Intel Core i7-3720QM vs Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 and the Intel Core i7-3720QM occupy very different corners of the CPU market, despite both being 4-core Intel parts from different eras. The Xeon is a desktop-class, server-oriented Skylake chip designed for socket 1151, while the i7 is a mobile Ivy Bridge processor built for laptops. Benchmark data from the database shows a consistent, though not overwhelming, performance advantage for the newer Xeon across all recorded Cinebench tests, with the i7-3720QM countering with lower power consumption and its own architectural traits. This comparison is less about raw speed and more about platform fit, feature support, and what each chip was originally designed to do.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous in terms of raw compute: the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 wins every single benchmark recorded in the database. There are six head-to-head tests, all from the Cinebench suite, and the Xeon takes all six. The margins are remarkably consistent, hovering around 7.4% to 9.1% depending on the test. This means the Xeon is the clear choice for anyone prioritizing raw rendering performance, multi-threaded workloads, or single-thread responsiveness in a desktop workstation.

The Core i7-3720QM, however, wins in a different category: platform efficiency. Its TDP is 45 watts compared to the Xeon's 80 watts, making it the only real "win" for the mobile chip in this comparison. For a laptop or compact mobile workstation, that power envelope is critical, as it dictates cooling requirements and battery life. The i7 also brings Hyper-Threading to the table with 8 threads versus the Xeon's 4 threads, which does not translate into a benchmark victory in the recorded data, but it is a feature that can help with certain parallel workloads that scale beyond four threads.

In practical terms, the Xeon wins for anyone building a stationary workstation or server that can handle its higher power draw and socket 1151 motherboard requirements. The i7 wins for mobile users who need decent performance in a 45-watt package, accepting lower scores in exchange for portability. The database shows the Xeon's average benchmark score is 1465 against the i7's 1421, a difference of roughly 3%, but the Xeon also scores higher in the percentile rankings, sitting at the 38th percentile versus the i7's 37th.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is significant, spanning three generations of Intel process technology. The Xeon E3-1225 v5 is built on Skylake, specifically the Skylake-DT die, using a 14 nm process node. The i7-3720QM is Ivy Bridge, on a 22 nm node. This process shrink matters, as the Xeon packs 1,750 million transistors into a 122 mm² die, while the i7 uses 1,400 million transistors across a larger 160 mm² die. The newer process allows the Xeon to achieve higher clock speeds and better efficiency per watt, despite having a higher overall TDP.

Cache configurations differ as well. The Xeon has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7 has only 6 MB shared. Both have the same per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively. The Xeon also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, with dual-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i7's memory support is not listed in the database, but it does have a dual-channel memory bus, and no bandwidth figure is recorded. ECC memory is another major split: the Xeon supports ECC, while the i7 does not.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Xeon carries HD Graphics P530, which is a workstation-oriented GPU, while the i7 uses Intel HD 4000, a mobile integrated solution from the Ivy Bridge era. The Xeon's PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the CPU, whereas the i7's PCIe configuration is not listed. The Xeon's socket is Intel Socket 1151, designed for desktop motherboards, while the i7 uses Intel BGA 1224, a soldered mobile socket. The Xeon is marked as end-of-life production, while the i7's production status is not recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-3720QM has 8 threads due to Hyper-Threading, while the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: Does the Xeon E3-1225 v5 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E3-1225 v5 has ECC memory support. The Core i7-3720QM does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Xeon E3-1225 v5 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the Core i7-3720QM has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The base clocks are 3.30 GHz and 2.60 GHz respectively.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Xeon E3-1225 v5 has a TDP of 80 watts, while the Core i7-3720QM has a TDP of 45 watts. This makes the i7 more suitable for mobile platforms.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Xeon E3-1225 v5 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to the Core i7-3720QM's 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are these CPUs from the same generation?

A: No. The Xeon E3-1225 v5 is from the Skylake generation, released in 2015, while the Core i7-3720QM is from the Ivy Bridge generation, released in 2012.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows clear divergence in nearly every major category. The Xeon E3-1225 v5 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-3720QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.70 GHz versus 3.60 GHz. TDP is 80 watts for the Xeon and 45 watts for the i7.

The socket types are completely different: Intel Socket 1151 for the Xeon, Intel BGA 1224 for the i7. The architecture is Skylake on 14 nm for the Xeon, versus Ivy Bridge on 22 nm for the i7. Transistor counts are 1,750 million versus 1,400 million, and die sizes are 122 mm² versus 160 mm².

L3 cache is 8 MB shared on the Xeon, 6 MB shared on the i7. Memory support shows the Xeon handling DDR3 and DDR4, while the i7's memory support is not recorded. The Xeon has a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, no figure is listed for the i7. ECC memory is supported on the Xeon only. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the Xeon, not listed for the i7. Integrated graphics are HD Graphics P530 versus Intel HD 4000. The market segment is server/workstation for the Xeon and mobile for the i7. The Xeon's release date is October 2015, the i7's is April 2012. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $224, while the i7 has no recorded MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the Xeon scoring 510 against the i7's 475, a 7.4% advantage. The single-core R15 result is 72 versus 66, a 9.1% lead for the Xeon. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 2127 for the Xeon and 1981 for the i7, again a 7.4% difference. Single-core R20 shows 300 versus 279, a 7.5% margin. In Cinebench R23, the multicore scores are 5065 and 4718, a 7.4% gap, and single-core is 715 versus 666, also 7.4%.

The i7-3720QM has additional Geekbench scores recorded in the database, with a multicore score of 2457 and a single-core score of 726, but the Xeon does not have Geekbench results listed for comparison. Across the six shared Cinebench tests, the Xeon wins all six, with delta percentages ranging from 7.4% to 9.1%. The most significant single-core margin is in R15, where the Xeon's 9.1% lead indicates a stronger per-thread performance gain from its higher base and boost clocks.

The Xeon's average benchmark score of 1465 places it slightly above its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-4710HQ, which scores 1473 and sits 0.5% higher, yet the Xeon is 0.2% above the Core i3-7350K at 1462. The i7-3720QM's average score of 1421 puts it just 0.1% below the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 at 1422, and 0.2% above the Intel Core i7-2700K at 1419. These rival comparisons show both chips sitting in a tight performance cluster, but the Xeon holds a measurable edge over the i7.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5 as the stronger processor for compute-intensive tasks. It wins every recorded benchmark, offers a larger L3 cache, supports ECC memory, and runs on a modern 14 nm Skylake architecture with DDR4 support. Its higher TDP of 80 watts is a trade-off for that performance, but it is acceptable for a desktop workstation or server environment. The Xeon's launch MSRP of $224 positions it as a mainstream server part.

The Intel Core i7-3720QM is the right choice only for mobile applications. Its 45-watt TDP makes it feasible for laptops, and its 8 threads provide extra parallel capability that the Xeon lacks, even if the recorded benchmarks do not reflect a win. The i7's older Ivy Bridge architecture, smaller cache, lack of ECC, and lower clock speeds all contribute to its benchmark deficit. For a builder with a socket 1151 motherboard, the Xeon is the obvious pick. For someone needing a soldered mobile chip in a laptop, the i7 is the only one of the two that fits, and its performance, while lower, is still respectable for its era. The database shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the platform requirements ultimately decide which processor is usable in a given system.