Intel Core i5-8305G vs Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins every single head-to-head comparison in the database. Across six Cinebench tests, the Xeon leads the Core i5-8305G in both multi-core and single-core workloads, with no benchmark favoring the i5-8305G.

Starting with multi-core performance, the Xeon E3-1545M v5 scores 654 in Cinebench R15 multicore, while the Core i5-8305G records 578. That is a delta of -11.6% for the i5-8305G. The gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Xeon posts 2728 against the i5's 2410, a -11.7% difference. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Xeon reaches 6497, while the i5 manages 5739, again a -11.7% deficit for the i5-8305G.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the Xeon scores 92, versus 81 for the i5, a -12% difference. Cinebench R20 singlecore shows the Xeon at 385 and the i5 at 340, a -11.7% gap. Cinebench R23 singlecore continues the trend: 917 for the Xeon, 810 for the i5, another -11.7% margin.

The consistency of the deltas is notable. Across R20 and R23, both single-core and multi-core, the i5-8305G trails by exactly -11.7% in four tests. Only the R15 tests show slightly different margins, -11.6% for multicore and -12% for singlecore. This uniformity suggests the performance difference is structural rather than workload-specific.

In terms of overall standing, the Xeon E3-1545M v5 holds a 43rd percentile rank among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 1879. The Core i5-8305G sits just below at the 42nd percentile, with an average score of 1831. The nearest rivals for the i5-8305G include the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U at 1832 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 at 1830 (0% delta), and the Intel Xeon D-1537 at 1830 (0.1% delta). For the Xeon E3-1545M v5, the closest competitors are the Intel Processor U300 at 1881 (-0.1% delta), the Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 at 1882 (-0.2% delta), and the Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 at 1883 (-0.2% delta).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The Core i5-8305G is built on Kaby Lake, specifically the Kaby Lake G variant, and is classified as a mobile processor. The Xeon E3-1545M v5 uses the Skylake architecture, specifically Skylake-H, and is designated for the server/workstation segment.

Both chips share the same process node: 14 nm, produced by Intel. They also have identical core and thread counts: 4 cores and 8 threads each. Base clocks differ slightly, with the i5-8305G starting at 2.80 GHz and the Xeon at 2.90 GHz. The boost clocks are identical at 3.80 GHz for both.

Cache configurations show a difference in L3. The i5-8305G has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Xeon E3-1545M v5 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Both use 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core.

Memory support diverges significantly. The i5-8305G supports only DDR4 memory, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The Xeon is also equipped with dual-channel memory and a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s; the i5-8305G has no bandwidth figure in the database. ECC memory is supported by the Xeon but not by the i5-8305G.

The integrated graphics units are completely different. The i5-8305G pairs with a Radeon RX Vega M GL, a discrete-class GPU integrated into the package. The Xeon uses Iris Pro Graphics P580. PCIe support is listed for the Xeon as Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-8305G has no PCIe information recorded.

The Xeon provides additional physical details: 2,300 million transistors, a die size of 171 mm², and a part number of SR2QU. None of these figures are available for the i5-8305G. The Xeon also carries a launch MSRP of $679, which appears once here as recorded; the i5-8305G has no launch MSRP in the database.

Socket types differ: the i5-8305G uses Intel BGA 2270, while the Xeon uses Intel BGA 1440. TDP ratings also differ, with the i5-8305G rated at 65 watts and the Xeon at 45 watts. The Xeon is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i5-8305G remains active. Release dates are distinct: the i5-8305G came in 2018, and the Xeon in 2016.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, there is no test category in which the Core i5-8305G comes out ahead. The Xeon leads in every Cinebench iteration, both R15, R20, and R23, and in both single-core and multi-core runs.

For multi-core workloads, the Xeon's advantage is consistent at -11.7% in R20 and R23, and -11.6% in R15. This makes the Xeon the clear choice for rendering, compilation, or any heavily threaded task that scales across all 8 threads. The larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB) and higher base clock (2.90 GHz versus 2.80 GHz) likely contribute to this edge.

For single-core workloads, the Xeon leads by -11.7% in R20 and R23, and -12% in R15. This advantage applies to lightly threaded applications such as older games, spreadsheet calculations, or scripting tasks that rely on one core. The identical boost clock of 3.80 GHz means the Xeon cannot rely on a higher turbo frequency; instead, the gap likely stems from architectural efficiency of the Skylake design in this configuration.

The i5-8305G is not without merits, but they do not appear in CPU benchmark scores. Its integrated Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics could offer a different value proposition for tasks that rely on GPU compute or gaming, though no GPU benchmarks are present in the database. The i5-8305G also has a lower TDP of 65 watts compared to the Xeon's 45 watts, but in this comparison the higher-TDP chip performs worse, so the TDP difference does not translate into a performance advantage.

