Intel Core i7-1185G7E vs Intel Xeon W-2125 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of the benchmark comparisons between the Intel Xeon W-2125 and the Intel Core i7-1185G7E?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2125 wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head tests. Its victories include all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests, with margins ranging from 1.7% to 1.9% over the Core i7-1185G7E.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i7-1185G7E achieve its largest performance advantage?

A: The Core i7-1185G7E wins decisively in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1756 versus the Xeon W-2125's 1323, a 24.7% advantage. This is the largest delta in either direction across all recorded tests.

Q: How does the Core i7-1185G7E perform in Geekbench multi-core compared to the Xeon W-2125?

A: The Core i7-1185G7E scores 5459 in Geekbench multi-core, which is 8.6% higher than the Xeon W-2125's 4988. This is the only other test the Core i7 wins, alongside its single-core victory.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The Core i7-1185G7E has an average benchmark score of 2703, while the Xeon W-2125 averages 2623. This puts the Core i7 roughly 3% higher on average, despite losing the majority of individual Cinebench tests.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of their overall percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: The Core i7-1185G7E sits at the 50th percentile, while the Xeon W-2125 is at the 49th percentile. This means the Core i7 edges out the Xeon by one percentile point in the database's aggregate ranking.

Q: Are there any rival processors that closely match the Xeon W-2125's average score?

A: Yes, the nearest rivals to the Xeon W-2125 include the Intel Core i7-1195G7 (average score 2638, 0.6% lower), the Intel Core i9-8950HK (2641, 0.7% lower), and the Intel Core i7-5820K (2642, 0.7% lower). The Intel Core i7-8850H scores 2604, which is 0.7% higher.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon W-2125 and Intel Core i7-1185G7E represent fundamentally different design philosophies, evidenced by their architecture, process node, and platform targets.

The Xeon W-2125 is built on the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-W codename, and uses a 14 nm process node from Intel. Its die size is significantly larger at 484 mm², reflecting its workstation-oriented design. In contrast, the Core i7-1185G7E uses the Tiger Lake architecture with the Willow Cove-U codename, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process, and features a much smaller 144 mm² die.

Cache configurations differ notably between the two. The Xeon W-2125 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 8.25 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-1185G7E offers larger per-core caches with 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a larger 12 MB shared L3 cache.

Memory support and platform features are starkly different. The Xeon W-2125 supports DDR4 memory through a quad-channel interface, delivering 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and includes ECC memory support. It uses the Intel Socket 2066 and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 48 CPU-only lanes. The Core i7-1185G7E supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X through a dual-channel interface, has no recorded memory bandwidth figure, and does not support ECC memory. It uses Intel BGA 1449 and provides PCIe Gen 4 with only 4 CPU-only lanes.

Integrated graphics are present only on the Core i7-1185G7E, which includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU. The Xeon W-2125 has no integrated graphics, a typical feature for server and workstation parts. The market segments also diverge: the Xeon W-2125 is categorized as Server/Workstation and is end-of-life, while the Core i7-1185G7E is a Mobile part that remains active in production.

The release dates show a generational gap, with the Xeon W-2125 released in August 2017 and the Core i7-1185G7E released in September 2020. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a clear split: the Xeon W-2125 dominates Cinebench workloads across all versions, while the Core i7-1185G7E excels in Geekbench, particularly in single-core testing.

Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon W-2125 scores 852 against the Core i7's 836, a 1.9% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern, with the Xeon at 120 versus 118, a 1.7% lead. These margins are modest but consistent.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon W-2125 again takes both tests. Multi-core results show 3551 for the Xeon against 3487 for the Core i7, a 1.8% difference. Single-core R20 has the Xeon at 501 versus 492, also a 1.8% lead. The consistency of these margins suggests the Xeon's higher base and boost clocks, 4.00 GHz and 4.50 GHz respectively, provide a steady advantage in rendering workloads.

Cinebench R23 continues the trend. The Xeon W-2125 scores 8455 in multi-core versus 8303 for the Core i7, a 1.8% edge. Single-core R23 shows 1193 against 1172, again a 1.8% margin. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Xeon W-2125 wins by nearly identical percentages, indicating that its architectural design is particularly well-suited to sustained rendering tasks.

The Geekbench results invert the picture. In Geekbench multi-core, the Core i7-1185G7E scores 5459 versus the Xeon's 4988, an 8.6% advantage for the Core i7. This is a substantial reversal, suggesting that the Tiger Lake architecture handles mixed integer and floating-point workloads more efficiently than the older Skylake design.

The single-core Geekbench test delivers the most dramatic result. The Core i7-1185G7E scores 1756, which is 24.7% higher than the Xeon W-2125's 1323. This is a massive gap, highlighting the IPC improvements in Willow Cove cores and the benefit of the 10 nm process. Despite the Xeon's higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 4.40 GHz, the Core i7's newer architecture delivers far superior per-core performance in this benchmark.

