Intel Core i7-3615QE vs Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably consistent, though narrow, victory for the Intel Core i7-3615QE across every Cinebench iteration in the database. The Core i7-3615QE wins all six head-to-head matchups, but the margins are minimal, ranging from a 0.9% delta to a 1.1% delta. This is not a case of one processor dominating another; it is a case of one processor edging ahead in every single test.

The largest single-core advantage appears in Cinebench R15 and R20. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core i7-3615QE scores 67 against the Xeon E5-1410 v2's 67, resulting in a 0% delta, effectively a tie. The story changes slightly in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Core i7-3615QE posts 283 versus 280 for the Xeon, a 1.1% lead. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows 674 against 668, a 0.9% delta. These are small numbers, but they show the mobile processor maintaining a slight edge in lightly threaded workloads despite its lower base clock.

Multi-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i7-3615QE scores 481 against 476 for the Xeon E5-1410 v2, a 1.1% delta. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows 2005 versus 1987, a 0.9% delta. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test records 4774 versus 4732, again a 0.9% delta. The Core i7-3615QE wins all three multi-core tests, but the Xeon is never far behind. The largest cumulative gap in any test is barely above one percent, which suggests that the two processors are functionally equivalent in raw Cinebench throughput, with the Core i7-3615QE holding a slight statistical advantage.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The Core i7-3615QE has an average benchmark score of 1381, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 sits at 1368. That is a difference of only 13 points, roughly 1% of the total. Both processors land at the 36th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same tier of overall performance relative to the wider market. For context, the Core i7-3615QE's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 6238 at 1383 (a -0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U at 1379 (a 0.2% delta). The Xeon E5-1410 v2's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon D-1521 at 1367 (a 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i7-2600 at 1370 (a -0.2% delta). Both processors are surrounded by similar-performing silicon, and neither breaks away from its peer group.

The head-to-head data also reveals that the wins are not distributed by workload type. The Core i7-3615QE wins single-core and multi-core tests alike, with no test where the Xeon E5-1410 v2 takes the lead. The Xeon's best showing is a tie in Cinebench R15 single-core, where both chips record 67. In every other test, the Core i7-3615QE is ahead, though never by more than 1.1%. The consistency of the results is notable: the Core i7-3615QE's advantage does not grow or shrink with thread count, it remains flat across the entire benchmark suite.

Where Each One Wins

The clear answer from the benchmark data is that the Intel Core i7-3615QE wins everywhere, but the margins are so thin that the practical differences are negligible. The Core i7-3615QE takes all six recorded head-to-head matchups, including both single-core and multi-core variants of Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. Its largest single win is a 1.1% delta in Cinebench R15 multi-core and Cinebench R20 single-core. Its smallest win is a 0% delta in Cinebench R15 single-core, which is effectively a dead heat.

For users prioritizing single-threaded response, the Core i7-3615QE holds a slight edge in Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests, with deltas of 1.1% and 0.9% respectively. For multi-threaded rendering work, the Core i7-3615QE again comes out ahead, with a 1.1% delta in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 0.9% deltas in both R20 and R23 multi-core. The Xeon E5-1410 v2, despite having a higher base clock of 2.80 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, cannot convert that clock advantage into a benchmark win. Instead, the Core i7-3615QE's higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz versus 3.20 GHz appears to be the deciding factor in these tests.

The Xeon does not win any benchmark in the database, but it is not a poor performer. It ties the Core i7-3615QE in Cinebench R15 single-core and comes within 0.9% in most other tests. The Xeon's strengths lie outside the Cinebench suite, in areas such as ECC memory support, triple-channel memory bandwidth, and server-grade platform features. The benchmark data does not capture those aspects, so the "wins" for the Xeon are contextual rather than performance-based. In a workstation or server workload that relies heavily on memory bandwidth or error-correcting memory, the Xeon E5-1410 v2 would be the more appropriate choice, even though the Cinebench numbers do not show it winning.

The Core i7-3615QE, by contrast, is a mobile processor with a 45 W TDP and integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics. Its wins in the benchmark suite are consistent, but its real advantage lies in its platform position: a lower-power mobile chip that can handle the same Cinebench loads as an 80 W server Xeon. The data shows that the Core i7-3615QE is the faster chip in every measured test, but the Xeon is not far behind.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-3615QE wins all six head-to-head benchmark tests recorded in the database. The Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 does not win any of the six matchups.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is 1.1%, recorded in Cinebench R15 multi-core and Cinebench R20 single-core, both favoring the Intel Core i7-3615QE.

