Intel Core i7-1195G7 vs Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 and the Intel Core i7-1195G7 occupy opposite ends of the hardware spectrum, yet their benchmark scores are remarkably close. The database records six head-to-head wins for the Xeon, but the Core i7 counters with a higher average benchmark score and a Geekbench result that the Xeon does not match. This comparison is less about outright superiority and more about how each processor applies its resources.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 wins every recorded Cinebench comparison, but the margins are razor-thin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 888 against the Core i7's 887, a delta of 0.1%. The single-core test is a tie at 125 points for both. The R20 multi-core test shows 3702 for the Xeon versus 3697 for the Core i7, another 0.1% margin. R20 single-core goes 522 to 521, a 0.2% delta. The R23 multi-core result is 8816 versus 8803, and the single-core test is 1244 versus 1242. The Xeon's largest recorded advantage is in the two single-core tests, where it leads by 0.2%. These wins are consistent across all six Cinebench iterations, but none of them exceed a 1-point deficit for the Core i7 in single-core or a 13-point gap in multi-core.

The Intel Core i7-1195G7 has no wins in the head-to-head Cinebench set, but it brings additional data to the comparison. The database includes Geekbench results for the Core i7 only: a multi-core score of 4248 and a single-core score of 1584. These scores have no direct Xeon counterpart in the recorded data, so they stand as the Core i7's exclusive claim. The Core i7 also posts a higher average benchmark score of 2638, compared to the Xeon's 2550, a difference of 88 points. Both processors share the same percentile rank of 49 against all CPUs, indicating they sit at the same overall performance level in the database.

The practical split is defined by workload type. The Xeon's advantage in Cinebench, though small, points to its 12-core, 24-thread configuration handling parallel rendering tasks with a slight edge. The Core i7's Geekbench numbers suggest a different performance profile, one that the Xeon cannot contest because it lacks those measurements. The Core i7 also carries integrated graphics, the Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU, while the Xeon has none, giving the mobile part a capability the server chip does not offer.

The Verdict

The data supports a split recommendation based on platform needs. The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 is the choice for a server or workstation environment where the 12 cores, 24 threads, and ECC memory support matter. Its Cinebench scores, while only fractionally ahead, are consistent across all six tests, and the processor is designed for the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform with quad-channel DDR4 memory. The Core i7-1195G7 is the choice for a mobile system where the 28-watt TDP, integrated graphics, and higher average benchmark score of 2638 make it a more versatile part. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1584 and multi-core score of 4248 provide performance data that the Xeon does not have in the database.

The Xeon leads in every direct benchmark comparison, but the margins are so small that they fall within measurement noise. A 0.1% delta in multi-core and a 0.2% delta in single-core do not constitute a practical performance gap. The Core i7's average score advantage of 88 points suggests that, on aggregate, the mobile chip is the stronger performer in the database's full benchmark set. The absence of Geekbench results for the Xeon means the Core i7's advantage in that test cannot be compared directly, but it does contribute to the higher average.

Production status and market segment also guide the verdict. The Xeon is end-of-life, released in 2015, and targets the server/workstation segment. The Core i7 is end-of-life as well, released in 2021, and targets mobile. Neither is a current product, but the Core i7 is six years newer in release date. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $2859, while the Core i7's launch MSRP is $426, though pricing considerations are outside the scope of this analysis. The Xeon's part number is SR22L, and the Core i7's is SRKSC, both locked with no unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the Xeon at 888 and the Core i7 at 887, a 0.1% delta in favor of the Xeon. This is the smallest multi-core margin in the set, and it illustrates how closely these two processors track each other despite vastly different core counts. The R15 single-core test is a dead tie at 125, with a 0% delta. The Xeon wins by default, but the scores are identical.

Cinebench R20 multi-core gives the Xeon 3702 and the Core i7 3697, a 0.1% delta. The single-core result is 522 for the Xeon and 521 for the Core i7, a 0.2% delta. The R20 tests show the same pattern as R15: the Xeon leads, but the difference is negligible. The widest margin in the entire head-to-head set appears in R20 single-core and R23 single-core, both at 0.2%.

