Intel Core i7-3615QE vs Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a surprisingly consistent picture: the Intel Core i7-3615QE wins every single head-to-head test against the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3, despite being the older mobile part. Across all six Cinebench workloads, from R15 through R23, the i7-3615QE holds a lead between 1.5% and 1.9%. That is a narrow margin, but it is uniform. No test goes the Xeon's way.

The i7-3615QE is the pick for anyone who needs multithreaded throughput in a low-power envelope. Its 45W TDP versus the Xeon's 84W TDP means it delivers equal or better performance while drawing far less power. The Xeon's only real advantages are platform-level: it supports ECC memory, has a higher base and boost clock, and comes with a newer integrated GPU.

The Xeon E3-1226 v3 is the choice when the platform matters more than raw Cinebench scores. It uses the Intel Socket 1150, supports DDR3 memory with ECC, and targets the server and workstation segment. If you need error-correcting memory or a traditional desktop socket, the Xeon is the only one of these two that qualifies. The performance gap is small enough that it should not be the deciding factor.

For pure performance per watt, the i7-3615QE is the winner. For platform flexibility and memory safety features, the Xeon takes it. The data does not support picking the Xeon on speed alone, since it loses every benchmark.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is that the i7-3615QE wins all six recorded comparisons. The margins are tight but consistent, ranging from 1.5% to 1.9%. This is not a case of one chip winning on synthetic workloads while the other wins on real-world tasks; the pattern holds across every generation of the Cinebench suite.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-3615QE scores 481 against the Xeon's 472, a 1.9% lead. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The single-core R15 result is 67 to 66, a 1.5% edge. Even in the newest and most demanding test, Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-3615QE posts 4774 versus 4692, a 1.7% advantage. The R23 single-core run shows 674 to 662, again 1.8% in favor of the mobile chip.

The R20 results mirror this. Multicore is 2005 to 1970, a 1.8% gap, and single-core is 283 to 278, also 1.8%. There is no workload here where the Xeon manages to close the gap or flip the result.

This consistency is notable because the two chips have different thread counts. The i7-3615QE has 8 threads, the Xeon has 4. Even so, the Xeon's higher clocks, 3.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost against 2.30 GHz and 3.30 GHz, do not overcome the i7's hyper-threading advantage in these tests. The delta stays under 2% in every case, which suggests the Xeon's clock advantage nearly compensates for its missing threads, but not quite.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The i7-3615QE averages 1381 across all recorded tests, while the Xeon averages 1357. The i7's nearest rivals are the AMD Opteron 6238 at 1383 with a -0.1% delta, the AMD Opteron 6366 HE at 1379 with 0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U and Ryzen 3 PRO 1200, both at 1379 with 0.2%. The Xeon sits near the AMD Opteron 6238 and the Intel Core i5-6500T, which scores 1362 with a -0.3% delta, and the Intel Core i5-8365UE at 1362 with -0.4%. Both chips land in the 36th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i7-3615QE scores 4774, while the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 scores 4692. The i7 wins by 1.7%.

Q: Does the Xeon E3-1226 v3 support ECC memory?

A: Yes. The Xeon E3-1226 v3 has ECC memory support. The i7-3615QE does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i7-3615QE has a 45W TDP, while the Xeon E3-1226 v3 has an 84W TDP. The i7 consumes significantly less power.

Q: Which chip has more threads?

A: The i7-3615QE has 8 threads across 4 cores. The Xeon E3-1226 v3 has 4 threads across 4 cores. The i7 supports hyper-threading, the Xeon does not.

Q: What sockets do these CPUs use?

A: The i7-3615QE uses Intel BGA 1023, a mobile socket. The Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses Intel Socket 1150, a desktop and workstation socket.

Q: Which CPU has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Xeon E3-1226 v3 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-3615QE has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every major specification except core count. Both have 4 physical cores, but the i7-3615QE doubles the thread count to 8, while the Xeon stays at 4 threads. That single difference explains much of the benchmark outcome.

