Intel Core i5-1155G7 vs Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 is the consistent winner in every recorded Cinebench test, taking all six head-to-head comparisons. Its lead is narrow but uniform, ranging from 8.0% to 8.7% across both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Xeon posts an average benchmark score of 2550, sitting at the 49th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 at 2545, a 0.2% gap, and it trails the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS by just 0.3%. The Core i5-1155G7 averages 2496, also at the 49th percentile, with its nearest rival being the Intel Core i5-9500T at 2493, a 0.1% difference.

The data points to a clear recommendation for anyone prioritizing raw rendering performance: the Xeon E5-4640 v3 wins every benchmark in the comparison. However, that edge is not large, and the Core i5-1155G7 is a modern mobile part with a much higher boost clock and integrated graphics. The Xeon is an end-of-life server/workstation chip on Socket 2011-3, while the Core i5 is an active mobile processor on BGA 1449. For a server or workstation build where Cinebench throughput matters, the Xeon is the choice. For a compact, low-power mobile system, the Core i5 is the only practical option given its socket and 28 W TDP versus the Xeon's 105 W. The Xeon also supports ECC memory and quad-channel DDR4, while the Core i5 does not support ECC and runs dual-channel memory. If the workload demands error-correcting memory and high core counts, the Xeon is the clear pick. If portability and a modern feature set are the priorities, the Core i5 is the only feasible selection.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5-4640 v3 wins all six shared benchmarks, but the margins tell the real story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 888 against 822 for the Core i5, an 8% advantage. Single-core R15 shows 125 versus 115, an 8.7% lead. The pattern repeats in R20: multi-core 3702 versus 3425, single-core 522 versus 483, both at 8.1%. R23 multi-core shows 8816 versus 8155, and single-core 1244 versus 1151, again 8.1% each. The Xeon's largest edge is in R15 single-core at 8.7%, while its smallest is the 8% margin in R15 multi-core.

The Core i5-1155G7 has no benchmark wins in this comparison. However, the recorded data includes Geekbench scores only for the Core i5: 4246 multi-core and 1574 single-core. These are not part of the head-to-head set, so they cannot be directly compared. The Xeon has no Geekbench entries. What the Core i5 does offer is a substantially higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, a newer 10 nm process node versus 22 nm, and integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 80EU. The Xeon has no integrated graphics. In use cases where a discrete GPU is not available, the Core i5's integrated graphics make it the only one of the two that can output video without an add-in card.

The Xeon's wins come from its 12 cores and 24 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads, plus a 30 MB shared L3 cache versus 8 MB. The Core i5 counters with a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 1.90 GHz and a much higher boost clock. In short-duration single-threaded bursts, the Core i5's clock advantage does not translate into a Cinebench win, as the Xeon still leads by 8.1% to 8.7% in single-core tests. The Xeon's older Haswell architecture apparently delivers more instructions per clock in these specific tests, or the boost behavior favors it.

Architecture Differences

The Xeon E5-4640 v3 is built on the Haswell-EP architecture, a 22 nm design from Intel with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The Core i5-1155G7 uses Tiger Lake-U, based on the Willow Cove-U microarchitecture, on Intel's 10 nm process with a 144 mm² die size. The Xeon belongs to the Xeon E5 generation, while the Core i5 is part of the Core i5 generation. The process node gap is significant: 22 nm versus 10 nm, which explains the Core i5's much lower TDP of 28 W against the Xeon's 105 W despite the Xeon having three times the cores.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Xeon allocates 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 30 MB L3. The Core i5 has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 8 MB L3. The Core i5's larger per-core L2 reflects its newer design, while the Xeon's larger total L3 suits its server workload profile. Memory support diverges as well: the Xeon uses quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC, while the Core i5 uses dual-channel DDR4 or LPDDR4X with no recorded bandwidth figure and no ECC support.

