Intel Core i7-1195G7 vs Intel Xeon W-2125 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1195G7 and Intel Xeon W-2125 represent two fundamentally different interpretations of a 4-core, 8-thread processor. Despite their identical core and thread counts, the benchmark data reveals that they excel in distinct workloads, with the mobile Tiger Lake part dominating single-threaded and Cinebench tests, while the workstation Xeon takes a decisive lead in Geekbench multi-core. The data shows a clear split in performance characteristics that buyers must weigh based on their specific application demands.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are strikingly lopsided in terms of win count, with the Intel Core i7-1195G7 taking 7 of the 8 benchmark comparisons. However, the magnitude of those wins varies significantly, and the single loss is substantial enough to prevent a blanket recommendation. The most dramatic victory for the i7-1195G7 comes in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1584 against the Xeon W-2125’s 1323, a 19.7% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and highlights the efficiency of the Willow Cove architecture in lightly-threaded tasks.

Across the Cinebench suite, the i7-1195G7 maintains a consistent but narrower edge. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it posts 887 versus 852, a 4.1% lead. The single-core R15 result is nearly identical in percentage terms, with 125 against 120, a 4.2% advantage. This pattern repeats in R20, where the multicore score is 3697 versus 3551 (4.1% ahead) and the single-core score is 521 versus 501 (4% ahead). The R23 results show the same trend: 8803 against 8455 in multicore (4.1%) and 1242 against 1193 in single-core (4.1%). The consistency of these deltas, all hovering around the 4% mark, suggests that the i7-1195G7’s higher boost clock and newer architecture provide a uniform performance uplift in Cinebench workloads.

The Xeon W-2125’s only win is Geekbench multicore, and it is a decisive one. The Xeon scores 4988 against the i7-1195G7’s 4248, a 14.8% margin. This result is particularly notable because it reverses the Cinebench trend entirely. The Geekbench multicore test appears to reward the Xeon’s higher base clock of 4.00 GHz and its quad-channel memory subsystem, which provides a substantial 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The i7-1195G7, running on dual-channel memory, cannot sustain the same memory throughput in this specific workload. This is the most important caveat in the entire comparison, as it demonstrates that the i7-1195G7 is not universally faster.

The aggregate benchmark scores reinforce the split. The i7-1195G7 has an average benchmark score of 2638, while the Xeon W-2125 sits at 2623, a difference of only 0.6%. Both processors occupy the 49th percentile among all CPUs, indicating that they are statistically equivalent in overall performance. The nearest rivals for the i7-1195G7 include the Intel Core i9-8950HK (average score 2641, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Core i7-5820K (2642, -0.1%), showing that it is bracketed by older high-end desktop parts. The Xeon W-2125’s rivals are essentially the same group, with the i7-1195G7 itself listed as a rival at -0.6%, further confirming their close overall standing.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but conditional recommendation. For users whose workloads prioritize single-threaded performance, Cinebench rendering, or any application that scales well with high boost clocks, the Intel Core i7-1195G7 is the superior choice. It wins every Cinebench test and the Geekbench single-core test by margins ranging from 4% to 19.7%. The 5.00 GHz boost clock is a decisive factor in these results, providing a tangible advantage over the Xeon’s 4.50 GHz boost.

However, the Xeon W-2125 is the pick for workloads that are sensitive to memory bandwidth and sustained multicore throughput, as evidenced by its 14.8% Geekbench multicore victory. The quad-channel memory bus, delivering 85.3 GB/s, is a specification that the i7-1195G7 cannot match with its dual-channel configuration. The Xeon also offers ECC memory support, which is absent on the i7-1195G7, making it the only viable option for systems that require error-correcting memory. For workstation users running memory-intensive simulations or large datasets, the Xeon’s architecture is better suited despite its older 14 nm process node.

The production status of both parts is end-of-life, so neither offers a future upgrade path. The i7-1195G7 is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1449 socket, while the Xeon W-2125 is a server/workstation part on Intel Socket 2066. The choice ultimately comes down to platform: the i7-1195G7 is designed for compact, power-efficient laptops, while the Xeon W-2125 is built for full-sized workstations with 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes and quad-channel memory. If the application can leverage the Xeon’s memory bandwidth, its 14.8% Geekbench multicore lead is significant; otherwise, the i7-1195G7’s consistent 4% plus wins across most benchmarks make it the more broadly capable processor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The Intel Core i7-1195G7 uses the Tiger Lake architecture, specifically Tiger Lake-U, on a 10 nm process node. The Xeon W-2125 uses the earlier Skylake architecture, specifically Skylake-W, on a 14 nm node. This process difference is a major factor in the performance gap, as the 10 nm node allows for higher transistor density and efficiency, which contributes to the i7-1195G7’s superior single-threaded results.

The cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The i7-1195G7 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Xeon has 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is also larger on the i7-1195G7, with 12 MB shared, compared to 8.25 MB shared on the Xeon. The die size difference is substantial as well: the i7-1195G7 measures 144 mm², while the Xeon W-2125 measures 484 mm². The larger die on the Xeon is a consequence of the older, less dense 14 nm process and the inclusion of a more extensive memory controller for quad-channel support.

The memory support is a critical architectural divergence. The i7-1195G7 supports DDR4, LPDDR4, and LPDDR4X memory in a dual-channel configuration, while the Xeon supports only DDR4 but in a quad-channel configuration. The Xeon’s memory bandwidth is explicitly listed at 85.3 GB/s, a figure that is not provided for the i7-1195G7. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the i7 does not. The PCIe capabilities are also different: the i7-1195G7 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes. The i7-1195G7 also includes integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, whereas the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is the thermal design power (TDP). The i7-1195G7 has a TDP of 28 watts, while the Xeon W-2125 has a TDP of 120 watts. This 92-watt difference is enormous and directly reflects the intended use cases: the i7 is for thin-and-light mobile devices, while the Xeon is for power-hungry workstation towers. The base clocks also differ, with the i7 running at 2.90 GHz and the Xeon at 4.00 GHz. The boost clocks are closer, with the i7 at 5.00 GHz and the Xeon at 4.50 GHz.

The sockets are incompatible: the i7-1195G7 uses Intel BGA 1449, while the Xeon W-2125 uses Intel Socket 2066. The release dates are separated by nearly four years, with the i7 launching on 2021-05-30 and the Xeon on 2017-08-28. The launch MSRP for the i7-1195G7 is $426, and for the Xeon W-2125 it is $444. The market segments differ, with the i7 classified as Mobile and the Xeon as Server/Workstation. The part numbers are SRKSC for the i7 and SR3LM for the Xeon. Both processors have locked multipliers, so neither can be overclocked.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which is higher than the Xeon W-2125’s 4.50 GHz.

Q: Does the Xeon W-2125 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon W-2125 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-1195G7 does not.

Q: Which processor wins the Geekbench multicore benchmark?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2125 wins the Geekbench multicore benchmark with a score of 4988, compared to the i7-1195G7’s 4248, a 14.8% margin.

Q: What is the TDP of the Intel Core i7-1195G7?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 has a TDP of 28 watts, compared to the Xeon W-2125’s 120 watts.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Xeon W-2125 has 8.25 MB.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does each processor provide?

A: The Intel Core i7-1195G7 provides Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the Xeon W-2125 provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes.