Intel Core i7-1185GRE vs Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 and Intel Core i7-1185GRE occupy opposite ends of the processor spectrum, yet both land at the 47th percentile among all CPUs. The data shows a consistent and sweeping victory for the older server part across every single benchmark in the comparison, though the margins are surprisingly narrow given the architectural gap. The Xeon E5-4648 v3 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with each victory falling between 16.0% and 16.2%. This uniformity is striking, suggesting that the differences in raw compute throughput are consistent across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The Core i7-1185GRE, despite being a much newer design with a significantly higher boost clock, cannot overcome the sheer core-count advantage of the Xeon part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Xeon E5-4648 v3 scores 776 against the Core i7-1185GRE’s 668, a 16.2% advantage. This pattern repeats almost identically in every other test. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon posts 3234 versus 2786, a 16.1% lead. The R23 multi-core test shows the same 16.1% delta, with scores of 7701 and 6635 respectively. These margins are substantial but not overwhelming, which is notable because the Xeon has three times the cores and three times the threads of the mobile chip.

Single-core results tell a similar story, which is unexpected given the architectural differences. The Xeon E5-4648 v3 wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 109 points against 94 for the Core i7-1185GRE, a 16.0% margin. In R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 456 versus 393, again a 16.0% lead. The R23 single-core test shows 1087 versus 936, a 16.1% delta. These numbers are remarkable because the Core i7-1185GRE has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, exactly double the Xeon’s 2.20 GHz boost. The fact that the older Haswell architecture still wins single-core by a wide margin indicates that clock speed alone does not determine performance in these workloads.

The benchmark data also places both processors in context with their nearest rivals. The Xeon E5-4648 v3 has an average benchmark score of 2227, sitting just 0.1% above the Intel Core i7-8559U (2225) and 0.2% above the Intel Xeon D-1548 (2231). The Core i7-1185GRE averages 2178, which is 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 5 3400GE (2175) and 0.5% above the Intel Core i5-7640X (2167). These proximity figures indicate that both chips perform at a similar overall level to their immediate competitors, even though they achieve their scores through very different means.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5-4648 v3 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so the case for the Core i7-1185GRE must be made on other grounds. The data shows that the Xeon’s advantages are uniform across both single-core and multi-core tests, which means there is no workload category in the provided benchmarks where the mobile chip comes out ahead. However, the Core i7-1185GRE does have a measurable presence in the broader benchmark suite, with additional Geekbench scores that the Xeon lacks. The mobile chip scores 4060 in Geekbench multi-core and 1848 in single-core, though these results cannot be directly compared to the Xeon because no corresponding Geekbench data exists for the server part.

The Xeon E5-4648 v3’s wins are all in Cinebench, which is a rendering workload that scales with core count and thread count. With 12 cores and 24 threads, the Xeon has a structural advantage in heavily parallel tasks. The Core i7-1185GRE, with 4 cores and 8 threads, is designed for low-power mobile scenarios, not for sustained multi-threaded rendering. The data suggests that for any Cinebench-based workload, the Xeon is the clear choice, with margins that are consistent regardless of whether the test uses one core or all cores.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different eras and design philosophies. The Xeon E5-4648 v3 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, built on a 356 mm² die with 2,600 million transistors. It features 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 2.20 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 30 MB L3 cache. This is a server-class part designed for Intel Socket 2011-3, with quad-channel DDR4 memory support and 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU and supports ECC memory.

The Core i7-1185GRE uses the Tiger Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, with a much smaller 144 mm² die. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The cache configuration differs substantially: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. This mobile part uses Intel BGA 1449 socket, supports dual-channel DDR4 or LPDDR4X memory, and has only 4 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU. It also includes integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, which the Xeon lacks entirely. Both processors support ECC memory, which is unusual for a mobile part.

The process node difference is significant: 22 nm versus 10 nm. The Tiger Lake chip packs its 4 cores into a die that is less than half the physical size of the Haswell-EP die, yet it still delivers competitive performance. The Xeon’s 30 MB of L3 cache dwarfs the 12 MB on the Core i7, but the newer chip compensates with larger L2 caches per core (1.25 MB versus 256 KB). The memory systems also diverge sharply, with the Xeon supporting quad-channel DDR4 versus dual-channel on the mobile part, though the Core i7 adds LPDDR4X support for lower power consumption.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the Xeon E5-4648 v3 for anyone running Cinebench workloads. It wins all six head-to-head tests by a consistent margin of roughly 16%, which is a meaningful performance advantage. The Xeon also carries a 105 W TDP versus the Core i7-1185GRE’s 15 W, indicating that the server part requires substantially more power to achieve its results. However, the TDP difference is not a performance metric; it is a design parameter that reflects the intended use case. The Xeon is a server/workstation part with a launch MSRP of $2405, while the Core i7-1185GRE is an active mobile processor with a launch MSRP of $490.

For users who need maximum multi-threaded rendering performance and have the power budget and socket compatibility to accommodate a 105 W server chip, the Xeon E5-4648 v3 is the clear choice. Its 12 cores and 24 threads provide a structural advantage that the Core i7-1185GRE cannot overcome, even with a 4.40 GHz boost clock. For users who need a low-power mobile processor with integrated graphics and modern connectivity, the Core i7-1185GRE is the only viable option, even though it loses every benchmark in this comparison. The Xeon is end-of-life production status, while the Core i7 remains active, which matters for long-term availability and support.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 scores 1087 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which is 16.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-1185GRE’s 936.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Xeon compared to the Core i7?

A: The Xeon E5-4648 v3 has a shared 30 MB L3 cache, while the Core i7-1185GRE has a shared 12 MB L3 cache, making the Xeon’s cache 2.5 times larger.

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

A: The Xeon E5-4648 v3 has a TDP of 105 W, while the Core i7-1185GRE has a TDP of 15 W.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 and the Intel Core i7-1185GRE support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes from the CPU?

A: The Xeon E5-4648 v3 has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the Core i7-1185GRE has 4 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

Q: What is the boost clock of each processor?

A: The Xeon E5-4648 v3 has a boost clock of 2.20 GHz, while the Core i7-1185GRE has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 | Intel Core i7-1185GRE |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 12 | 4 |

| Threads | 24 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1.70 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.20 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 105 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | Intel BGA 1449 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Tiger Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 144 mm² |

| Transistors | 2,600 million | — |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 30 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, LPDDR4X |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | — |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 4 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | — | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Launch MSRP | $2405 | $490 |