Cinebench R23 multi-core records 8816 for the Xeon and 8803 for the Core i7, a 0.1% delta. The single-core test is 1244 versus 1242, a 0.2% delta. Across all six tests, the Xeon's largest raw score lead is 13 points in R23 multi-core, and its largest percentage lead is 0.2% in the two single-core tests. The Core i7's Geekbench results, which are not part of the head-to-head set, show a single-core score of 1584 and a multi-core score of 4248, figures that exceed the Xeon's Cinebench single-core numbers but come from a different benchmark suite.

The average benchmark scores provide additional context. The Xeon's average is 2550, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 at 2545 with a 0.2% delta, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS at 2557 with a -0.3% delta, the Intel Core i3-10325 at 2530 with a 0.8% delta, and the Intel Xeon E-2244G at 2527 with a 0.9% delta. The Core i7's average is 2638, with rivals including the Intel Core i9-8950HK at 2641 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Core i7-5820K at 2642 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Xeon E-2274G at 2643 with a -0.2% delta, and the Intel Core i7-7740X at 2648 with a -0.4% delta. The Core i7 sits slightly below its nearest rivals, while the Xeon sits slightly above most of its nearest rivals but below the Ryzen 7 4800HS.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most direct benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. It leads in R15 multi-core (888 versus 887), R15 single-core (125 versus 125), R20 multi-core (3702 versus 3697), R20 single-core (522 versus 521), R23 multi-core (8816 versus 8803), and R23 single-core (1244 versus 1242).

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest delta is 0.2%, which occurs in two tests: Cinebench R20 single-core (522 versus 521) and Cinebench R23 single-core (1244 versus 1242). All other deltas are either 0.1% or 0%.

Q: Does the Core i7-1195G7 have any benchmark results that the Xeon does not have?

A: Yes, the database records Geekbench scores for the Core i7 only. It scores 4248 in Geekbench multi-core and 1584 in Geekbench single-core. No Geekbench results are recorded for the Xeon E5-4640 v3.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core i7-1195G7 has a higher average benchmark score of 2638, while the Xeon E5-4640 v3 has an average of 2550. The difference is 88 points in favor of the Core i7.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Xeon E5-4640 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Core i7-1195G7 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Xeon E5-4640 v3 supports ECC memory, while the Core i7-1195G7 does not.

Architecture Differences

The Xeon E5-4640 v3 is built on the Haswell architecture with the Haswell-EP codename, using a 22 nm process node. It contains 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The Core i7-1195G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture with the Willow Cove-U codename, on a 10 nm process node. Its die size is 144 mm², and the database does not record a transistor count for it.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon's L3 cache is 18 MB larger, but the Core i7's per-core L2 cache is substantially larger.

Memory support and PCIe lanes also differ. The Xeon supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with a recorded memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i7 supports DDR4, LPDDR4, and LPDDR4X memory over a dual-channel bus, with no memory bandwidth figure recorded. The Xeon provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes available from the CPU, while the Core i7 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the Core i7 does not. Integrated graphics are absent on the Xeon, while the Core i7 includes Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 96EU.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in core count, with the Xeon at 12 cores and the Core i7 at 4 cores. Thread counts are 24 and 8, respectively. Base clocks are 1900 MHz for the Xeon and 2900 MHz for the Core i7. Boost clocks are 2.60 GHz for the Xeon and 5.00 GHz for the Core i7. The TDP is 105 watts for the Xeon and 28 watts for the Core i7.

The socket types are incompatible: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3, while the Core i7 uses Intel BGA 1449. The process nodes differ, with 22 nm for the Xeon and 10 nm for the Core i7. The Xeon's die size is 356 mm², and the Core i7's is 144 mm². The Xeon has 2,600 million transistors, while the Core i7 has no recorded transistor count. The L3 cache is 30 MB on the Xeon and 12 MB on the Core i7. Memory channels are quad-channel for the Xeon and dual-channel for the Core i7. The memory bandwidth is 59.7 GB/s for the Xeon, with no figure for the Core i7. PCIe lanes are 40 on the Xeon and 16 on the Core i7, with Gen 3 versus Gen 4. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the Core i7 does not. The Core i7 has integrated graphics, the Xeon does not. Release dates are 2015 for the Xeon and 2021 for the Core i7. The launch MSRP is $2859 for the Xeon and $426 for the Core i7. Part numbers are SR22L for the Xeon and SRKSC for the Core i7.