Intel Core i5-1350P vs Intel Xeon W-1290 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290 has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i5-1350P has 12 cores and 16 threads. The Xeon offers more threads, while the Core i5 has more physical cores.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290 wins every single-core benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. It leads by 3.4% in Cinebench R15 single-core (242 vs 234), 3.2% in R20 single-core (1010 vs 979), and 3.3% in R23 single-core (2407 vs 2331).

Q: What is the difference in process node and architecture?

A: The Xeon W-1290 uses Intel's 14 nm process with Comet Lake architecture, while the Core i5-1350P uses Intel's 10 nm process with Raptor Lake architecture. The Raptor Lake part is the newer design.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon W-1290 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-1350P does not. This is a key differentiator for workstation and server reliability use cases.

Q: What are the TDP ratings of the two processors?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290 has a TDP of 80 watts, while the Intel Core i5-1350P has a TDP of 28 watts. The Core i5 is designed for mobile platforms with much lower power consumption.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290 has an average benchmark score of 4932, while the Intel Core i5-1350P scores 4776. Both sit at the 59th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon W-1290 wins all six recorded Cinebench tests against the Intel Core i5-1350P. The margin is consistent, ranging from 3.2% to 3.4% across every test. This is not a case where one chip wins in some workloads and loses in others; the Xeon holds a uniform advantage in both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads.

However, the use-case split is broader than raw benchmark scores. The Xeon W-1290 is a server/workstation part on the Intel Socket 1200 platform, with ECC memory support and a 20 MB shared L3 cache. It is built for sustained workstation loads, reliability features, and a desktop-class socket with upgrade flexibility. The Core i5-1350P is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1744, aimed at laptops and compact systems. It offers 12 cores, a smaller 12 MB L3 cache, and a 28-watt TDP, which suits power-constrained environments.

The i5-1350P wins in the areas of portability and efficiency: its TDP is 28 watts versus 80 watts for the Xeon, and it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Xeon is limited to DDR4. It also has more PCIe lanes (20 Gen 4 lanes) versus the Xeon's 16 Gen 3 lanes. For users who need a processor in a thin laptop or low-power system, the i5-1350P is the practical choice despite losing every benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design eras. The Xeon W-1290 is built on Comet Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 206 mm². It has 10 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. Each core carries 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache, with a shared 20 MB L3 cache.

The Core i5-1350P is based on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-P mobile variant, built on a 10 nm process. It has 12 cores and 16 threads, meaning it uses a mix of performance and efficiency cores rather than the uniform core layout of the Comet Lake Xeon. Its base clock is listed at 1900.00 MHz with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Each core has 80 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with a shared 12 MB L3 cache. The L2 cache per core is notably larger on the Raptor Lake part.

The memory controllers differ as well. The Xeon W-1290 supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a recorded memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The Core i5-1350P supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database does not list a memory bandwidth figure for it. PCIe support is another architectural split: the Xeon offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i5-1350P offers Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics also differ. The Xeon W-1290 includes Intel UHD Graphics P630, while the Core i5-1350P includes Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The Xeon is a server/workstation part with ECC memory support; the Core i5 is a mobile part without ECC. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1200, the Core i5 uses Intel BGA 1744, meaning one is socketed for desktop/workstation boards and the other is soldered for mobile designs.

Specification Differences

The core count differs: 10 cores for the Xeon W-1290 versus 12 cores for the Core i5-1350P. Thread counts reverse that: 20 threads for the Xeon versus 16 threads for the Core i5. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for the Xeon and 1900.00 MHz for the Core i5, while boost clocks are 5.20 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. The Xeon has a higher TDP at 80 watts versus 28 watts for the Core i5.

Sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1200 for the Xeon, Intel BGA 1744 for the Core i5. Process nodes are 14 nm versus 10 nm. The Xeon has a 206 mm² die size; no die size is recorded for the Core i5. Cache layouts differ: per-core L1 is 64 KB on the Xeon and 80 KB on the Core i5; per-core L2 is 256 KB versus 2 MB; shared L3 is 20 MB versus 12 MB.

