Intel Core i7-10870H vs Intel Xeon D-1732TE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly, but not by workload type. Across every recorded Cinebench test, the Intel Xeon D-1732TE takes the win. It leads the Core i7-10870H in all six head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 1.7% to 1.8%. That consistency matters: the Xeon is not faster in a single niche, it is faster in every measured rendering workload.

The Core i7-10870H has no recorded wins in the shared benchmark set. However, the database includes additional results for the Core i7 that the Xeon lacks, specifically 3DMark thread scaling tests and Geekbench scores. In those tests, the Core i7 shows strong multi-thread scaling: 5,163 in 16-thread, 5,178 in max-thread, and 4,013 in 8-thread. Its single-thread 3DMark score is 720, and its Geekbench multi-core score is 7,357. These numbers do not appear in the head-to-head comparison because the Xeon has no corresponding entries, so they cannot be used to declare a winner. What they do show is that the Core i7 is a capable mobile part with solid thread scaling in synthetic tests.

For users focused purely on Cinebench-style rendering, the Xeon D-1732TE is the obvious pick. It wins every single comparison, and the margins, while small, are uniform. For users who need 3DMark or Geekbench data, the Core i7 has the only recorded results, but without Xeon scores in those tests, no direct conclusion is possible. The data says: if you are choosing between these two based on measured performance, the Xeon wins where both are tested.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design lineages. The Xeon D-1732TE uses Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-D variant, built on a 10 nm process node. The Core i7-10870H uses Comet Lake, specifically Comet Lake-H, on a 14 nm node. That node difference explains part of the performance profile: the Xeon achieves its results with a lower base clock of 1.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the Core i7 runs at 2.20 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. Despite the Core i7 having a 2.00 GHz higher boost clock, the Xeon still wins every Cinebench test. That is a direct consequence of the newer architecture and process node.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Xeon has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 15 MB of shared L3. The Core i7 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has more L2 per core by a wide margin (1.25 MB versus 256 KB), while the Core i7 has slightly more total L3 (16 MB versus 15 MB). For workloads that hit L2 frequently, the Xeon has a structural advantage.

Memory support also diverges. The Xeon uses triple-channel DDR4 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 64.0 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The Core i7 uses DDR4 but has no recorded memory bus width or bandwidth figure in the database, and it does not support ECC. The Xeon also uses PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the Core i7 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. That gives the Xeon double the PCIe bandwidth per lane, which matters for server workloads with high I/O demand.

The Core i7 includes integrated UHD Graphics, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics listed. The Xeon targets the server/workstation segment, the Core i7 targets mobile. Both have 8 cores and 16 threads, both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false), and both are still in active production. The Xeon launched on 2022-02-23 with a launch MSRP of $730. The Core i7 launched on 2020-09-16 with no launch MSRP recorded.

The Verdict

The database is unambiguous. In every head-to-head benchmark, the Intel Xeon D-1732TE wins. It leads by 1.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1214 versus 1194), R20 multi-core (5061 versus 4977), R23 multi-core (12052 versus 11852), R23 single-core (1701 versus 1673), and R20 single-core (714 versus 702). It leads by 1.8% in R15 single-core (171 versus 168). That is six wins out of six possible comparisons.

The Xeon achieves this despite a much lower boost clock (3.00 GHz versus 5.00 GHz) and a higher TDP (52 watts versus 45 watts). The architectural advantages, 10 nm versus 14 nm, larger L2 cache, triple-channel memory with ECC, and PCIe Gen 4, more than compensate for the clock speed deficit. For a server or workstation workload that relies on sustained multi-threaded rendering, the Xeon is the better part.

The Core i7-10870H is not a bad processor. It has a 54th percentile standing among all CPUs, identical to the Xeon. Its average benchmark score is 3,446, versus 3,486 for the Xeon, a gap of about 1.2%. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS with a 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS with a 0.1% delta, and the Intel Core i7-5960X with a 0.1% delta. It sits in a competitive pack. But in direct comparison, the Xeon is simply ahead.

