Intel Core i7-1185GRE vs Intel Xeon D-1715TER Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous on the headline: the Intel Xeon D-1715TER wins all six recorded Cinebench comparisons against the Intel Core i7-1185GRE. The Xeon takes every single-core and multi-core test in the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 suites, with deltas ranging from 16.0% to 16.7% in its favor. That is not a narrow edge; it is a consistent, roughly one-sixth performance advantage across every rendering workload the database tracks.

The Core i7-1185GRE, however, is not without its own domain. The database includes Geekbench results only for the Core i7, with a multicore score of 4060 and a singlecore score of 1848. These numbers are not directly comparable to the Xeon because the Xeon has no Geekbench entries in the recorded data. Still, the Core i7’s presence in the mobile segment, its 15 W TDP, and its integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU point to a different use case: low-power embedded laptops, fanless designs, or compact industrial systems where the Xeon’s 50 W TDP and server-oriented socket would be impractical.

So the split is clear. The Xeon D-1715TER wins every benchmark where both parts are measured. The Core i7-1185GRE wins on platform flexibility: it is a mobile chip with a 15 W envelope, a BGA 1449 socket, and integrated graphics, whereas the Xeon is a server/workstation part with a 50 W envelope, a BGA 2227 socket, and no integrated graphics listed. If the workload is sustained multi-threaded rendering, the Xeon is the stronger pick. If the workload is a low-power mobile or embedded deployment that still needs ECC memory support, the Core i7 has the advantage in form factor and power budget.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 10 nm process and share the same core count: 4 cores and 8 threads. Both also have identical per-core L1 cache (80 KB) and per-core L2 cache (1.25 MB). The differences emerge in the architecture, cache capacity, memory controller, and platform.

The Xeon D-1715TER uses the Ice Lake-D architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-D codename, and is part of the Xeon D generation. Its L3 cache is 10 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 with a triple-channel bus, yielding a recorded memory bandwidth of 64.0 GB/s. The Xeon also offers PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), which is a substantial amount of I/O for a server part. ECC memory is supported. Its release date is February 2022, and it carries the part number SRLBX.

The Core i7-1185GRE uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-U with the Willow Cove-U microarchitecture. Its L3 cache is larger at 12 MB shared. Memory support includes both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, but the memory bus is dual-channel, and no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. The Core i7 has PCIe Gen 4 with only 4 lanes (CPU only), reflecting its mobile positioning. It also supports ECC memory, a notable feature for a low-power part. Integrated graphics are present: Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU. The die size is recorded at 144 mm², a detail not available for the Xeon. Its release date is September 2020, and it carries the part number SRK0Y. The launch MSRP is $490.

The biggest architectural contrast is the memory channel count: triple-channel on the Xeon versus dual-channel on the Core i7, which directly explains the Xeon’s higher memory bandwidth. The Xeon also has four times the PCIe lanes (16 versus 4), making it a better fit for storage controllers, networking cards, or other add-in devices. The Core i7 counters with a larger L3 cache (12 MB versus 10 MB) and integrated graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely. Both parts are locked (multiplier unlocked is false for each), and both remain in active production.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a simple conclusion: the Intel Xeon D-1715TER is the faster CPU in every benchmark that both processors share. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the Xeon leads by 16.0% to 16.7% in both single-core and multi-core tests. If the primary selection criterion is raw rendering performance, the Xeon is the clear winner.

The Intel Core i7-1185GRE is the better choice when the platform itself matters more than peak throughput. Its 15 W TDP versus the Xeon’s 50 W means it can be cooled passively or with a small fan in a compact chassis. Its BGA 1449 socket and mobile Tiger Lake-U lineage make it suitable for laptops, thin clients, or embedded systems where the Xeon’s BGA 2227 server socket would not fit. The integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU removes the need for a discrete GPU in basic display or media workloads. And the fact that it supports ECC memory, despite being a mobile part, gives it a niche that many low-power CPUs do not offer.

For a server or workstation rack, the Xeon D-1715TER’s triple-channel memory and 16 PCIe Gen 4 lanes make it the more capable base for I/O-heavy tasks. For a mobile or embedded deployment where power draw and physical size are constrained, the Core i7-1185GRE is the more practical option. The benchmark data does not show a single scenario where the Core i7 beats the Xeon in Cinebench, so the verdict hinges on use case, not on measured speed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1715TER wins every multi-core Cinebench test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 7738 versus 6635 for the Core i7-1185GRE, a 16.6% advantage. The same pattern appears in R15 (779 vs 668) and R20 (3249 vs 2786).

Q: Does the Core i7-1185GRE beat the Xeon in any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Xeon winning all six Cinebench comparisons. The Core i7 has Geekbench scores (4060 multicore, 1848 singlecore) that are recorded only for that chip, so there is no direct comparison available for that test.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Xeon D-1715TER has a TDP of 50 W, while the Core i7-1185GRE has a TDP of 15 W. That is a 35 W gap, which makes the Core i7 far more suitable for fanless or battery-powered designs.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes. Both the Xeon D-1715TER and the Core i7-1185GRE have ECC memory support listed in the database. This is unusual for the Core i7, given its mobile segment.

Q: Which chip has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Xeon D-1715TER has 16 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i7-1185GRE has 4 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon provides four times the lane count for expansion.

Q: What is the difference in cache size?

A: Both chips share the same L1 (80 KB per core) and L2 (1.25 MB per core). The L3 cache differs: the Xeon has 10 MB shared, while the Core i7 has 12 MB shared, giving the Core i7 a 2 MB larger pool of shared cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six head-to-head Cinebench results form a consistent picture. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon D-1715TER scores 779 against the Core i7-1185GRE’s 668, a 16.6% lead. The single-core R15 result is 109 versus 94, a 16% edge. Both tests show the Xeon ahead by a similar margin, which suggests the advantage is not tied to core scaling but to per-thread efficiency.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon scores 3249 multi-core versus 2786, again a 16.6% delta. Single-core R20 is 458 versus 393, a 16.5% gap. The pattern holds: the Xeon wins by about one-sixth in every category.

Cinebench R23 repeats the same story. Multi-core: 7738 versus 6635, a 16.6% delta. Single-core: 1092 versus 936, a 16.7% delta. That is the largest single-core margin in the entire comparison, though it is only a tenth of a percentage point above the R15 single-core margin.

The most striking aspect is the uniformity. Across six tests, the deltas range from 16.0% to 16.7%, a band of less than one percentage point. This indicates that the Xeon’s advantage is structural, likely tied to its higher base clock (2.40 GHz versus 1800.00 MHz for the Core i7) and its triple-channel memory interface, which reduces bandwidth bottlenecks in multi-core workloads. The Core i7 does have a higher boost clock (4.40 GHz versus 3.50 GHz), but that does not translate into a win in any recorded test. The boost advantage may help in short bursts, but the Cinebench suite, which drives sustained loads, consistently favors the Xeon.

The database also places both chips at the 47th percentile among all CPUs, so they are peers in the broader performance distribution. The Xeon’s average benchmark score is 2238, and its nearest rivals include the Xeon D-1548 (2231, 0.3% ahead), the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (2246, 0.3% behind), and the Core i7-10710U (2248, 0.5% behind). The Core i7-1185GRE’s average is 2178, with rivals like the Ryzen 5 3400GE (2175, 0.2% ahead) and the Core i5-1145G7E (2174, 0.2% ahead). Both chips sit in a crowded mid-pack, but the Xeon’s head-to-head sweep gives it a clear edge within this specific pairing.