Q: Are the two processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-3615QE and the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 are at the 36th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-3615QE has an average benchmark score of 1381, while the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 has an average score of 1368, a difference of 13 points.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the two processors tie?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R15 single-core, both processors score 67, resulting in a 0% delta.

Q: What does the Xeon E5-1410 v2 offer that the Core i7-3615QE does not?

A: The Xeon E5-1410 v2 supports ECC memory, has triple-channel memory bus with 32.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, and supports DDR3 memory. The Core i7-3615QE does not support ECC memory and has a dual-channel memory bus.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i7-3615QE has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E5-1410 v2 has a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Core i7-3615QE has a higher boost clock, but the Xeon has a higher base clock.

The thermal design power differs substantially. The Core i7-3615QE has a TDP of 45 W, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 has a TDP of 80 W. The socket also differs: the Core i7-3615QE uses Intel BGA 1023, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 uses Intel Socket 1356.

The memory configuration is another point of divergence. The Core i7-3615QE uses a dual-channel memory bus with no listed memory support or bandwidth. The Xeon E5-1410 v2 uses a triple-channel memory bus with DDR3 memory support and a recorded memory bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the Core i7-3615QE does not.

The Xeon E5-1410 v2 has PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i7-3615QE has no listed PCIe information. The Core i7-3615QE includes integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics listed.

The market segments differ: the Core i7-3615QE is a Mobile processor, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 is a Server/Workstation processor. The Xeon is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the Core i7-3615QE has no production status listed. The release dates also differ: the Core i7-3615QE has a release date of 2012-04-28T17:00:00.000Z, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 has a release date of 2014-01-08T17:00:00.000Z.

The part numbers are SR0NC for the Core i7-3615QE and SR1B0 for the Xeon E5-1410 v2. Neither processor has a listed launch MSRP, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same base architecture: Ivy Bridge on a 22 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. However, their codenames differ. The Core i7-3615QE uses the codename "Ivy Bridge" and is part of the Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) generation. The Xeon E5-1410 v2 uses the codename "Ivy Bridge-EN" and is part of the Xeon E5 (Ivy Bridge-EN) generation.

The die size and transistor count differ significantly. The Core i7-3615QE has 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The Xeon E5-1410 v2 has 1,860 million transistors on a 257 mm² die. The Xeon is a physically larger and denser chip, which aligns with its server-focused feature set.

Both processors have 4 cores and 8 threads, with identical L1 and L2 cache configurations: 64 KB per core for L1 and 256 KB per core for L2. The L3 cache differs, with the Core i7-3615QE offering 6 MB shared and the Xeon E5-1410 v2 offering 10 MB shared. The Xeon has 4 MB more shared L3 cache, which can help in workloads that benefit from a larger cache footprint.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core i7-3615QE includes Intel HD 4000, while the Xeon E5-1410 v2 has no integrated graphics. This is consistent with their market segments: the mobile Core i7 benefits from integrated graphics for power efficiency, while the server Xeon relies on a discrete GPU or none at all.

Memory architecture also separates the two. The Xeon supports triple-channel DDR3 memory with a recorded bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s and ECC support. The Core i7-3615QE uses dual-channel memory with no listed bandwidth or ECC support. The Xeon's PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only) also gives it more direct expansion capability than the Core i7-3615QE, which has no listed PCIe information.

The production status differs: the Xeon E5-1410 v2 is marked as end-of-life, while the Core i7-3615QE has no production status recorded. The Xeon also launched later, with a release date of 2014-01-08T17:00:00.000Z versus the Core i7-3615QE's release date of 2012-04-28T17:00:00.000Z.

In summary, the architecture story is one of shared DNA with divergent priorities. The Core i7-3615QE is a smaller, lower-power chip with integrated graphics and a dual-channel memory path. The Xeon E5-1410 v2 is a larger, higher-power chip with more cache, triple-channel ECC memory support, and server-grade PCIe connectivity. The benchmark results show that these architectural differences do not translate into major performance differences in Cinebench, but they do define different use cases for each processor.