Intel Core i7-11700T vs Intel Xeon Silver 4116 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably narrow race between the Intel Core i7-11700T and the Intel Xeon Silver 4116. Across six Cinebench tests, the Core i7-11700T wins every single matchup, but the margins are consistently tiny, ranging from 0.2% to 0.5%. This is not a dominant victory; it is a pattern of marginal but consistent superiority.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i7-11700T scores 1304 against the Xeon Silver 4116's 1301, a delta of 0.2%. The single-core test in the same suite shows the Core i7-11700T at 184 versus 183, a 0.5% edge. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Core i7-11700T posts 5436 in multicore, while the Xeon Silver 4116 manages 5421, a 0.3% advantage. Single-core R20 results are 767 against 765, again a 0.3% difference. In Cinebench R23, the Core i7-11700T delivers 12945 multicore and 1827 single-core, while the Xeon Silver 4116 reaches 12908 and 1822 respectively, with both deltas sitting at 0.3%.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces the same picture: the Core i7-11700T averages 3864, while the Xeon Silver 4116 averages 3733. That is a 3.4% gap in the aggregate, slightly larger than any individual head-to-head delta because the Geekbench multicore and single-core results for the Core i7-11700T (6621 and 1824) have no equivalent recorded for the Xeon Silver 4116 in the head-to-head table. The Xeon Silver 4116 simply lacks Geekbench entries in the database, which lowers its average score relative to the Core i7-11700T.

Both processors sit at the 56th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they belong to the same performance tier in the database's distribution. The nearest rivals for the Core i7-11700T include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 (average score 3875, delta of -0.3%), the Intel Xeon E-2286M (3822, delta of 1.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE (3906, delta of -1.1%), and the AMD Ryzen 9 4900H (3820, delta of 1.1%). The Xeon Silver 4116's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE (3732, delta of 0%), the Intel Core i5-11600T (3742, delta of -0.2%), the Intel Core i5-11260H (3721, delta of 0.3%), and the Intel Xeon E-2434 (3709, delta of 0.7%). The Core i7-11700T sits slightly above its nearest rival cluster, while the Xeon Silver 4116 essentially matches its closest competitor.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-11700T wins in every recorded benchmark category. This includes all six Cinebench tests: R15 multicore, R15 single-core, R20 multicore, R20 single-core, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core. It also holds the Geekbench multicore score of 6621 and the Geekbench single-core score of 1824, though the Xeon Silver 4116 has no recorded Geekbench results to compare against.

The Xeon Silver 4116 does not win any recorded benchmark. Its strongest showing is in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it trails by just 3 points (1301 versus 1304). The practical takeaway from the data is that the Xeon Silver 4116 is effectively performance-matched to the Core i7-11700T in rendering workloads, despite having 12 cores and 24 threads against the Core i7-11700T's 8 cores and 16 threads. The Xeon Silver 4116's higher core count does not translate into a multicore advantage in the recorded Cinebench results; it trails by 0.2% to 0.3% across all multicore tests.

For workloads that depend on single-threaded performance, the Core i7-11700T holds a consistent but modest edge. The single-core deltas are 0.5% in R15, 0.3% in R20, and 0.3% in R23. These are narrow margins, but they are consistent across every test in the database. The data does not show any workload category where the Xeon Silver 4116 overtakes the Core i7-11700T.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-11700T has an average benchmark score of 3864, while the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 has an average of 3733. The Core i7-11700T leads by approximately 3.4%.

Q: How large is the multicore performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Core i7-11700T scores 12945 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Xeon Silver 4116 scores 12908. The Core i7-11700T leads by 0.3%.

Q: Does the Xeon Silver 4116 win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The Core i7-11700T wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Xeon Silver 4116 has no recorded wins in the database.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R15?

A: The Core i7-11700T scores 184, and the Xeon Silver 4116 scores 183. The Core i7-11700T leads by 0.5%, the largest single-core delta recorded between the two.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of CPU percentile ranking?