Memory support: the Xeon supports DDR4 only, the Core i5 supports DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is recorded as 46.9 GB/s for the Xeon, with no figure for the Core i5. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon. PCIe: the Xeon has Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, the Core i5 has Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics P630 versus Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. Market segments are server/workstation versus mobile. Release dates are May 2020 for the Xeon and January 2023 for the Core i5. The launch MSRP for the Xeon is $498, and the launch MSRP for the Core i5 is $320. Both are active production parts with locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results form a consistent pattern: the Intel Xeon W-1290 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with every margin falling between 3.2% and 3.4%. There is no test where the Core i5-1350P pulls ahead, and no test where the gap widens dramatically. This consistency suggests a steady per-clock or per-thread advantage for the Xeon across the workload range.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 1718 against 1664 for the Core i5, a 3.2% lead. The single-core R15 test shows the Xeon at 242 versus 234, a 3.4% margin. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Xeon records 7162 versus 6935, a 3.3% lead. Single-core R20 shows 1010 versus 979, a 3.2% margin. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Xeon manages 17054 versus 16514, a 3.3% lead. Single-core R23 shows 2407 versus 2331, again 3.3%.

The largest single margin is the R15 single-core test at 3.4%, and the smallest are the R15 multicore and R20 single-core tests at 3.2%. The multicore and single-core deltas are nearly identical across all three Cinebench versions, which indicates that the Xeon's advantage does not come from thread scaling alone. If the Core i5's 12 cores were translating into a strong multi-threaded advantage, the multicore deltas would look different. Instead, the Xeon's 10 cores with 20 threads edge out the 12-core, 16-thread mobile part in both workload types.

Context from the nearest rivals in the database reinforces this picture. The Xeon W-1290 sits within 1% of CPUs like the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G (delta -0.3%), the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 (delta -0.7%), and the Intel Xeon Gold 5315Y (delta 0.9%). Its average benchmark score of 4932 is just below the Intel Core i5-12600HE at 4980. The Core i5-1350P, meanwhile, is essentially tied with the Intel Xeon W-1290E (delta 0%) and the AMD EPYC 7252 (delta 0.1%), with a 4776 average score. In other words, the Xeon W-1290 competes at a slightly higher performance tier, while the Core i5-1350P lands just below it, which aligns with the head-to-head deltas.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on platform needs. The Intel Xeon W-1290 is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark, leading the Core i5-1350P by 3.2% to 3.4% across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests. It also offers ECC memory support, a higher boost clock of 5.20 GHz, a larger 20 MB L3 cache, and a socketed desktop form factor on Intel Socket 1200. Its average benchmark score of 4932 places it alongside desktop and server parts like the AMD Ryzen 7 4700G and Intel Xeon Gold 5315Y. Users building a workstation or server system that needs ECC, sustained multi-threaded rendering, and a 3% performance edge should choose the Xeon W-1290.

The Intel Core i5-1350P is the right choice for mobile or low-power systems. Its 28-watt TDP is less than half the Xeon's 80 watts, it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and it provides Gen 4 PCIe with 20 lanes. It has more physical cores (12 versus 10) and a newer 10 nm Raptor Lake architecture with a much larger per-core L2 cache of 2 MB. Its average benchmark score of 4776 puts it in line with the Intel Xeon W-1290E and AMD EPYC 7252, so it is not far behind the Xeon in raw performance. For a laptop or compact system where power draw and platform integration matter more than a 3% benchmark margin, the Core i5-1350P is the appropriate pick.

Both processors occupy the 59th percentile of all CPUs in the database, which means they perform at a similar overall level despite their architectural differences. The Xeon W-1290 wins on performance and workstation features; the Core i5-1350P wins on efficiency, memory flexibility, and modern connectivity. The choice comes down to socket and power constraints rather than any meaningful performance gap.