Overall, the Xeon W-2125 wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head tests, but the Core i7-1185G7E wins the two Geekbench tests by margins large enough to give it a higher average benchmark score. The data indicates that the Xeon is the stronger choice for Cinebench-style workloads, while the Core i7 is better suited for Geekbench-style mixed workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category, reflecting their distinct target platforms and generations.

Process Node: The Xeon W-2125 uses 14 nm, while the Core i7-1185G7E uses 10 nm.

Die Size: The Xeon W-2125 has a 484 mm² die, while the Core i7-1185G7E has a 144 mm² die.

Base Clock: The Xeon W-2125 has a base clock of 4.00 GHz, while the Core i7-1185G7E has a base clock of 1800.00 MHz.

Boost Clock: The Xeon W-2125 boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the Core i7-1185G7E boosts to 4.40 GHz.

TDP: The Xeon W-2125 has a TDP of 120 watts, while the Core i7-1185G7E has a TDP of 15 watts.

Socket: The Xeon W-2125 uses Intel Socket 2066, while the Core i7-1185G7E uses Intel BGA 1449.

Architecture and Codename: The Xeon W-2125 uses Skylake (Skylake-W), while the Core i7-1185G7E uses Tiger Lake (Tiger Lake-U).

Generation: The Xeon W-2125 is from the Xeon W (Skylake-W) generation, while the Core i7-1185G7E is from the Core i7 (Willow Cove-U) generation.

L1 Cache: The Xeon W-2125 has 64 KB per core, while the Core i7-1185G7E has 80 KB per core.

L2 Cache: The Xeon W-2125 has 1 MB per core, while the Core i7-1185G7E has 1.25 MB per core.

L3 Cache: The Xeon W-2125 has 8.25 MB shared, while the Core i7-1185G7E has 12 MB shared.

Memory Support: The Xeon W-2125 supports DDR4, while the Core i7-1185G7E supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X.

Memory Bus: The Xeon W-2125 is quad-channel, while the Core i7-1185G7E is dual-channel.

Memory Bandwidth: The Xeon W-2125 has 85.3 GB/s, while the Core i7-1185G7E has no recorded figure.

ECC Memory: The Xeon W-2125 supports ECC, while the Core i7-1185G7E does not.

PCIe: The Xeon W-2125 provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes, while the Core i7-1185G7E provides Gen 4 with 4 lanes.

Integrated Graphics: The Xeon W-2125 has none, while the Core i7-1185G7E has Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU.

Market Segment: The Xeon W-2125 is Server/Workstation, while the Core i7-1185G7E is Mobile.

Production Status: The Xeon W-2125 is end-of-life, while the Core i7-1185G7E is active.

Release Date: The Xeon W-2125 released in August 2017, while the Core i7-1185G7E released in September 2020.

Launch MSRP: The Xeon W-2125 has a launch MSRP of $444, while the Core i7-1185G7E has a launch MSRP of $431.

Part Number: The Xeon W-2125 is SR3LM, while the Core i7-1185G7E is SRK0X.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a nuanced picture that depends heavily on workload type. The Intel Xeon W-2125 is the clear winner in Cinebench rendering tests, taking all six Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 comparisons with margins between 1.7% and 1.9%. Its higher base and boost clocks, combined with the quad-channel memory interface and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, make it the superior choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering tasks. The Xeon W-2125 also offers ECC memory support and 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, features that are essential for workstation and server environments where data integrity and expansion capability matter.

However, the Intel Core i7-1185G7E dominates in Geekbench, particularly in single-core performance where it leads by 24.7%. Its 10 nm process and Willow Cove architecture deliver a substantial IPC improvement over the older Skylake design, despite having a lower boost clock. The 12 MB shared L3 cache and larger per-core L1 and L2 caches contribute to this efficiency. For mobile applications, the 15 watt TDP versus 120 watts for the Xeon makes the Core i7 dramatically more power-efficient, and its integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in many scenarios.

The average benchmark scores reflect this trade-off: the Core i7-1185G7E averages 2703 versus 2623 for the Xeon W-2125, and it holds the 50th percentile versus the 49th. The Core i7's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i7-8700T (0.1% higher), placing it in solid company. The Xeon W-2125's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-1195G7 (0.6% lower) and Intel Core i9-8950HK (0.7% lower), show it is similarly competitive within its own performance class.

For professionals running Cinebench-heavy workloads, particularly those requiring ECC memory and extensive PCIe expansion, the Xeon W-2125 is the data-supported choice. Its six head-to-head wins and consistent 1.8% margins in rendering tests demonstrate reliable performance. For mobile professionals or those prioritizing single-threaded Geekbench performance, power efficiency, and integrated graphics, the Core i7-1185G7E is clearly superior, especially given its 24.7% single-core advantage. The choice is not about which processor is better overall, but which workload profile aligns with the user's priorities. The data shows two very different tools built for very different jobs.