In terms of market positioning, the Xeon targets server and workstation use, with ECC memory support being a key feature for data integrity in professional environments. The i5-8305G targets mobile computing, and its active production status suggests it is still available for new designs, while the Xeon is end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 6497 versus 5739 for the Core i5-8305G, a -11.7% difference. In R20 multicore, the Xeon scores 2728 versus 2410, also -11.7%.

Q: Does the Core i5-8305G win any benchmark?

A: No. The database records zero wins for the i5-8305G and six wins for the Xeon E3-1545M v5 across all head-to-head Cinebench tests.

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

A: The Xeon leads in every single-core test. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Xeon scores 917 and the i5-8305G scores 810, a -11.7% margin. In R15 singlecore, the Xeon scores 92 versus 81, a -12% margin.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads. They also share the same 14 nm process node and the same 3.80 GHz boost clock.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 supports ECC memory, while the Core i5-8305G does not. The Xeon also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i5-8305G supports only DDR4.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall ranking?

A: The Xeon E3-1545M v5 sits at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1879. The Core i5-8305G is at the 42nd percentile, with an average score of 1831.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Xeon E3-1545M v5 outperforms the Intel Core i5-8305G in every recorded benchmark. Any user choosing between these two strictly on CPU compute performance should select the Xeon.

The Xeon's advantages are consistent across both single-core and multi-core workloads, with margins hovering around -11.7% to -12% in favor of the Xeon. This is not a narrow, workload-specific victory; it is a broad, repeatable lead across three generations of Cinebench tests. The Xeon also offers ECC memory support, dual-channel memory, and a higher memory bandwidth figure of 34.1 GB/s, all of which are absent from the i5-8305G's recorded specifications.

The i5-8305G does have one notable feature that the Xeon lacks: a Radeon RX Vega M GL integrated GPU, which could matter for tasks that offload work to the GPU. However, no GPU benchmarks are present in the database, so any such advantage is unquantified here. The i5-8305G also remains in active production, whereas the Xeon is end-of-life, which could affect availability for new systems.

For server or workstation deployments where ECC memory is required, the Xeon is the only choice of the two. For mobile applications where the integrated Radeon GPU is desirable, the i5-8305G remains a viable option, provided the CPU performance deficit is acceptable. But the verdict from the benchmark data is clear: in pure compute terms, the Xeon E3-1545M v5 is the stronger processor.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors, based on the recorded data:

• Base Clock: Core i5-8305G at 2.80 GHz, Xeon E3-1545M v5 at 2.90 GHz
• TDP: Core i5-8305G at 65 watts, Xeon E3-1545M v5 at 45 watts
• Socket: Core i5-8305G uses Intel BGA 2270, Xeon E3-1545M v5 uses Intel BGA 1440
• Architecture: Core i5-8305G uses Kaby Lake, Xeon E3-1545M v5 uses Skylake
• Codename: Core i5-8305G is Kaby Lake G, Xeon E3-1545M v5 is Skylake-H
• Generation: Core i5-8305G is Core i5 (Kaby Lake-G), Xeon E3-1545M v5 is Xeon E3 (Skylake-H)
• Transistors: Not recorded for Core i5-8305G, Xeon E3-1545M v5 has 2,300 million
• Die Size: Not recorded for Core i5-8305G, Xeon E3-1545M v5 has 171 mm²
• L3 Cache: Core i5-8305G has 6 MB shared, Xeon E3-1545M v5 has 8 MB shared
• Memory Support: Core i5-8305G supports DDR4 only, Xeon E3-1545M v5 supports DDR3 and DDR4
• Memory Bus: Not recorded for Core i5-8305G, Xeon E3-1545M v5 is dual-channel
• Memory Bandwidth: Not recorded for Core i5-8305G, Xeon E3-1545M v5 has 34.1 GB/s
• ECC Memory: Core i5-8305G does not support, Xeon E3-1545M v5 supports
• PCIe: Not recorded for Core i5-8305G, Xeon E3-1545M v5 is Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated Graphics: Core i5-8305G has Radeon RX Vega M GL, Xeon E3-1545M v5 has Iris Pro Graphics P580
• Market Segment: Core i5-8305G is Mobile, Xeon E3-1545M v5 is Server/Workstation
• Production Status: Core i5-8305G is Active, Xeon E3-1545M v5 is End-of-life
• Release Date: Core i5-8305G in 2018, Xeon E3-1545M v5 in 2016
• Launch MSRP: Not recorded for Core i5-8305G, Xeon E3-1545M v5 at $679
• Part Number: Not recorded for Core i5-8305G, Xeon E3-1545M v5 is SR2QU
• Benchmark Scores: Core i5-8305G has Geekbench scores (3536 multicore, 1150 singlecore), Xeon E3-1545M v5 has none recorded
• Percentile: Core i5-8305G at 42nd, Xeon E3-1545M v5 at 43rd
• Average Benchmark Score: Core i5-8305G at 1831, Xeon E3-1545M v5 at 1879