Intel Core i7-1195G7 vs Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 across all six shared benchmark tests. The Core i7-1195G7 does not win a single comparison, with the Xeon taking all six head-to-head matchups. The margins are consistent, hovering around 5.8 percent in most tests, which suggests a systemic performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 942 against the Core i7's 887, a 5.8 percent deficit for the mobile chip. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story: 132 for the Xeon versus 125 for the Core i7, a 5.3 percent gap. That single-core margin is the narrowest of the entire comparison, which makes sense given the Core i7's much higher boost clock.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 3926 in multicore against 3697 for the Core i7, again a 5.8 percent difference. The single-core R20 result is 553 versus 521, also 5.8 percent. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23: the Xeon reaches 9348 in multicore while the Core i7 manages 8803, and in single-core the Xeon hits 1319 against 1242. Every R20 and R23 test shows exactly 5.8 percent separation.

What is notable here is that the Core i7's higher clock speeds do not translate into a single-core victory. The Xeon's older architecture, despite a 1.60 GHz lower boost clock, still edges ahead in every single-threaded test. The data indicates that the Xeon's architectural efficiency per clock, combined with its larger cache, offsets the Core i7's raw frequency advantage.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this hierarchy. The Xeon E5-2640 v3 sits at an average score of 2703, placing it in the 50th percentile of all CPUs tracked. The Core i7-1195G7 averages 2638, which lands in the 49th percentile. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1185G7E with an identical average score of 2703, and the Core i7-8700T at 2701, a 0.1 percent difference. The Core i7-1195G7, by contrast, sits near the Core i9-8950HK at 2641 and the Core i7-5820K at 2642, both within 0.1 percent.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras of Intel design. The Core i7-1195G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically the Tiger Lake-U codename, built on a 10 nm process node. It belongs to the Core i7 generation with Willow Cove cores. The Xeon E5-2640 v3, on the other hand, uses the Haswell architecture with the Haswell-EP codename, manufactured on a 22 nm process. That process gap is significant: the newer 10 nm node allows the Core i7 to pack its transistors more densely, with a die size of 144 mm², while the Xeon's 22 nm process requires a much larger 356 mm² die.

The transistor counts reflect this generational difference. The Xeon E5-2640 v3 contains 2,600 million transistors, while the Core i7's transistor count is not recorded in the database. The Xeon's larger die and older process explain its substantially higher power draw.

Core and thread counts differ sharply. The Core i7-1195G7 offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2640 v3 doubles that to 8 cores and 16 threads. This is the most straightforward explanation for the Xeon's multicore wins, though it does not fully explain the single-core results.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Core i7 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has smaller per-core caches: 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2, but a larger 20 MB shared L3. The Xeon's bigger L3 pool likely helps it in the single-core tests, compensating for its lower clock speed.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The Core i7 supports DDR4, LPDDR4, and LPDDR4X memory over a dual-channel bus, with no ECC support. The Xeon supports DDR4 over a quad-channel bus with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, and it includes ECC memory support. The Xeon's quad-channel configuration gives it substantially more memory bandwidth for server-style workloads.

PCIe capabilities also differ. The Core i7 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the Xeon offers PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes. The Xeon's extra lanes suit workstation and server configurations with many expansion cards, while the Core i7's Gen 4 support offers higher per-lane bandwidth for mobile devices.

The Core i7 includes integrated graphics in the form of Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units. The Xeon has no integrated graphics at all, which is typical for server processors that rely on discrete GPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5-2640 v3 wins every benchmark in this comparison, so the use-case split is heavily skewed toward the server chip. Its 8 cores and 16 threads give it a clear edge in heavily threaded workloads like video rendering, 3D modeling, and scientific computing. The Cinebench multicore results, where the Xeon leads by 5.8 percent across R15, R20, and R23, confirm this strength.

The Xeon also wins in single-core performance, which is more surprising. Its 3.40 GHz boost clock is far below the Core i7's 5.00 GHz, yet it still manages to outperform the mobile chip in every single-threaded test. The larger 20 MB L3 cache and the quad-channel memory subsystem likely contribute to this result. For workloads that depend on memory bandwidth, such as large database operations or virtualization, the Xeon's 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC support make it the more reliable choice.

The Core i7-1195G7, despite losing all benchmarks, has strengths that the data does not capture in these specific tests. Its 28 W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, while the Xeon's 90 W TDP requires a desktop or server platform. The Core i7's integrated Iris Xe graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. Its PCIe Gen 4 support, while limited to 16 lanes, offers faster per-device bandwidth for modern NVMe storage. The Core i7 also supports LPDDR4X memory, which is common in ultraportable designs.

The market segments tell the story: the Core i7 is a mobile processor, while the Xeon is a server and workstation part. The Core i7's 49th percentile ranking among all CPUs is respectable for a mobile chip, but the Xeon's 50th percentile places it slightly higher overall. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Core i7-1185G7E and the Core i7-8700T, while the Core i7-1195G7 sits near the Core i9-8950HK and Core i7-5820K.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Core i7-1195G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2640 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.90 GHz for the Core i7 and 2.60 GHz for the Xeon. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz and 3.40 GHz, respectively.

Thermal design power differs dramatically: the Core i7 is rated at 28 W, the Xeon at 90 W. The Core i7 uses the Intel BGA 1449 socket, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The process nodes are 10 nm for the Core i7 and 22 nm for the Xeon. Die sizes are 144 mm² and 356 mm², with the Xeon's transistor count recorded at 2,600 million.

Cache configurations differ in both size and distribution. The Core i7 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 20 MB of shared L3.

Memory support is another split: the Core i7 supports DDR4, LPDDR4, and LPDDR4X over dual-channel, while the Xeon supports DDR4 over quad-channel with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is available only on the Xeon. PCIe lanes are 16 Gen 4 lanes for the Core i7 and 40 Gen 3 lanes for the Xeon. The Core i7 has integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU, while the Xeon has none.

The launch MSRP for the Core i7-1195G7 is $426, and for the Xeon E5-2640 v3 it is $939. Both processors are end-of-life, with the Core i7 released on 2021-05-30 and the Xeon on 2014-09-07. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 942 versus 887 in R15, 3926 versus 3697 in R20, and 9348 versus 8803 in R23, a consistent 5.8 percent lead in each case.

Q: Does the Core i7-1195G7 win in single-core performance due to its higher boost clock?

A: No. Despite a 5.00 GHz boost clock versus the Xeon's 3.40 GHz, the Core i7 loses every single-core test. The Xeon leads by 5.3 percent in R15 and 5.8 percent in R20 and R23.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Xeon E5-2640 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core i7-1195G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon's double core count is a major factor in its multi-core advantage.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The Core i7-1195G7 is rated at 28 W, making it suitable for mobile devices. The Xeon E5-2640 v3 is rated at 90 W, requiring a more robust cooling solution and a desktop or server platform.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Xeon E5-2640 v3 supports ECC memory. The Core i7-1195G7 does not. The Xeon also uses a quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core i7 uses dual-channel.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon E5-2640 v3 has an average benchmark score of 2703, placing it in the 50th percentile. The Core i7-1195G7 averages 2638, in the 49th percentile. The Xeon's nearest rival is the Core i7-1185G7E with an identical score of 2703.