Clock speeds favor the Xeon. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz and boost clock is 3.70 GHz. The i7-3615QE runs at 2.30 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. Despite this, the i7 wins every benchmark, which indicates the thread advantage matters more in Cinebench than raw clock speed.

TDP is a major separator. The i7-3615QE is rated at 45W, the Xeon at 84W. The i7 is a mobile part, so its lower power draw is expected, but the performance parity makes the power difference more significant.

Sockets are incompatible. The i7 uses Intel BGA 1023, which is a soldered mobile package. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1150, a standard LGA desktop socket. Memory support also differs: the Xeon lists DDR3 support with a 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth figure, while the database records no specific memory support for the i7. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

ECC memory is exclusive to the Xeon. The i7 does not support it. The Xeon also has a PCIe specification of Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 has no recorded PCIe data.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-3615QE has Intel HD 4000, the Xeon has Intel HD P4600. Market segments are different: the i7 is classified as Mobile, the Xeon as Server/Workstation. The Xeon is listed as end-of-life and had a launch MSRP of $213. The i7 has no recorded launch MSRP. Release dates are also different, with the i7 appearing in the database first.

Architecture Differences

Both chips are built on Intel's 22 nm process node and both come from Intel's own foundry. Transistor count is identical at 1,400 million, and die size is the same at 160 mm². The similarities end there.

The i7-3615QE uses the Ivy Bridge architecture and carries the Ivy Bridge codename. Its generation is listed as Core i7 (Ivy Bridge). The Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses Haswell, specifically the Haswell-WS codename, and its generation is Xeon E3 (Haswell-WS). These are two different microarchitectures from successive Intel design cycles.

Cache hierarchy is identical at the L1 and L2 levels. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache differs: the i7 has 6 MB shared, the Xeon has 8 MB shared. That extra 2 MB of L3 does not translate into a benchmark win for the Xeon, at least in the recorded Cinebench tests.

The integrated graphics differ by generation. The i7's Intel HD 4000 is the Ivy Bridge era GPU. The Xeon's Intel HD P4600 is a Haswell era part. Both are integrated solutions, but the Xeon's is newer.

Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Both are locked parts, so overclocking is not supported according to the database. The i7's part number is SR0NC, the Xeon's is SR1R0.

The architecture differences also explain the platform split. Ivy Bridge on BGA 1023 is a mobile-first design. Haswell-WS on Socket 1150 is a workstation and server design. The memory controller, PCIe implementation, and ECC support all reflect those different target markets.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-3615QE wins every recorded benchmark. That is the simplest summary of the data. It takes all six Cinebench tests, with deltas from 1.5% to 1.9%. If the workload is purely CPU rendering or compute, the i7 is the faster chip in this comparison.

The i7 also wins on power efficiency. Its 45W TDP is nearly half the Xeon's 84W TDP. For any system where heat output or power draw matters, such as compact builds or always-on machines, the i7 is the better fit.

The Xeon E3-1226 v3 wins on platform features. It supports ECC memory, which the i7 does not. That makes it the correct choice for a workstation or server where data integrity is critical. It uses the standard Socket 1150, which gives it access to a wide range of desktop motherboards, while the i7 is soldered to a mobile BGA 1023 package.

The Xeon also has higher clock speeds, 3.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, and a larger 8 MB L3 cache. These do not produce benchmark wins in the recorded tests, but they could matter in workloads that are latency-sensitive or poorly threaded. The i7's 8 threads give it an edge in multithreaded scaling, but the Xeon's higher clocks might serve single-threaded tasks that do not show up in the Cinebench suite.

The Xeon is end-of-life, while the i7 has no recorded production status. The Xeon also has a documented 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and DDR3 support, which are useful for planning a system around it.

In practical terms: choose the i7-3615QE for a low-power, high-thread-count build where the mobile socket is acceptable. Choose the Xeon E3-1226 v3 for a Socket 1150 workstation with ECC memory requirements. The benchmark data favors the i7, but the platform requirements may override that for certain buyers.