PCIe generations differ. The Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i5 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The Xeon's 40 lanes make it suitable for multi-GPU or high-I/O server configurations; the Core i5's 16 Gen 4 lanes are typical for a mobile part. The Xeon uses Socket 2011-3, the Core i5 uses BGA 1449, meaning the Xeon is socketed and replaceable while the Core i5 is soldered. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $2859, while the Core i5's launch MSRP was $309. The Xeon is end-of-life and was released in May 2015; the Core i5 is active and was released in May 2021. Both have locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Xeon E5-4640 v3 wins every multi-core test. It scores 888 in R15 multi-core versus 822 for the Core i5, 3702 versus 3425 in R20, and 8816 versus 8155 in R23. The margin is 8% to 8.1%.

Q: Does the Core i5-1155G7 win any single-core tests?

A: No. The Xeon leads single-core Cinebench R15 with 125 versus 115, R20 with 522 versus 483, and R23 with 1244 versus 1151. The Xeon's lead in single-core ranges from 8.1% to 8.7%.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Xeon E5-4640 v3 supports ECC memory and uses quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i5-1155G7 does not support ECC and uses dual-channel DDR4 or LPDDR4X.

Q: Can either CPU be used without a discrete graphics card?

A: The Core i5-1155G7 includes integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 80EU. The Xeon E5-4640 v3 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon averages 2550, and the Core i5 averages 2496. Both sit at the 49th percentile of all CPUs. The Xeon's nearest rival is the Xeon E5-1650 v3 at 2545, while the Core i5's nearest rival is the Core i5-9500T at 2493.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Xeon has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core i5 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon also has a 30 MB shared L3 cache versus 8 MB on the Core i5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most lopsided result is Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon E5-4640 v3 scores 125 against 115 for the Core i5, an 8.7% lead. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison. R15 multi-core shows the smallest margin: 888 versus 822, an 8% difference. The two R20 tests show identical deltas of 8.1%: multi-core 3702 versus 3425, and single-core 522 versus 483. R23 mirrors this exactly, with 8816 versus 8155 in multi-core and 1244 versus 1151 in single-core, both 8.1%.

The consistency of these margins is notable. Across six tests, the Xeon's advantage stays between 8% and 8.7%, regardless of workload type. This suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific. The Xeon's 12-core, 24-thread configuration with 30 MB of L3 cache provides a comfortable but not overwhelming lead over the Core i5's 4-core, 8-thread design with 8 MB of L3. The Core i5's higher clocks, 2.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost versus 1.90 GHz and 2.60 GHz, are not enough to overcome the Xeon's architectural advantages in these tests.

The Xeon wins six head-to-head benchmarks, and the Core i5 wins none. However, the Core i5's Geekbench results, 4246 multi-core and 1574 single-core, are recorded in the database, though there are no corresponding Xeon scores for that test. The Xeon's average benchmark score of 2550 places it 2.2% above the Core i5's 2496. Both processors sit at the 49th percentile, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall standing among all CPUs. The Xeon's closest rivals are the Xeon E5-1650 v3 at 2545, the Ryzen 7 4800HS at 2557, the Core i3-10325 at 2530, and the Xeon E-2244G at 2527. The Core i5's closest rivals are the Core i5-9500T at 2493, the Xeon E5-2630 v3 at 2507, the Xeon E5-2643 v3 at 2511, and the Xeon E-2144G at 2514.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable field. Core count: 12 versus 4. Threads: 24 versus 8. Base clock: 1.90 GHz versus 2.50 GHz. Boost clock: 2.60 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. TDP: 105 W versus 28 W. Socket: Intel Socket 2011-3 versus Intel BGA 1449. Architecture: Haswell versus Tiger Lake. Process node: 22 nm versus 10 nm.

Cache: the Xeon has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, with 30 MB shared L3. The Core i5 has 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 8 MB shared L3. Memory: the Xeon supports DDR4 with quad-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC. The Core i5 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X with dual-channel bus and no ECC, and no bandwidth figure is recorded. PCIe: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes, the Core i5 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics: none on the Xeon, Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 80EU on the Core i5.

Market segment: Server/Workstation for the Xeon, Mobile for the Core i5. Production status: End-of-life versus Active. Release date: May 2015 versus May 2021. Launch MSRP: $2859 for the Xeon, $309 for the Core i5. Part numbers: SR22L for the Xeon, SRKSF for the Core i5. Both have locked multipliers. The Xeon's die is 356 mm² with 2,600 million transistors; the Core i5's die is 144 mm² with no transistor count recorded.