Intel Core i5-7300HQ vs Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 and Intel Core i5-7300HQ are both 45 W, four-core mobile processors on the Intel BGA 1440 socket, but they deliver very different experiences. Benchmark results show a decisive advantage for the Xeon, which wins every single head-to-head test by a remarkably consistent margin. The data paints a clear picture: the Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the faster chip across the board, and the i5-7300HQ trails by roughly 16% in every Cinebench workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the benchmark data is the uniformity of the Xeon’s victory. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 scores 507 against the i5-7300HQ’s 434, a 16.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test tells the same story: 71 for the Xeon versus 61 for the i5, a 16.4% lead. This is not a case of one chip winning on multithreaded loads and the other taking single-threaded tasks — the Xeon dominates both.

Moving to newer Cinebench versions does not change the outcome. In Cinebench R20, the Xeon scores 2115 multicore and 298 single-core, while the i5 manages 1812 and 255 respectively. That translates to a 16.7% multicore lead and a 16.9% single-core lead. The margins are nearly identical across every test, which suggests the difference is fundamental to the architecture rather than workload-specific.

Cinebench R23 confirms the trend with the Xeon at 5036 multicore and 711 single-core, versus the i5’s 4316 and 609. The multicore delta is 16.7% and the single-core delta is also 16.7%. In total, the Xeon wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, and the i5-7300HQ wins none. The consistency is remarkable — every single result falls between 16.4% and 16.9%, a narrow band that points to a fixed performance gap.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 sits at 1456, while the i5-7300HQ is at 1448. This places the Xeon 0.6% ahead of the i5 in the aggregate metric, which aligns with the nearestRivals data for both chips. The i5’s own rival list shows the Xeon at 1456 with a -0.6% delta, confirming the relationship from both directions. Both processors share the 38th percentile among all CPUs, meaning neither is a top-tier performer, but the Xeon is consistently faster than the i5 in every measured workload.

Architecture Differences

The Xeon E3-1515M v5 is built on Skylake-H architecture with a 14 nm process node, while the i5-7300HQ uses Kaby Lake-H, also on 14 nm. Both are quad-core designs, but the Xeon supports 8 threads through Hyper-Threading, whereas the i5 is limited to 4 threads. This is the single largest architectural difference and explains much of the multicore performance gap, though the single-core lead shows clock speed and IPC also play a role.

Clock speeds favor the Xeon as well. The Xeon has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i5 runs at 2.50 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. Both are 45 W parts, but the Xeon’s higher clocks across the board contribute to its consistent lead. The die size differs significantly: the Xeon packs 2,300 million transistors into a 171 mm² die, while the i5 uses a 126 mm² die with transistor count not listed in the data. This larger die reflects the Xeon’s additional features.

Cache configurations differ as well. The Xeon has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5 has 6 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The extra 2 MB of L3 cache on the Xeon likely helps in memory-heavy workloads, though the benchmark data does not isolate cache effects specifically.

The integrated graphics are another major divergence. The Xeon features Iris Pro Graphics P580, a professional-grade GPU, while the i5 uses the more mainstream Intel HD Graphics 630. Memory support is dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4 for both, but the Xeon lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the i5’s memory bandwidth is not provided in the data. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not, and is classified as a Server/Workstation part, whereas the i5 is a Mobile processor.

The Verdict

From the data alone, the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the superior processor. It wins every benchmark by a consistent 16-17% margin, offers double the thread count, higher clock speeds, more L3 cache, ECC memory support, and a more capable integrated GPU. The only area where the i5-7300HQ has a clear advantage is launch MSRP — $250 versus the Xeon’s $489. But price is not a performance metric, and the benchmark results leave no ambiguity about which chip is faster.

For users who need maximum performance from a 45 W mobile part, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the obvious choice. Its 8 threads and higher clocks make it better suited for multithreaded workloads, and its single-core performance is also ahead. The i5-7300HQ is a capable processor in its own right — it shares the same 38th percentile ranking and its average score of 1448 is only 0.6% behind the Xeon’s 1456 — but it loses every head-to-head comparison.

