Intel Core i7-1068NG7 vs Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 and the Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 represent two radically different approaches to computing: a low-power mobile processor versus a high-core-count server workhorse. Despite their disparate origins, the benchmark data reveals a surprisingly close contest, with the mobile chip edging ahead in every single measured test. The numbers tell a story of architectural efficiency triumphing over raw core counts, at least within the specific workload of Cinebench rendering.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent, with the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 winning all six Cinebench comparisons. The margins, however, are extremely tight, never exceeding 1.4%. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the i7-1068NG7 scores 787 against the Xeon's 776, a 1.4% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the i7-1068NG7's 3280 score beats the Xeon's 3234 by the same 1.4% margin. The Cinebench R23 multicore result is consistent, with the i7-1068NG7 scoring 7810 versus 7701 for the Xeon, again a 1.4% difference.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, though with slightly smaller margins. The i7-1068NG7 leads in Cinebench R15 single-core with a score of 110 versus 109, a 0.9% edge. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the margin is 1.3%, with scores of 462 and 456. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows a 1.4% lead for the i7-1068NG7, with 1102 points against the Xeon's 1087. The data suggests that the i7-1068NG7's higher clock speeds and newer architecture provide a consistent, albeit small, performance advantage across all rendering workloads.

This is a curious outcome. The Xeon E5-4648 v3 has triple the core count and quadruple the thread count of the i7-1068NG7, yet it cannot translate that hardware advantage into a win in these tests. The i7-1068NG7's 4.10 GHz boost clock versus the Xeon's 2.20 GHz boost clock is a critical factor. The Xeon's 12 cores and 24 threads are clearly not being fully utilized in a way that overcomes the per-core speed deficit. The average benchmark scores reflect this near-parity, with the i7-1068NG7 achieving an average score of 2259 and the Xeon at 2227. Both processors sit at the 47th percentile of all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier despite their internal differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which is significantly higher than the Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3's boost clock of 2.20 GHz.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the Xeon E5-4648 v3 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E5-4648 v3 supports ECC memory. The Core i7-1068NG7 does not list ECC memory support.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Xeon E5-4648 v3 has a higher memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, while the Core i7-1068NG7 has a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: In which benchmark does the Core i7-1068NG7 have its largest winning margin?

A: The Core i7-1068NG7 has its largest winning margin in the Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, and R23 multicore tests, where it leads by 1.4% in each instance.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Core i7-1068NG7 has an average benchmark score of 2259, while the Xeon E5-4648 v3 has an average score of 2227.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two processors is vast. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 is built on Ice Lake architecture using a 10 nm process node, while the Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 uses the older Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process. This generational leap is reflected in the die size, with the i7-1068NG7 measuring 123 mm² compared to the Xeon's much larger 356 mm² die. The Xeon's larger die accommodates its 2,600 million transistors, a figure not listed for the mobile chip.

The cache configurations also highlight the different design goals. The i7-1068NG7 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Xeon E5-4648 v3 has a substantially larger 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Both processors feature 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The Xeon's larger L3 cache is designed to feed its many cores, but the benchmark data suggests it is not enough to overcome the architectural and clock speed advantages of the i7-1068NG7.

Memory support differs as well. Both support DDR4, but the Xeon has a quad-channel memory bus versus the i7-1068NG7's dual-channel bus. This gives the Xeon a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s compared to 51.2 GB/s for the i7-1068NG7. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server workloads, while the i7-1068NG7 does not. The i7-1068NG7 features integrated Iris Plus graphics, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Xeon offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, which is a server-specific feature not detailed for the i7-1068NG7.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear, if unexpected, verdict: the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 is the superior processor for Cinebench rendering workloads. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, albeit by narrow margins. The i7-1068NG7's performance is driven by its newer 10 nm Ice Lake architecture and significantly higher clock speeds, which allow it to outperform a processor with three times the core count. For users whose primary concern is single-threaded performance or lightly-threaded applications, the i7-1068NG7 is the obvious choice.

The Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3, despite its 12 cores and 24 threads, cannot match the i7-1068NG7 in these specific tests. Its lower clock speeds and older Haswell architecture prove to be a decisive disadvantage. However, the Xeon's value proposition is not entirely absent. It offers ECC memory support, a quad-channel memory bus, and a larger L3 cache, features that are essential for server and workstation environments where data integrity and memory throughput are paramount. The Xeon is also a server-class part, suggesting it is designed for sustained, multi-threaded workloads beyond what the Cinebench suite captures. The verdict is not that the Xeon is a bad processor, but that it is outclassed by the i7-1068NG7 in the specific benchmarks measured here.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The most obvious difference is the core and thread count: the Xeon E5-4648 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Core i7-1068NG7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base and boost clocks are also starkly different, with the i7-1068NG7 running at 2.30 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost, compared to the Xeon's 1.70 GHz base and 2.20 GHz boost. The thermal design power (TDP) reflects this, with the Xeon drawing 105 watts versus the i7-1068NG7's 28 watts.

The process node and architecture are different generations: the i7-1068NG7 uses 10 nm Ice Lake, while the Xeon uses 22 nm Haswell. The L3 cache is also different, with the Xeon offering 30 MB versus the i7-1068NG7's 8 MB. The memory bus is another point of divergence, with the Xeon using a quad-channel configuration and the i7-1068NG7 using dual-channel. The Xeon supports ECC memory, which the i7-1068NG7 does not. The i7-1068NG7 has integrated Iris Plus graphics, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The release dates are separated by over four years, and the launch MSRP reflects the Xeon's server positioning at $2405, compared to the i7-1068NG7's $320.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 wins in all measured Cinebench benchmarks, making it the clear choice for rendering tasks. Its 1.4% lead in multicore tests and 0.9-1.4% lead in single-core tests demonstrates that its architectural efficiency and high clock speeds are more beneficial than raw core counts in these workloads. The i7-1068NG7 is also the more power-efficient option, with a 28-watt TDP versus the Xeon's 105 watts, making it suitable for mobile platforms.

The Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3's wins are not in the benchmark data but in its feature set. Its ECC memory support and quad-channel memory bus make it a superior choice for server environments where data reliability and memory bandwidth are critical. The Xeon's 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes and larger 30 MB L3 cache also point to its intended role in multi-threaded, data-intensive server applications. The Xeon also has a higher memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, which could be advantageous in memory-bound workloads. The data suggests that for the specific Cinebench tests, the i7-1068NG7 is the winner, but the Xeon's feature set gives it a clear purpose in enterprise and workstation scenarios where those features are non-negotiable.