Intel Core i7-3520M vs Intel Xeon X3440 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-3520M across all five shared benchmark tests, though the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3520M scores 244 against 238 for the Xeon X3440, a 2.5% advantage. The R20 multicore test repeats the pattern: 1018 versus 994, a 2.4% lead. Single-core results are similarly tight, with the i7-3520M posting 143 in R20 single-core against 140 for the Xeon, a 2.1% edge, and 342 versus 334 in R23 single-core, again 2.4% ahead.

The largest relative win for the i7-3520M comes in Cinebench R15 multicore at 2.5%, while the smallest is the R20 single-core gap at 2.1%. The multicore advantage in R23 is 2426 to 2368, which translates to a 58-point difference. Across all five tests, the i7-3520M wins 5 and the Xeon X3440 wins 0. The average benchmark score for the i7-3520M is 843, placing it in the 23rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Xeon X3440 averages 815, sitting in the 22nd percentile. The i7-3520M also holds a higher Geekbench multicore score of 1156 and a single-core score of 570, though the Xeon X3440 has no Geekbench entries in the database.

The implications of these margins are important: despite having half the cores and half the threads, the mobile i7-3520M consistently outpaces the server-class Xeon X3440 in every measured workload. The deltas are small, between 2.1% and 2.5%, but they are uniform across all tests. The database shows the i7-3520M's nearest rival is the AMD FX-8800P with an identical average score of 843, a 0.1% delta, and the Intel Core i7-920 at 840, a 0.3% delta. The Xeon X3440's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon E5540 at 820, a -0.7% delta, with the Intel Core i5-L16G7 at 816, a -0.1% delta.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-3520M wins every single-core benchmark recorded. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 143 versus 140 for the Xeon X3440, a 2.1% difference. In R23 single-core, it scores 342 versus 334, a 2.4% difference.

Q: Does the Xeon X3440 ever beat the i7-3520M in any benchmark?

A: No. Across the five head-to-head tests (Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in multicore and single-core variants), the Xeon X3440 records zero wins. The i7-3520M wins all five.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-3520M has an average benchmark score of 843, placing it in the 23rd percentile of all CPUs. The Xeon X3440 averages 815, in the 22nd percentile. The i7-3520M sits 3.4% higher in raw average score.

Q: What is the closest rival to each processor?

A: For the i7-3520M, the AMD FX-8800P has an average score of 843, a 0.1% delta, making it the nearest competitor. For the Xeon X3440, the Intel Core i5-L16G7 scores 816, a -0.1% delta, and the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 scores 813, a 0.2% delta.

Q: Does the Xeon X3440 support ECC memory?

A: Yes. The Xeon X3440 supports ECC memory, while the i7-3520M does not. The Xeon also lists DDR3 memory support with a memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i7-3520M has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, compared to 2.93 GHz for the Xeon X3440. The i7-3520M's base clock is also higher at 2.90 GHz versus 2.53 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different Intel microarchitectures. The i7-3520M uses Ivy Bridge, built on a 22 nm process node, while the Xeon X3440 uses Nehalem, built on the older 45 nm node. The die sizes reflect this: the i7-3520M has a die size of 118 mm², while the Xeon X3440's die measures 296 mm². Transistor counts are not listed for the i7-3520M, but the Xeon X3440 integrates 774 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ meaningfully. Both share 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 4 MB on the i7-3520M versus 8 MB on the Xeon X3440. This means the Xeon has double the last-level cache, which is notable given its older architecture and higher core count.

The integrated graphics situation is another clear split. The i7-3520M includes Intel HD 4000, while the Xeon X3440 has no integrated graphics at all. The i7-3520M is a mobile part with a market segment of Mobile, while the Xeon X3440 is designated for Server/Workstation use and has an end-of-life production status. The Xeon X3440 also lists PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-3520M has no PCIe field recorded.

Both processors use dual-channel memory buses. The Xeon X3440 supports DDR3 memory and lists a memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s; the i7-3520M has no memory support or bandwidth figures in the database. The sockets are entirely different: the i7-3520M uses Intel BGA 1023, while the Xeon X3440 uses Intel Socket 1156. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so both are locked parts.

Specification Differences

The table below captures only the fields where the two processors differ:

| Specification | Intel Core i7-3520M | Intel Xeon X3440 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.53 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.93 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1023 | Intel Socket 1156 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Nehalem |

| Codename | Ivy Bridge | Lynnfield |

| Generation | Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) | Xeon (Lynnfield) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 45 nm |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | 296 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 774 million |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | Not listed | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 21.3 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 2, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Not listed | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2012-06-02 | 2009-09-07 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $215 |

| Part Number | SR0MU | SLBLF |

| Geekbench Multicore | 1156 | Not listed |

| Geekbench Singlecore | 570 | Not listed |

The TDP difference is stark: 35 W for the mobile chip versus 95 W for the server chip. The release dates are nearly three years apart, with the Xeon X3440 launching on 2009-09-07 and the i7-3520M on 2012-06-02.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-3520M outperforms the Intel Xeon X3440 in every recorded test, despite having half the cores and threads. The i7-3520M wins all five head-to-head tests with deltas between 2.1% and 2.5%. Its average benchmark score of 843 sits in the 23rd percentile, while the Xeon X3440's 815 sits in the 22nd. The i7-3520M also has higher base and boost clocks (2.90/3.60 GHz versus 2.53/2.93 GHz), a much newer architecture (Ivy Bridge versus Nehalem), a smaller 22 nm process node, and a far lower TDP of 35 W versus 95 W.

The Xeon X3440 does retain advantages in specific areas: it has 4 cores and 8 threads versus 2 cores and 4 threads, double the L3 cache (8 MB versus 4 MB), ECC memory support, DDR3 memory support with 21.3 GB/s bandwidth, and a launch MSRP of $215. It also has a larger die (296 mm² versus 118 mm²) and a transistor count of 774 million, though these physical characteristics do not translate into benchmark wins.

For a user prioritizing raw benchmark performance, clock speed, power efficiency, and integrated graphics, the i7-3520M is the clear choice. The Xeon X3440 only makes sense for workloads requiring its specific server features, namely ECC memory support, a higher core count, and larger L3 cache, but those features do not materialize into better scores in the recorded Cinebench tests. The production status of the Xeon X3440 is end-of-life, which further limits its appeal.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3520M wins decisively in every measured benchmark category. In multicore tests, it leads by 2.5% in R15, 2.4% in R20, and 2.4% in R23. In single-core tests, it leads by 2.1% in R20 and 2.4% in R23. It also has the advantage in clock speeds, with a 0.37 GHz higher base clock and a 0.67 GHz higher boost clock. The i7-3520M's TDP of 35 W makes it dramatically more power-efficient than the Xeon X3440's 95 W, which is a decisive factor for mobile or thermally constrained systems. Its integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics provide an additional capability that the Xeon lacks entirely.

The Intel Xeon X3440 wins in structural specifications, not in benchmark performance. It offers double the cores (4 versus 2) and double the threads (8 versus 4), which could benefit highly parallel workloads not captured in the recorded tests. Its 8 MB of shared L3 cache is twice the i7-3520M's 4 MB, and it supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i7-3520M. The Xeon X3440 also lists DDR3 memory support with 21.3 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes. For server or workstation deployments where ECC is mandatory and multicore throughput is the priority, the Xeon X3440 retains a structural edge, but the database shows no benchmark where that edge converts into a higher score. The i7-3520M is the better performer in every recorded test, while the Xeon X3440 is the better-specified server part on paper.