122 mm² die. Its L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 is 256 KB per core, and it supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory at 34. The Xeon's bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and HD Graphics P530 graphics. It supports ECC memory, targets the server and workstation segment, is end-of-life, launched in October 2015, and has a launch MSRP of $350 and part number SR2LKSR2CT.

The i5-1130G7 has a 1100.00 MHz base clock, 15 W TDP, and Intel BGA 1598. It uses Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process with no recorded transistor count or die size. Its L1 cache is 96 KB per core, L2 is 1.25 MB per core, and it supports DDR4 memory only. The i5's bandwidth is 68.3 GB/s, PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes, and Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU. It does not support ECC memory, targets the mobile segment, is active, launched in September 6, 2020, and has no recorded launch MSRP or part number.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E3-1275 v5 wins every recorded Cinebench workload, from R15 to R23, in both single-core and multicore runs. Its wins range from 0.7% to 1% in the recorded data. It wins in the server and workstation space due to ECC support, which the i5 cannot match. It is the pick for a Socket 1151 system that needs a legacy Xeon upgrade path. Its higher 80 W TDP allows for more aggressive sustained base clocking at 3.7 GHz base clock versus 1100.00 MHz base clock.

The i5-1130G7 does not win any head-to-head benchmark test, but it matches the Xeon in boost clock at 4.00 GHz, which is why the single-core deltas are so small. It wins in mobile platforms where 15 W TDP is a decisive advantage for laptops and compact systems. It doubles the memory bandwidth at 68.3 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s, and it uses a newer 10 nm process and Gen 4 PCIe support, which the older Xeon cannot offer. It is active, and it offers more L2 cache per core at 1.25 MB per core and a larger L1 cache at 96 KB per core. For anyone building a new system in 2020 or later, the i5 is the only one still in production.