Intel Core i5-6600T vs Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 across every comparable benchmark in the database. In all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Xeon takes the win with deltas ranging from 16.4% to 17.5%. The smallest margin appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 78 against the Core i5-6600T's 67, a 16.4% advantage. The largest gap is in Cinebench R20 single-core, with the Xeon at 329 and the i5 at 280, a 17.5% delta.

Multi-threaded workloads show a similar pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon posts 560 versus 478, a 17.2% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 2336 against 1992, a 17.3% delta. Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the theme, with the Xeon at 5564 and the i5 at 4745, again 17.3%. The single-core results across R15, R20, and R23 are 78 vs 67, 329 vs 280, and 785 vs 669 respectively. Every one of these wins belongs to the Xeon, and the consistency of the margins, clustering tightly between 16.4% and 17.5%, indicates that the underlying advantage is structural rather than workload-specific noise.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this. The Xeon has an average benchmark score of 1609, while the Core i5-6600T sits at 1563. The Xeon's percentile ranking in the database is 39, and the i5 also lands at 39, placing both chips in the same tier of all-CPU percentile standings. The nearest rivals for the Xeon include the Intel Core i7-10610U at an average score of 1611 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Core i7-970 at 1613 with -0.2%, the Intel Core i3-9100E at 1605 with 0.3%, and the Intel Core i3-9100T at 1620 with -0.7%. The Core i5-6600T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-8300 at 1564 with -0.1%, the AMD Ryzen 3 1300X at 1562 with 0.1%, the AMD Opteron 6276 at 1560 with 0.2%, and the Intel Core i3-1115G4E at 1559 with 0.3%. These surrounding scores show the Xeon operates in a slightly higher average-score bracket, roughly 46 points above the i5-6600T, while the delta between each chip and its closest competitor is less than 1% in all cases.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E3-1240L v5 wins every benchmark category recorded in the database. There are six wins for the Xeon and zero for the Core i5-6600T across the head-to-head tests. This includes both single-threaded and multi-threaded Cinebench tests, so the Xeon's advantage is not confined to heavily parallel work. In single-core tests, the Xeon leads by 16.4%, 17.5%, and 17.3% in R15, R20, and R23 respectively. In multi-core tests, the leads are 17.2%, 17.3%, and 17.3% in the same three versions. The consistency of these margins, all within a roughly one-point band, suggests the Xeon's higher clock behavior and thread count translate across different rendering workloads.

The Core i5-6600T does have one recorded result the Xeon lacks: a Geekbench multi-core score of 3104 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1172. The database does not contain a Geekbench run for the Xeon, so no direct comparison is possible for that suite. However, for any workload represented in the shared head-to-head set, the i5-6600T trails. The i5's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 669 is lower than the Xeon's 785, and its multi-core score of 4745 is lower than the Xeon's 5564. The i5-6600T's best Cinebench showing, 478 in R15 multi-core, still falls short of the Xeon's 560 in the same test.

The use-case split is therefore lopsided. For rendering, 3D modeling, or any task that exercises the Cinebench family of workloads, the Xeon is the stronger part in both single- and multi-threaded scenarios. The i5-6600T offers no benchmark win in any recorded category to claim as a counterpoint, aside from its exclusive Geekbench entries, which cannot be compared against a missing Xeon result.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same Skylake architecture generation, the same 14 nm process node from Intel, the same Intel Socket 1151 package, the same dual-channel memory bus with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, the same DDR3 and DDR4 memory support, and the same PCIe Gen 3 implementation with 16 CPU lanes. The Xeon's die size is 122 mm² with 1,750 million transistors, while the i5-6600T has a larger die at 177 mm² and no transistor count listed in the database. The Xeon carries 8 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the i5-6600T has 6 MB. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, and the thread counts diverge: the Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads, the i5 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a feature the i5-6600T does not offer. The Xeon's market segment is listed as Server/Workstation, while the i5-6600T is a Desktop. The i5-6600T includes integrated UHD Graphics 530, while the Xeon lists no integrated graphics in its database entry. The Xeon's base clock is 2.10 GHz with a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, and its TDP is 25 W. The i5-6600T has a base clock of 2.70 GHz with a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, and a TDP of 35 W. The Xeon's release date is recorded as 2015-10-18T17:00:00.000Z, while the i5-6600T's is 2015-07-01T17:00:00.000Z. The Xeon's part number is SR2LN, and the i5-6600T's part number is SR2L9. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $278, and the i5-6600T's launch MSRP is $213. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

The die size difference, 122 mm² versus 122 mm², is notable given the Xeon packs more L3 cache into a smaller die. The Xeon's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 5564, achieved with 8 threads, suggests its L3 allocation and threading configuration more than compensates for the i5's higher base clock and boost clock. The i5-6600T's 4 threads, despite its 2.70 GHz base clock advantage, cannot match the Xeon's 25 W TDP efficiency.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Xeon E3-3.20 GHz boost clock, 8 threads, and 8 MB L3, deliver higher scores in every shared benchmark category. The Core i5-6600T, with its UHD Graphics 530, 3.50 GHz boost, 4 threads, and 6 MB L3, never overtakes the Xeon in any head-to-head test. The Xeon is the correct selection for any workload represented in the database's Cinebench suite, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, with margins between 16.4% and 17.5%. The i5-6600T does retain a Geekbench presence, 3104 multi-core and 1172 single-core, but no Xeon Geekbench score exists for direct comparison.

The percentile rankings are identical at 39, meaning both processors sit at the same overall position in the database relative to all CPUs. The average scores, 1609 for the Xeon and 1563 for the i5-6600T, place the Xeon higher, and its nearest rivals are all within 0.7% of its average, while the i5's nearest rivals are within 0.3%. The Xeon's ECC support and server/workstation segment designation align with reliability-focused builds, while the i5-6600T's integrated graphics make it a self-contained desktop part. The Xeon's 25 W TDP versus the i5's 35 W TDP gives the Xeon a measured power envelope advantage, though no power testing is in the database. Buyers should pick the Xeon for maximum benchmark performance and ECC memory capability, or the i5-6600T for its integrated graphics and lower launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 wins every recorded single-core test. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 785 versus the Core i5-6600T's 669, a 17.3% delta.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: The Xeon leads by 17.2% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (560 vs 478), 17.3% in R20 multi-core (2336 vs 1992), and 17.3% in R23 multi-core (5564 vs 4745).

Q: Do both CPUs share the same socket and architecture?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1151 and the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process. They also share the same dual-channel memory bus at 34.1 GB/s and the same DDR3 and DDR4 memory support.

Q: Does the Core i5-6600T have any benchmark advantage over the Xeon's?

A: The i5-6600T has Geekbench scores of 3104 multi-core and 1172 single-core, and the Xeon has no Geekbench result in the database, so no direct comparison is available for that test. In all Cinebench tests, the i5 trails.

Q: What are the thread and cache differences?

A: The Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-6600T has 4 cores and 4 threads with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E3-1240L v5 has ECC memory support, while the Core i5-6600T does not. The Xeon's market segment is listed as Server/Workstation, and the i5 is listed as Desktop. The Xeon also lists no integrated graphics, while the i5 includes UHD Graphics 530.