Intel Core i5-7400 vs Intel Xeon W-2195 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7400 and the Intel Xeon W-2195 occupy opposite ends of the desktop-to-workstation spectrum, and the recorded benchmark data makes that separation explicit. The i5-7400 is a 4-core, 4-thread Kaby Lake desktop part, while the Xeon W-2195 is an 18-core, 36-thread Skylake-W workstation processor. Across every measured workload in the database, the Xeon W-2195 posts a higher score, often by a wide margin. The data shows a consistent pattern of Xeon dominance, but the two chips are not competing for the same user, and the specifics of each victory matter more than the raw tally.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon W-2195 wins every single benchmark recorded in the head-to-head comparison. That is six wins out of six tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The most striking victories come in multi-threaded tests, where the Xeon's 18 cores and 36 threads produce scores that dwarf the i5-7400. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 23828 against 4658 for the i5, a gap of roughly 80.5 percent in the Xeon's favor. Similar margins appear in R20 multi-core, where the Xeon scores 10007 versus 1956, and in R15 multi-core, where it scores 2401 versus 469.

The Xeon also wins the single-core tests, though the margins are consistent with the multi-core results. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 3363 against 657, and in R20 single-core it scores 1412 against 275. Even the R15 single-core test, which is often more forgiving of older architectures, shows the Xeon at 338 versus 66. The i5-7400 has no benchmark win in the database, so there is no workload category where the data suggests it comes out ahead.

That said, the i5-7400 does have a place in the broader database context. Its average benchmark score is 7469, which places it in the 63rd percentile of all CPUs tracked. The Xeon W-2195 also sits in the 63rd percentile, but with a lower average benchmark score of 6892. This is a curious data point: the Xeon wins every head-to-head test, yet its overall average score is lower than the i5's. The explanation lies in the nearest rival data. The i5-7400's closest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4570 (average score 7421, delta 0.6 percent), the Intel Core i9-9990XE (7415, delta 0.7 percent), the AMD EPYC 7282 (7409, delta 0.8 percent), and the Intel Core i9-9980XE (7398, delta 1 percent). The Xeon W-2195, by contrast, sits near the Intel Core i5-3470 (6906, delta negative 0.2 percent), the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G (6931, delta negative 0.6 percent), the Intel Core i3-1115G4 (6851, delta 0.6 percent), and the AMD Athlon X4 970 (6850, delta 0.6 percent). The Xeon's average is pulled down by the fact that it has fewer recorded benchmark entries, all of which are Cinebench tests, while the i5 has a broader set that includes PassMark and GeekBench results.

In terms of use-case split, the data points to the Xeon W-2195 as the clear choice for any workload that stresses multiple cores, such as rendering, simulation, or compilation. The i5-7400 remains a functional desktop processor for everyday tasks, but the recorded benchmarks do not show it winning any category.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2195 has 18 cores and 36 threads. The Intel Core i5-7400 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Xeon W-2195 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon W-2195 has ECC memory support. The Core i5-7400 does not.

Q: What are the memory channel configurations for these two processors?

A: The Xeon W-2195 uses a quad-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Core i5-7400 uses a dual-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Core i5-7400 includes Intel HD 630 integrated graphics. The Xeon W-2195 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the socket difference between the two?

A: The Core i5-7400 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Xeon W-2195 uses Intel Socket 2066.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Xeon W-2195 has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, which is higher than the Core i5-7400's boost clock of 3.50 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the Xeon W-2195 wins all six recorded tests, and every win carries the same delta percentage of negative 80.5 percent from the perspective of the i5-7400. That means the i5 scores 80.5 percent lower than the Xeon in each test. The consistency of that margin across both single-core and multi-core tests is notable, because it suggests the performance gap is not merely a function of core count, but also of clock speed and architecture efficiency.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 2401 against the i5's 469. That is a 5.1 times difference in raw score. In R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 338 against 66, which is also roughly 5.1 times higher. Moving to R20, the Xeon's multi-core score is 10007 against 1956, and single-core is 1412 against 275. Both represent the same 80.5 percent delta. In R23, the multi-core gap is 23828 versus 4658, and single-core is 3363 versus 657.

The fact that the delta percentage is identical across all tests (80.5 percent) is a consequence of the scoring scale and the relative performance ratio, but it also highlights that the Xeon's advantage is consistent regardless of workload type. In multi-core tests, the Xeon's 18 cores and 36 threads provide an obvious advantage. In single-core tests, the Xeon's boost clock of 4.30 GHz, which is higher than the i5's 3.50 GHz, helps it maintain the same relative lead. The i5's base clock of 3.00 GHz is higher than the Xeon's 2.30 GHz, but the Xeon's boost clock is what matters in single-threaded bursts, and the data reflects that.

