Intel Core i5-7600 vs Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i5-7600 does not win a single recorded benchmark in this matchup.

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two chips?

A: Across the six Cinebench tests, the Xeon leads by 16.2% to 16.5%. The multicore deltas are consistently 16.2%, while the single-core delta in Cinebench R15 is 16.5%.

Q: Do both processors have the same core count?

A: Yes, both have 4 physical cores. However, the Xeon E3-1545M v5 supports 8 threads, while the Core i5-7600 supports only 4 threads.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The Xeon E3-1545M v5 has an average benchmark score of 1879, while the Core i5-7600 scores 1844. The Xeon also holds a 43rd percentile ranking versus the i5’s 42nd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i5-7600 has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which is higher than the Xeon E3-1545M v5’s 3.80 GHz boost clock. The i5 also has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz versus 2.90 GHz.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 supports ECC memory. The Core i5-7600 does not.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 is built on the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-H codename, while the Intel Core i5-7600 uses the Kaby Lake architecture. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but the Xeon’s die size is 171 mm² and it packs 2,300 million transistors, whereas the i5’s die size and transistor count are not recorded in the database.

The Xeon belongs to the server/workstation market segment and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. The Core i5-7600 is a desktop part using the Intel Socket 1151. The Xeon’s generation is listed as “Xeon E3 (Skylake-H)”, while the i5 is “Core i5 (Kaby Lake)”.

Cache hierarchies differ in the shared L3: the Xeon provides 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5 offers 6 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i5 supports only DDR4. Both are dual-channel, but the memory bandwidth differs: 34.1 GB/s for the Xeon versus 38.4 GB/s for the i5.

Integrated graphics also differ. The Xeon includes Iris Pro Graphics P580, a higher-tier GPU solution, while the i5 has HD 630. The Xeon supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i5. Both processors have Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes (CPU only), and both have locked multipliers.

The Xeon was released on 2016-01-23 and is marked end-of-life. The Core i5-7600 was released on 2017-01-02 and remains active in production status. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $679. The i5 has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Xeon E3-1545M v5 across all six Cinebench tests. The smallest delta is 16.2%, and the largest is 16.5%. The Xeon wins Cinebench R15 multicore with 654 points against 563, a 16.2% advantage. In R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 92 versus 79, a 16.5% lead.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Xeon’s multicore score is 2728, while the i5 manages 2348, again a 16.2% delta. Single-core R20 sees the Xeon at 385 versus 331, a 16.3% difference. In Cinebench R23, the Xeon posts 6497 multicore and 917 single-core, while the i5 posts 5591 and 789 respectively, with deltas of 16.2% in both.

The i5-7600’s only additional benchmark data beyond Cinebench comes from Geekbench, where it scores 3704 multicore and 1344 single-core. The Xeon has no Geekbench entry in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there.

The average benchmark score tells a similar story, though the gap narrows. The Xeon averages 1879, the i5 averages 1844, a difference of 35 points. The nearest rivals for the Xeon include the Intel Processor U300 at 1881 (0.1% ahead), the Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 at 1882, the Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 at 1883, and the Intel Xeon D-1531 at 1885. The i5’s nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-8706G at 1842 (0.1% behind the i5), the AMD Athlon Gold PRO 3150G at 1836, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U at 1832, and the Intel Core i5-8305G at 1831.

The percentile rankings reinforce the narrow overall gap: the Xeon sits at the 43rd percentile, the i5 at the 42nd. Despite the i5’s higher clock speeds, the Xeon’s extra threads and larger cache contribute to a consistent edge in every Cinebench workload.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 | Intel Core i5-7600 |

|---|---|---|

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Skylake-H | Kaby Lake |

| Generation | Xeon E3 (Skylake-H) | Core i5 (Kaby Lake) |

| Transistors | 2,300 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 171 mm² | Not recorded |

| L3 cache | 8 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Pro Graphics P580 | HD 630 |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release date | 2016-01-23 | 2017-01-02 |

| Launch MSRP | $679 | Not recorded |

| Part number | SR2QU | SR334 |

The table above captures only the fields where the two processors differ. Both share the same core count, L1 and L2 cache sizes, process node, foundry, PCIe configuration, dual-channel memory bus, and locked multiplier status.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins every recorded benchmark in this comparison, so its dominance is clear in Cinebench workloads. The multicore tests, which scale with thread count, show the Xeon’s Hyper-Threading advantage: 8 threads versus 4 threads yields a consistent 16.2% lead in R15, R20, and R23 multicore scores. For users running rendering, video encoding, or any heavily threaded application, the Xeon is the stronger choice based on these results.

The Xeon also wins in single-core tests, despite the i5’s higher base and boost clocks. The Xeon’s single-core scores are higher by 16.2% to 16.5% across all three Cinebench versions. This suggests the Xeon’s architecture or cache configuration provides an efficiency edge that clock speed alone does not overcome. The Xeon’s 8 MB L3 cache versus 6 MB may contribute to this result.

The Xeon’s ECC memory support and server/workstation market segment position it for reliability-focused tasks. Its Iris Pro Graphics P580 is a more capable integrated GPU than the i5’s HD 630, which matters for systems without discrete graphics. The lower TDP of 45 W versus 65 W also makes the Xeon a better fit for compact or thermally constrained chassis, even though it uses a BGA socket that is not upgradeable.

The Intel Core i5-7600 wins in areas not covered by the benchmark suite. Its higher clock speeds, 3.50 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost, make it the better choice for lightly threaded workloads that respond to raw frequency, such as legacy software or single-threaded games. Its memory bandwidth is higher at 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s, which can benefit memory-sensitive applications. The i5 supports only DDR4, which simplifies platform memory choices compared to the Xeon’s dual DDR3/DDR4 support.

The i5 also uses the Socket 1151 platform, which offers more mainstream motherboard compatibility and an active production status. The Xeon, being end-of-life and using a BGA 1440 socket, is limited to the original mobile or embedded platform. For a desktop user building a new system today, the i5’s active status and socket type are practical advantages.

The average benchmark scores, however, tell a nuanced story. The Xeon’s average of 1879 is only 1.9% higher than the i5’s 1844, and the percentile rankings are adjacent (43rd versus 42nd). This indicates that in overall CPU performance, the two chips are closely matched, despite the Xeon’s clean sweep in Cinebench. The i5’s Geekbench scores, 3704 multicore and 1344 single-core, are not directly comparable to any Xeon data, so they neither confirm nor contradict the Cinebench results.

In summary, the Xeon E3-1545M v5 is the benchmark winner in every recorded workload, with a particular strength in multithreaded tasks and even a notable lead in single-core Cinebench. The Core i5-7600 offers higher clocks, greater memory bandwidth, and a more current desktop platform, making it the preferable option for mainstream desktop use where Cinebench-style workloads are not the primary focus. The data favors the Xeon for server-like duties, while the i5 holds advantages in platform flexibility and raw clock speed.