Intel Core i7-11850HE vs Intel Xeon W-2155 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-11850HE and Intel Xeon W-2155 occupy opposite ends of the Intel spectrum: one is a low-power mobile part, the other a high-TDP workstation chip. Benchmark results show they land in the same performance tier, with the Xeon W-2155 winning all six head-to-head tests by a narrow 0.8% margin. The data suggests they are near-equivalents in raw compute, but their platform differences make them suited to entirely different builds. Pick the i7-11850HE for a compact, power-efficient system; pick the Xeon W-2155 for a workstation that prioritizes memory bandwidth and ECC support.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a dead heat in compute performance. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Xeon W-2155 wins every round, but by a margin of just 0.8% each time. In practical terms, that difference is invisible. The average benchmark score for the i7-11850HE is 5095, while the Xeon W-2155 sits at 5072 – the i7 actually holds a 0.5% edge in average score, and the two CPUs are listed as nearest rivals to each other with deltaPct values of 0.5% and -0.4% respectively. Both CPUs sit at the 60th percentile of all CPUs.

The real decision comes down to platform, not performance. The i7-11850HE is a mobile chip with a 35 TDP, designed for laptops and compact systems. It features integrated UHD Graphics (Xe-LP), which means it can run without a discrete GPU. The Xeon W-2155 is a server/workstation part with a 140 TDP, no integrated graphics, and a mandatory discrete GPU. It also supports ECC memory and quad-channel DDR4, while the i7 is limited to dual-channel non-ECC memory.

For a builder who needs a small, low-power system with built-in graphics, the i7-11850HE is the only choice. For someone building a workstation that demands ECC memory reliability and higher memory bandwidth, the Xeon W-2155 is the answer. If you only care about Cinebench scores, flip a coin – the data shows they are within noise of each other.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The i7-11850HE is based on Tiger Lake-H, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 190 mm². The Xeon W-2155 uses the older Skylake-W architecture on a 14 nm process, with a much larger die at 484 mm². Despite the older node, the Xeon packs more cores: 10 cores and 20 threads versus 8 cores and 16 threads for the i7.

Cache structures differ significantly. The i7 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has smaller per-core caches – 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 – and a much smaller 13.75 MB shared L3. This is a notable trade-off: the i7's larger L3 cache helps it close the performance gap despite fewer cores.

The i7 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Xeon uses PCIe Gen 3 with 48 lanes. The Xeon's quad-channel memory bus provides 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, versus 51.2 GB/s for the i7's dual-channel setup. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i7 does not. The i7 has integrated UHD Graphics (Xe-LP); the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon W-2155 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are trivial. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 17538 against the i7's 17402, a 0.8% difference. Single-core tests tell the same story: R23 single-core sees the Xeon at 2475 versus 2456 for the i7. These are not meaningful wins – they are within run-to-run variance.

The i7's wins are architectural, not benchmark-based. It has a 24 MB L3 cache, which is 75% larger than the Xeon's 13.75 MB. It runs on a newer 10 nm process with a smaller die, which contributes to its dramatically lower 35 TDP versus the Xeon's 140 TDP. The i7 also includes integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. Its PCIe Gen 4 support offers double the bandwidth per lane compared to the Xeon's Gen 3.

The Xeon's real advantages are platform-level. It supports ECC memory, which is critical for data integrity in server or workstation workloads. Its quad-channel memory bus delivers 85.3 GB/s, which is 67% higher bandwidth than the i7's dual-channel 51.2 GB/s. It also offers 48 PCIe lanes, more than double the i7's 20, making it far better suited for multiple GPUs or high-speed storage arrays.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Xeon W-2155 wins all multi-core Cinebench tests, but by only 0.8%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 17538 versus 17402 for the i7-11850HE.

Q: Does the i7-11850HE have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics (Xe-LP). The Xeon W-2155 has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU.

Q: Can the i7-11850HE use ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory support is false for the i7-11850HE. The Xeon W-2155 supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Xeon W-2155 has quad-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-11850HE has dual-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Xeon W-2155 has 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The i7-11850HE has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

Q: Are these CPUs comparable in average benchmark score?

A: The i7-11850HE has an average benchmark score of 5095, while the Xeon W-2155 scores 5072. The i7 is 0.5% higher on average.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is remarkably consistent. Across six Cinebench tests, the Xeon W-2155 wins every single one with a deltaPct of -0.8% from the i7's perspective. The largest absolute gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon scores 17538 against 17402 – a difference of 136 points. The smallest gap is in R15 single-core, where the Xeon's 249 beats the i7's 247 by just 2 points.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon scores 7365 versus 7308 for the i7. The R20 single-core test shows 1039 versus 1031. These margins are so small that they could easily be reversed with different cooling or silicon lottery. The i7's 10 nm process and larger L3 cache (24 MB vs 13.75 MB) allow it to nearly match the Xeon's two extra cores and four extra threads.

The Xeon's 10-core, 20-thread configuration gives it a theoretical advantage in heavily threaded workloads, but the i7's newer architecture and larger cache compensate. The i7's 4.70 GHz boost clock is higher than the Xeon's 4.50 GHz, which helps in single-threaded tasks. The Xeon's base clock of 3.30 GHz is substantially higher than the i7's 2.10 GHz, but that advantage is erased by the i7's superior boost behavior.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every specification category. The i7-11850HE has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Xeon W-2155 has 10 cores and 20 threads. The i7's base clock is 2.10 GHz with a boost of 4.70 GHz; the Xeon's base is 3.30 GHz with a boost of 4.50 GHz. The i7 has a 35 TDP, the Xeon has a 140 TDP.

The process node differs: 10 nm for the i7 versus 14 nm for the Xeon. Die size is 190 mm² for the i7 and 484 mm² for the Xeon. The i7's L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 is 1.25 MB per core, and L3 is 24 MB shared. The Xeon's L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and L3 is 13.75 MB shared.

Memory support: both use DDR4, but the i7 is dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support. The Xeon is quad-channel with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. PCIe differs: the i7 uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes, the Xeon uses Gen 3 with 48 lanes. The i7 includes integrated UHD Graphics (Xe-LP); the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The i7 targets the mobile market, while the Xeon targets server/workstation. The i7 is active in production; the Xeon is end-of-life. The i7's socket is Intel BGA 1787, the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2066.