Looking at the broader benchmark suite for the i5-7400, it posts a GeekBench multi-core score of 2740 and a single-core score of 1043. Its PassMark multi-thread score is 5475, and its single-thread score is 2074. In PassMark sub-tests, the i5 scores 76268 in data compression, 1611 in data encryption, 6452 in extended instructions, 27 in find prime numbers, 12042 in floating point math, 14293 in integer math, 438 in physics, and 9301 in random string sorting. The Xeon W-2195 does not have corresponding PassMark or GeekBench entries in the database, so a direct comparison on those workloads is not possible. The only comparable data points are the six Cinebench tests, and the Xeon wins all of them.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Core i5-7400 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon W-2195 has 18 cores and 36 threads. The i5's base clock is 3.00 GHz and its boost clock is 3.50 GHz. The Xeon's base clock is 2.30 GHz and its boost clock is 4.30 GHz. The i5 has a thermal design power of 65 watts, while the Xeon has a TDP of 140 watts.

The sockets are different: the i5 uses Intel Socket 1151, and the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2066. The memory support differs as well. Both support DDR4, but the i5 uses a dual-channel memory bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Xeon uses a quad-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The i5 does not support ECC memory, while the Xeon does.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The i5 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes. The i5 includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD 630, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The market segments are different: the i5 is a desktop part, and the Xeon is a server or workstation part. The production status also differs: the i5 is listed as active, while the Xeon is end-of-life. The release dates are different, with the i5 released in January 2017 and the Xeon in August 2017. The part numbers are SR32W for the i5 and SR3RX for the Xeon. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process node, but they come from different architecture families. The Core i5-7400 is based on Kaby Lake, with the codename also listed as Kaby Lake, and it belongs to the Core i5 (Kaby Lake) generation. The Xeon W-2195 is based on Skylake, with the codename Skylake-W, and it belongs to the Xeon W (Skylake-W) generation.

The cache hierarchies differ significantly. The i5-7400 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon W-2195 also has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but its L2 cache is 1 MB per core, and its L3 cache is 24.75 MB shared. The Xeon's larger per-core L2 and much larger shared L3 reflect its workstation positioning.

The Xeon also has a larger die size at 484 mm², while the i5's die size is not listed in the database. Both are manufactured by Intel. The i5's transistor count is not listed, and neither is the Xeon's. The Xeon's production status is end-of-life, whereas the i5 remains active, which means the i5 is still a current product while the Xeon is being phased out. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $2553, and the i5 has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion for different audiences. For anyone running heavily multi-threaded workloads such as 3D rendering, video encoding, scientific computing, or virtualization, the Intel Xeon W-2195 is the stronger choice. It wins every multi-core Cinebench test by roughly 80.5 percent, and its 18 cores and 36 threads provide a massive parallel throughput advantage. The Xeon's 24.75 MB of shared L3 cache, 1 MB per-core L2 cache, quad-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC memory support all reinforce its workstation and server role. The 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes also allow for substantial expansion, which matters in a workstation context.

For a desktop user with lighter workloads, the Intel Core i5-7400 remains a serviceable processor. It has a higher base clock at 3.00 GHz, integrated HD 630 graphics, a much lower 65 watt TDP, and an active production status. Its average benchmark score of 7469 places it in the 63rd percentile, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4570 and the Intel Core i9-9980XE, which shows that its overall standing in the database is competitive. However, the i5 loses every head-to-head test to the Xeon, and its 4-core, 4-thread configuration limits its multi-core potential.

The database also shows that the Xeon's average benchmark score of 6892 is lower than the i5's 7469, despite the Xeon winning every direct comparison. This is because the average score aggregates all recorded benchmarks, and the Xeon's recorded tests are exclusively Cinebench, while the i5 also has GeekBench and PassMark results. The i5's PassMark multi-thread score of 5475 and GeekBench multi-core score of 2740 contribute to its average, while the Xeon's Cinebench scores, though high, do not include those additional test types.

The production status difference matters for long-term planning. The i5 is active, while the Xeon is end-of-life. Users building a new system today might prefer the i5 for availability, but anyone needing the Xeon's compute capacity would be looking at a platform that is being phased out. The Xeon's launch MSRP of $2553 reflects its workstation-class positioning, though the database does not provide current pricing.

In summary, the Intel Xeon W-2195 is the performance leader in every recorded benchmark, with an 80.5 percent advantage over the Core i5-7400 in all six Cinebench tests. The Core i5-7400 offers a lower TDP, integrated graphics, an active production status, and a higher average benchmark score when factoring in its broader test suite, but it cannot match the Xeon in raw compute throughput. The Xeon is the clear choice for multi-threaded workstation workloads, while the i5 fits desktop scenarios where its lower power draw and integrated graphics are sufficient.