A: Both are at the 56th percentile among all CPUs in the database. They occupy the same performance tier despite their different core counts and market segments.

Q: Does the Xeon Silver 4116 have any Geekbench results in the database?

A: No. The Xeon Silver 4116 has only Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 results. The Core i7-11700T additionally has Geekbench multicore (6621) and single-core (1824) scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ substantially in core count, clock speeds, power envelope, socket, and memory features. The Intel Core i7-11700T has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 1400 MHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Intel Xeon Silver 4116 has 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The Xeon Silver 4116 has a higher base clock, but the Core i7-11700T has a significantly higher boost clock.

Thermal design power differs sharply: the Core i7-11700T is rated at 35 W, while the Xeon Silver 4116 is rated at 85 W. The Core i7-11700T uses Intel Socket 1200, while the Xeon Silver 4116 uses Intel Socket 3647. The Core i7-11700T supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; the Xeon Silver 4116 also supports DDR4, but the database records no memory bus width or bandwidth for it. The Core i7-11700T does not support ECC memory, while the Xeon Silver 4116 does. The Core i7-11700T has PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only); the Xeon Silver 4116 has no recorded PCIe specification. The Core i7-11700T includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750); the Xeon Silver 4116 has no integrated graphics listed.

The Core i7-11700T is a desktop part with a launch MSRP of $323, and it is marked as end-of-life. The Xeon Silver 4116 is a server/workstation part with no recorded launch MSRP and no production status. The Core i7-11700T was released on 2021-03-15, while the Xeon Silver 4116 was released on 2017-07-10. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The Core i7-11700T is built on Rocket Lake architecture with the codename Rocket Lake, belonging to the Core 11th Gen series. The Xeon Silver 4116 uses Skylake architecture with the codename Skylake-SP, part of the Xeon Silver family. Both are manufactured on a 14 nm process node at Intel, so the process technology is identical.

Cache layouts differ. The Core i7-11700T has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon Silver 4116 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16.5 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon Silver 4116 has more L2 cache per core and slightly more L3 cache overall, while the Core i7-11700T has more L1 cache per core. The Xeon Silver 4116 has a transistor count of 8,000 million; the Core i7-11700T has no recorded transistor count. The Core i7-11700T has a die size of 276 mm², while the Xeon Silver 4116 has no recorded die size.

The Core i7-11700T supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes and includes UHD Graphics 750, features absent from the Xeon Silver 4116's recorded specifications. The Xeon Silver 4116 supports ECC memory, which the Core i7-11700T does not. These architectural differences reflect their intended markets: the Core i7-11700T is a desktop processor with integrated graphics and modern PCIe, while the Xeon Silver 4116 is a server/workstation processor with ECC support and a higher core count.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but narrow conclusion: the Intel Core i7-11700T outperforms the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 in every recorded benchmark. The margins are small, between 0.2% and 0.5% in head-to-head Cinebench tests, but they are uniform. The Core i7-11700T also has a higher average benchmark score (3864 versus 3733) and additional Geekbench results that the Xeon Silver 4116 lacks.

For buyers prioritizing raw compute in the recorded workloads, the Core i7-11700T is the safer choice. It achieves these results with a 35 W TDP versus the Xeon Silver 4116's 85 W TDP, a substantial efficiency advantage. It also offers a much higher boost clock (4.60 GHz versus 3.00 GHz), integrated graphics, PCIe Gen 4 support, and a later release date. The Xeon Silver 4116 counters with 12 cores and 24 threads, ECC memory support, and a higher base clock (2.10 GHz versus 1.40 GHz), but none of these translate into a benchmark win in the database.

The Xeon Silver 4116 is appropriate for server or workstation environments where ECC memory and higher core counts matter, even if the recorded benchmarks do not reflect a performance advantage. The Core i7-11700T is the better choice for general desktop workloads, single-threaded tasks, and scenarios where power consumption is a concern. Given the benchmark results, the Core i7-11700T is the superior processor in measured performance, and the Xeon Silver 4116's value rests on its platform features rather than its speed.