Intel Core i7-3720QM vs Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-3720QM and Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they target different segments of the market. The data shows a consistent pattern across all recorded benchmarks, with the Xeon E3-1240L v3 taking a narrow but uniform lead in every single test. The Core i7-3720QM, a mobile part from the Ivy Bridge generation, and the Xeon E3-1240L v3, a server/workstation chip from the Haswell generation, are separated by more than just their architectural generations. The benchmark results reveal that the newer Xeon holds a small but consistent performance advantage across all tested workloads, while the Core i7 counters with a significantly higher boost clock and a lower average benchmark score.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent. The Xeon E3-1240L v3 wins all six recorded comparisons, with deltas ranging from -2.2% to -2.9% relative to the Core i7-3720QM. In Cinebench R15, the Xeon scores 486 points in multicore against 475 for the Core i7, a margin of -2.3%. The single-core result in the same test shows a slightly larger gap: 68 points against 66, a -2.9% difference.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the trend continues. The Xeon posts 2027 points in multicore versus 1981 for the Core i7, again a -2.3% delta. Single-core scores are 286 against 279, a -2.4% gap. The most recent Cinebench R23 test shows the Xeon at 4827 points in multicore, while the Core i7 manages 4718 points, a -2.5% gap in the single-core result.

The Geekbench tests show the Xeon ahead in both metrics as well. The Xeon leads with a score of 2457 in multicore against 726 in single-core, where the Core i7 posts 726 points. The Xeon is the winner in both, with no delta percentage provided for Geekbench in the head-to-head data. The overall win count is definitive: the Xeon E3-1240L v3 takes all six benchmarks, while the Core i7-3720QM wins none. The margins are tight, always under 3%, which suggests the two processors are closely matched in raw throughput, but the Xeon consistently edges ahead.

The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The Core i7-3720QM has an average benchmark score of 1421, while the Xeon E3-1240L v3 sits at 1396. Both land in the 37th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core i7's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 at 1422 (-0.1%), the AMD Opteron 4274 HE at 1420 (+0.1%), the Intel Core i7-2700K at 1419 (+0.2%), and the Intel Core i7-3820 at 1424 (-0.2%). The Xeon's nearest competitors are the Intel Core i5-6500TE at 1399 (-0.2%), the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 at 1401 (-0.4%), the Intel Xeon E-2104G at 1402 (-0.4%), and the Intel Pentium Gold G7400TE at 1404 (-0.6%). This indicates that while the Xeon wins the direct comparison, the Core i7 sits in a slightly more favorable position relative to its own peer group when considering the aggregate score.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-3720QM has a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 boosts to 3.00 GHz.

Q: Does the Xeon E3-1240L v3 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-3720QM does not.

Q: What is the difference in TDP between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-3720QM has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 has a TDP of 25 watts.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 scores 4827 points in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 2.3% higher than the Core i7-3720QM's 4718 points.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-3720QM is a Mobile processor, while the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 is classified for the Server/Workstation segment.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. It is ahead in all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23) and in both single-core and multicore tests within those versions. The margins are consistent, hovering around 2.3% to 2.9% in the Cinebench tests. This makes the Xeon the clear choice for any workload that relies on raw processing throughput as measured by these rendering and general-purpose CPU tests. Its wins are not isolated to one type of workload; they span both single-threaded and multi-threaded scenarios.

The Intel Core i7-3720QM, however, does not win any benchmark in the direct comparison. Its strengths lie elsewhere. It has a higher boost clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) and a higher average benchmark score (1421 versus 1396). It also carries integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000), which the Xeon lacks entirely. For a mobile platform, the presence of integrated graphics is a significant factor, as it eliminates the need for a separate discrete GPU in basic display output tasks. The Core i7 is also still in production, whereas the Xeon is marked as end-of-life.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The base clock is one of the most striking differences: the Core i7-3720QM runs at 2.60 GHz, while the Xeon E3-1240L v3 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz). The boost clocks also differ, with the Core i7 reaching 3.60 GHz and the Xeon topping out at 3.00 GHz.

The TDP figures are vastly different. The Core i7-3720QM is rated at 45 watts, while the Xeon E3-1240L v3 is rated at just 25 watts. The sockets are not interchangeable: the Core i7 uses Intel BGA 1224, and the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1150. The integrated graphics situation is also different: the Core i7 includes Intel HD 4000, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Xeon supports ECC memory, while the Core i7 does not. The Xeon also lists DDR3 memory support and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the Core i7's memory support field is null. The Xeon has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i7's PCIe field is null. The market segments are different: the Core i7 is Mobile, and the Xeon is Server/Workstation. The production status also differs, with the Core i7 having a null status and the Xeon being end-of-life. The release dates are separated by roughly two years, with the Core i7 launching in 2012 and the Xeon in 2014. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $278.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 22 nm process node and share the same foundry, die size (160 mm²), and transistor count (1,400 million). The L1 and L2 caches are identical in size: 64 KB per core for L1 and 256 KB per core for L2. The L3 cache differs, however: the Core i7-3720QM has 6 MB shared, while the Xeon E3-1240L v3 has 8 MB shared.

The underlying architectures are different generations. The Core i7-3720QM is based on Ivy Bridge, while the Xeon E3-1240L v3 is based on Haswell, specifically Haswell-WS. The generation labels reflect this: the Core i7 is "Core i7 (Ivy Bridge)", and the Xeon is "Xeon E3 (Haswell-WS)". Despite the architectural generation gap, both use the same process node and transistor count, which explains why the performance difference in benchmarks is relatively small. The Xeon's larger L3 cache and newer architecture likely contribute to its consistent, albeit modest, lead in the benchmark results. The Core i7's integrated graphics is a feature the Xeon does not have, which is a notable architectural difference for systems that require onboard display output.

The Verdict

The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 is the faster processor in raw benchmark performance. It wins all six head-to-head tests, with margins between 2.2% and 2.9%. It also offers ECC memory support, a larger 8 MB L3 cache, and a dramatically lower TDP of 25 watts compared to the Core i7's 45 watts. This makes it well-suited for server or workstation environments where reliability features like ECC and power efficiency are priorities. Its end-of-life status and lack of integrated graphics are worth noting, but for compute-heavy tasks, the data favors the Xeon.

The Intel Core i7-3720QM is the better choice for mobile applications. It has a higher boost clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.00 GHz) and integrated graphics, which are essential for a laptop or portable system. While it trails the Xeon in every benchmark, the gap is small, under 3% in all cases. Its higher average benchmark score (1421 versus 1396) also places it slightly better relative to its own peer group. For a mobile user who needs a capable processor with built-in graphics, the Core i7-3720QM is the appropriate pick, despite the Xeon's benchmark superiority. The Xeon is the one to choose for a low-power server or workstation where ECC memory and lower thermal output are more important than the highest possible clock speeds.