Pick the Xeon D-1732TE if you need ECC memory, triple-channel bandwidth, PCIe Gen 4, and the best measured Cinebench scores. Pick the Core i7-10870H if you need integrated graphics, a mobile form factor, and the highest boost clock available, and if you are willing to accept slightly lower rendering performance and no ECC support. The data does not support any other conclusion.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has higher multi-core performance in Cinebench?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1732TE wins every multi-core Cinebench test. It scores 1214 in R15, 5061 in R20, and 12052 in R23, versus 1194, 4977, and 11852 for the Core i7-10870H, a 1.7% lead in each case.

Q: Does the Core i7-10870H have any benchmark wins over the Xeon?

A: No. In the head-to-head benchmark set, the Xeon wins all six tests. The Core i7 has additional 3DMark and Geekbench results, but the Xeon has no corresponding scores, so no comparison is possible.

Q: Why does the Xeon win despite the Core i7 having a higher boost clock?

A: The Xeon uses a newer 10 nm Ice Lake architecture versus the 14 nm Comet Lake of the Core i7. It also has 1.25 MB of L2 per core versus 256 KB, triple-channel memory with 64.0 GB/s bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 4, all of which compensate for the 3.00 GHz versus 5.00 GHz clock difference.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes. The Xeon D-1732TE has ECC memory support and uses triple-channel DDR4. The Core i7-10870H does not support ECC and has no recorded memory bus or bandwidth data.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The Core i7-10870H includes UHD Graphics. The Xeon D-1732TE has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Xeon has an average benchmark score of 3,486, placing it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i9-10900TE and 0.2% behind the Intel Xeon E-2246G and Xeon E5-1680 v4. The Core i7 has an average score of 3,446, exactly matching the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS and sitting 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS and Intel Core i7-5960X.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably uniform. The Xeon D-1732TE wins every test, and the margin never exceeds 1.8%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1214 against 1194, a 1.7% delta. In R15 single-core, it scores 171 against 168, a 1.8% delta, the largest margin in the set. R20 multi-core shows 5061 versus 4977, again 1.7%. R20 single-core shows 714 versus 702, 1.7%. R23 multi-core shows 12052 versus 11852, 1.7%. R23 single-core shows 1701 versus 1673, 1.7%.

The pattern is clear: the Xeon is consistently about 1.7% faster across the board, with a slight extra edge in R15 single-core. This is not a case of one CPU winning in one workload and losing in another. The Xeon simply has a small, repeatable advantage in every measured scenario.

For context, the Xeon's average benchmark score is 3,486, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-10900TE, scores 3,484, a 0.1% delta. The Core i7's average is 3,446, with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS at 3,447 and a 0% delta. Both CPUs sit at the 54th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a standout in the broader market. But in this direct pairing, the Xeon is the clear winner.

The Core i7 does have its own strengths outside the shared tests. Its 3DMark max-thread score of 5,178 and 16-thread score of 5,163 show strong scaling, and its Geekbench single-core score of 1,443 is respectable. But since the Xeon has no recorded results for these tests, these numbers only describe the Core i7, not its relation to the Xeon.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every major specification. The Xeon D-1732TE uses Intel BGA 2227 socket, the Core i7-10870H uses Intel BGA 1440. The Xeon is built on a 10 nm process, the Core i7 on 14 nm. The Xeon has a base clock of 1.90 GHz and boost of 3.00 GHz, the Core i7 has a base of 2.20 GHz and boost of 5.00 GHz. TDP is 52 watts for the Xeon, 45 watts for the Core i7.

Cache differs significantly: the Xeon has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 15 MB shared L3. The Core i7 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The Xeon has more L2 per core, the Core i7 has slightly more L3 total.

Memory support: the Xeon uses triple-channel DDR4 with 64.0 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. The Core i7 uses DDR4 with no recorded bus width, bandwidth, or ECC. PCIe: the Xeon has Gen 4 with 16 lanes, the Core i7 has Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, the Core i7 has UHD Graphics.

Market segment: the Xeon is server/workstation, the Core i7 is mobile. Release dates differ: 2022-02-23 for the Xeon, 2020-09-16 for the Core i7. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $730, the Core i7 has none recorded. Both have 8 cores, 16 threads, and locked multipliers. Both are active in production. The Xeon part number is SRLBW, the Core i7 is SRK3Y.