The i5-7300HQ makes sense only if the Xeon’s additional features are unnecessary and the lower launch MSRP is a priority. Both chips are end-of-life, so availability may be limited, but for raw performance, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the clear winner. The data shows no scenario where the i5 outperforms the Xeon, making this a straightforward recommendation: choose the Xeon for performance, choose the i5 only for its lower launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 has 8 threads versus the i5-7300HQ’s 4 threads. Base clock is 2.80 GHz on the Xeon versus 2.50 GHz on the i5, and boost clock is 3.70 GHz versus 3.50 GHz. The Xeon has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5 has 6 MB. Both use 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

The Xeon’s die is 171 mm² with 2,300 million transistors, whereas the i5’s die is 126 mm² with no transistor count listed. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the i5 does not. Integrated graphics differ: Iris Pro Graphics P580 on the Xeon versus Intel HD Graphics 630 on the i5. The Xeon lists memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s; the i5’s bandwidth is not provided.

Market segment differs as well — the Xeon is classified as Server/Workstation, while the i5 is Mobile. The Xeon was released on 2016-01-23 with a launch MSRP of $489, and the i5 was released on 2017-01-02 with a launch MSRP of $250. Both use the Intel BGA 1440 socket, 14 nm process, dual-channel DDR3/DDR4 memory, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Part numbers are SR2QT for the Xeon and SR32S for the i5.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 71 in R15, 298 in R20, and 711 in R23, versus 61, 255, and 609 for the i5-7300HQ. The single-core deltas range from 16.4% to 16.9% in favor of the Xeon.

Q: How much faster is the Xeon in multicore performance?

A: The Xeon leads by 16.8% in Cinebench R15 multicore (507 vs 434), 16.7% in R20 multicore (2115 vs 1812), and 16.7% in R23 multicore (5036 vs 4316). The margin is consistent across all tests.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 supports ECC memory, while the i5-7300HQ does not. This is a key differentiator for users who require error-correcting memory in workstation or server environments.

Q: What is the difference in thread count?

A: The Xeon has 8 threads through Hyper-Threading, while the i5 has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores, but the Xeon can process twice as many threads simultaneously, which contributes to its multicore advantage.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket?

A: Yes, both use the Intel BGA 1440 socket. This means they are potentially interchangeable in compatible systems, though the Xeon’s server/workstation classification and the i5’s mobile classification may affect motherboard support.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Xeon E3-1515M v5 has an average benchmark score of 1456, while the i5-7300HQ scores 1448. The Xeon is 0.6% ahead, and both sit at the 38th percentile among all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins in every benchmark category. It is faster in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multicore. The data shows six wins for the Xeon and zero for the i5. The Xeon’s advantages in threads, clocks, and cache translate directly into superior performance across all tested workloads.

The i5-7300HQ’s only advantage is its launch MSRP of $250, which is lower than the Xeon’s $489. For users building on a tighter budget, the i5 offers the same core count and socket compatibility at a lower initial cost, but the performance penalty is substantial — roughly 16-17% in every Cinebench test.

For multithreaded productivity, rendering, or any workload that scales with threads, the Xeon’s 8-thread capability makes it the clear choice. The single-core tests also favor the Xeon, so even lightly threaded applications see a benefit. The Xeon’s ECC memory support and Iris Pro Graphics P580 add value for workstation-class tasks that demand reliability and GPU compute capability.

The i5-7300HQ is suitable for basic mobile computing where the lower launch MSRP is more important than maximum performance. It shares the same 45 W TDP and 14 nm process, so power consumption is identical, but the benchmark data shows it consistently trails the Xeon. Users who do not need ECC memory, do not require 8 threads, and prioritize the lower launch MSRP may find the i5 adequate, but the performance data offers no scenario where it beats the Xeon.