Intel Core i5-8279U vs Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8279U and Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 are both 4-core, 8-thread processors from Intel, but they target entirely different market segments: one is a mobile part and the other is a server/workstation chip. The head-to-head benchmark data is remarkably one-sided, with the Xeon E3-1245 v5 winning all six recorded comparisons. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 687 against the i5-8279U’s 634, a delta of -7.7% for the mobile chip. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 96 versus 89, a -7.3% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon’s multi-core score of 2865 beats the i5’s 2643 (-7.7%), and the single-core score of 404 beats 372 (-7.9%). The most recent Cinebench R23 results show the Xeon at 6822 multi-core versus 6294 (-7.7%) and 963 single-core versus 888 (-7.8%). Every deltaPct is negative for the i5-8279U, indicating a consistent performance deficit across all workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a uniform victory for the Xeon E3-1245 v5 across the entire Cinebench suite. The largest margin of victory for the Xeon is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it leads by 7.9%. This is closely followed by a 7.8% lead in R23 single-core and a 7.7% lead in R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, and R23 multi-core. The smallest gap is in R15 single-core at 7.3%. The consistency of these deltas—all hovering between 7.3% and 7.9%—suggests the Xeon’s advantage is not workload-specific but rather a general performance edge. The i5-8279U’s higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz does not translate into a win, as the Xeon’s 3.90 GHz boost clock, combined with its 3.50 GHz base clock, proves more effective in every test. The i5-8279U’s base clock of 2.40 GHz is substantially lower, and this likely contributes to its consistent underperformance, especially in sustained multi-threaded workloads like Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon’s higher sustained clocks matter more.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The i5-8279U has an average benchmark score of 1987, while the Xeon E3-1245 v5 sits at 1973. This is a curious result: despite losing every head-to-head test, the i5-8279U has a slightly higher average score. This discrepancy can be explained by the fact that the i5-8279U also has Geekbench scores in the FACT PACK (3764 multi-core, 1209 single-core), which are not included in the head-to-head comparisons. These Geekbench results likely boost the i5’s average, while the Xeon’s average is based on the Cinebench scores alone. In terms of percentile ranking, both CPUs sit at the 44th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are in the same performance tier overall. The nearest rivals for the i5-8279U include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B (deltaPct 0.1%) and the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 (deltaPct -0.1%), showing it is closely matched with those parts. The Xeon’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-10810U (deltaPct 0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-7600K (deltaPct -0.2%), placing it in a similar competitive bracket.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 is the faster processor in every benchmark test recorded. If the decision is based purely on raw compute performance, the Xeon is the clear choice. It wins all six Cinebench tests, with advantages ranging from 7.3% to 7.9%. A user running Cinebench R23 multi-core will see a score of 6822 on the Xeon versus 6294 on the i5-8279U, which is a meaningful difference for rendering or CPU-bound tasks. The i5-8279U, despite its higher boost clock, cannot overcome the Xeon’s higher base clock and larger L3 cache. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not, making it suitable for error-sensitive workloads. The i5-8279U’s only advantage lies in its integrated graphics (Iris Pro Plus 655 versus HD Graphics P530), but this is not reflected in the benchmark data provided. The i5-8279U also has a significantly lower TDP of 28W versus the Xeon’s 80W, making it a more power-efficient choice for mobile or compact systems. However, neither CPU is a winner in the benchmark data; the Xeon’s consistent lead makes it the recommended part for anyone prioritizing CPU performance.

The average benchmark scores are close (1987 vs 1973), but this is misleading. The head-to-head results are the definitive comparison, and they favor the Xeon in every instance. The percentile ranking of 44 for both CPUs confirms they are in the same performance class, but the Xeon is at the top of that class while the i5-8279U is at the bottom. The i5-8279U’s inclusion of Geekbench scores, which are absent for the Xeon, skews its average upward, but this does not change the outcome of the direct comparisons. For a system builder or a workstation user, the Xeon E3-1245 v5 is the superior choice based on the data. For a laptop or ultra-compact build where power consumption is critical, the i5-8279U’s lower TDP and integrated Iris Pro Plus 655 graphics may be more appealing, but the performance trade-off is significant.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 wins in all CPU-centric workloads. This includes multi-threaded rendering (Cinebench R15, R20, R23 multi-core) and single-threaded tasks (R15, R20, R23 single-core). The Xeon’s higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus the i5-8279U’s 2.40 GHz gives it a sustained performance advantage that is particularly noticeable in long-running tasks. The Xeon also has a larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB), which can improve performance in cache-sensitive applications. The Xeon’s ECC memory support is a clear win for reliability-focused workloads like file servers or data processing, where memory errors are unacceptable. The Xeon’s market segment is Server/Workstation, which aligns with its performance profile.

The Intel Core i5-8279U does not win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but it has qualitative advantages. Its integrated graphics, Iris Pro Plus 655, is a more capable iGPU than the Xeon’s HD Graphics P530, making it better suited for light gaming or media playback without a discrete GPU. The i5-8279U’s TDP of 28W is drastically lower than the Xeon’s 80W, making it the obvious choice for fanless or battery-powered designs. The i5-8279U also has a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which can provide short bursts of performance for responsive single-threaded tasks, even though it loses to the Xeon in the sustained benchmarks. The i5’s market segment is Mobile, and its socket (Intel BGA 1526) is soldered, which is typical for laptops. In summary, the Xeon wins on raw performance and ECC support, while the i5 wins on power efficiency and integrated graphics capability.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 scores 6822, while the Intel Core i5-8279U scores 6294, giving the Xeon a 7.7% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-8279U win any benchmark in the head-to-head data?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 wins all six head-to-head tests, with the i5-8279U’s deltas ranging from -7.3% to -7.9%.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance in Cinebench R20?

A: The Xeon E3-1245 v5 scores 404, and the i5-8279U scores 372, a difference of 7.9% in favor of the Xeon.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-8279U does not.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-8279U has a TDP of 28W, and the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 has a TDP of 80W.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-8279U has an average score of 1987, while the Xeon E3-1245 v5 has an average score of 1973. This includes Geekbench scores for the i5, which are not present for the Xeon.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different architectures despite sharing the same 14 nm process node. The Intel Core i5-8279U uses the Coffee Lake architecture (codename Coffee Lake-U), while the Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 uses the Skylake architecture (codename Skylake-DT). The i5-8279U is a mobile part with a socket of Intel BGA 1526, whereas the Xeon uses the desktop/server socket Intel Socket 1151. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, but the Xeon has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz) and a lower boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 4.10 GHz). The Xeon has a larger L3 cache of 8 MB shared, compared to the i5’s 6 MB shared. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The Xeon has 1,750 million transistors on a 122 mm² die, while the i5 has 2,300 million transistors on a 126 mm² die. The i5-8279U supports DDR4 memory, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4. Both have dual-channel memory buses and a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-8279U features Iris Pro Plus 655 integrated graphics, whereas the Xeon has HD Graphics P530. The Xeon supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i5-8279U was released in 2019, while the Xeon was released in 2015. The i5-8279U has a launch MSRP of $320, and the Xeon has a launch MSRP of $294. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are end-of-life products. The i5’s part number is SREZ0, and the Xeon’s is SR2LL.