Intel Core i7-3720QM vs Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a remarkably consistent pattern between the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 and the Intel Core i7-3720QM. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 takes the win, with margins that stay tightly clustered between 6.7% and 7.6%. There are no reversals, no near-misses, and no workload where the older Core i7 manages to pull ahead.

The largest single advantage appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 71 against the Core i7's 66, a delta of 7.6%. That is the widest gap recorded in the head-to-head set. The multi-core R15 result is the narrowest edge: the Xeon posts 507 versus 475, a 6.7% lead. Interestingly, that same 6.7% delta repeats in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the scores are 5036 and 4718 respectively.

The rest of the results sit neatly in between. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon scores 2115 while the Core i7 manages 1981, a 6.8% advantage. The R20 single-core test shows the same 6.8% delta, with scores of 298 and 279. The R23 single-core test also lands at 6.8%, with 711 against 666.

What stands out from these numbers is the consistency of the performance gap. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 is not dramatically faster in any one discipline; it is uniformly faster across every measured workload. A delta of roughly 6.7% to 7.6% in all six tests suggests a systematic architectural edge rather than a workload-specific advantage. The Core i7-3720QM never comes within striking distance, nor does the Xeon ever run away with a test.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this picture. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 averages 1456, while the Core i7-3720QM averages 1421. That difference places the Xeon in the 38th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the Core i7's 37th percentile. Both chips sit low in the overall distribution, but the Xeon holds a small, consistent lead.

Another way to look at the data is through each chip's nearest rivals. The Xeon's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE, which scores 1461, a mere 0.3% above the Xeon. The Intel Core i3-7350K also sits just above at 1462, 0.4% higher. On the other side, the Intel Core i5-7300HQ and AMD Opteron 6378 both trail by 0.6%. For the Core i7-3720QM, the nearest rival is the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 at 1422, only 0.1% ahead, and the AMD Opteron 4274 HE at 1420, 0.1% behind. The Intel Core i7-2700K and Core i7-3820 bracket it within 0.2% on either side.

These near-rival comparisons confirm that both processors land in the same performance tier, but the Xeon consistently sits at the upper edge of that tier. The 35-point difference in average score is small in absolute terms, yet it appears in every single test.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E3-1515M v5 wins every benchmark in the recorded head-to-head set, so the question of "where each one wins" is mostly one of degree. All six Cinebench tests, both single-core and multi-core, go to the Xeon. The win margins are narrow but uniform, ranging from 6.7% to 7.8%. There is no test in which the Core i7-3720QM takes even a single point.

For the Core i7-3720QM, the only recorded data outside the head-to-head set comes from Geekbench: a multi-core score of 2457 and a single-core score of 726. The Xeon does not have any Geekbench results in the database, so a direct comparison is not possible. As such, the Core i7 cannot claim a win in any shared benchmark, but it also cannot be said to lose a Geekbench test since the Xeon was not measured there.

From the data, the use-case split is clear. If the workload belongs to Cinebench R15, R20, or R23, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, the Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the faster chip. The consistent 6.8% delta in most tests suggests the Xeon has a modest but real advantage in both lightly threaded and heavily threaded scenarios. This is not a specialized win condition; it is a general-purpose edge.

The Core i7-3720QM's only territory in the database is the Geekbench test, where it has scores but no Xeon counterpart to compare against. That is not a victory, merely an absence of data. For any user relying on the Cinebench suite, the Core i7 offers no advantage.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a simple verdict: the Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 is the faster processor in every direct comparison. Six wins out of six, with deltas from 6.7% to 7.8%, make the outcome unambiguous. The Xeon's average benchmark score of 1456 also beats the Core i7-3720QM's 1421, reinforcing the head-to-head results.

Who should pick the Xeon E3-1515M v5? Anyone whose work is represented by Cinebench. That includes multi-core rendering tasks, where the Xeon scores 5036 in R23 multi-core versus 4718, and single-core tasks, where it scores 711 versus 666. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the Core i7 does not, and it is built on a 14 nm process versus the Core i7's 22 nm. These are not directly benchmarked, but they are recorded differences that matter for reliability-focused builds.

Who should pick the Core i7-3720QM? The database provides no benchmark where it beats the Xeon. It has Geekbench scores (2457 multi-core, 726 single-core), but the Xeon has no Geekbench result to compare. If a workload relies exclusively on Geekbench and no Cinebench tests, the Core i7's data exists, but there is no evidence that it would outperform the Xeon. The Core is also a mobile-marketed chip, whereas the Xeon is a server/workstation part, but the performance data alone does not favor the Core.

In short, the data says: choose the Xeon E3-1515M v5 for any Cinebench-based workload. The Core i7-3720QM offers no measured advantage in any shared test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1515M v5 scores 5036, while the Intel Core i7-3720QM scores 4718, a 6.7% lead for the Xeon.

Q: What is the largest single-core performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 71 and the Core i7 scores 66, a delta of 7.6%.

Q: Does the Core i7-3720QM win any benchmark in the head-to-head list?

A: No. The Xeon wins all six head-to-head tests, and the Core i7 has zero wins.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Xeon averages 1456, and the Core i7 averages 1421, a difference of 35 points in the Xeon's favor.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Xeon E3-1515M v5 has ECC memory support, while the Core i7-3720QM does not.

Q: What are the transistor counts for each chip?

A: The Xeon has 2,300 million transistors, while the Core i7 has 1,400 million.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The Xeon E3-1515M v5 is built on Skylake (Skylake-H), with a 14nm process node. The Core i7-3720QM is based on Ivy Bridge, using a 22nm node. Both are Intel parts, but the Xeon is a later design.

The die sizes are surprisingly close: the Xeon measures 171 mm², and the Core i7 measures 160 mm². However, the transistor counts tell a different story. The Xeon packs 2,300 million transistors into its die, whereas the Core i7 has 1,400 million. That is a 900 million transistor difference, which helps explain the Xeon's higher density and newer process.

Cache configuration also differs. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache is larger on the Xeon: 8 MB versus 6 MB on the Core i7. That 2 MB difference aligns with the Xeon's more modern architecture.

The integrated graphics are distinct. The Xeon uses Iris Pro Graphics P580, while the Core i7 uses Intel HD 4000. The Xeon's graphics are a workstation-class part, the Core i7's are a standard mobile GPU.

The socket types are not compatible. The Xeon fits Intel BGA 1440, and the Core i7 fits Intel BGA 1224. Both are BGA, but the pin count differs, so neither can be swapped into the other's motherboard.

Specification Differences

The base clock and boost clock both favor the Xeon. The Xeon runs at 2.80 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost, while the Core i7 runs at 2.60 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. Both chips have 4 cores and 8 threads, so the clock advantage translates directly to the benchmark lead.

The memory support differs. The Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4, with a dual-channel bus and a measured memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The Core i7 has dual-channel support, but the database does not list its memory type or bandwidth. The Xeon also has ECC memory capability, while the Core i7 does not.

The PCIe configuration is only listed for the Xeon: Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only). The Core i7's PCIe details are absent from the database.

The market segment is different: the Xeon is a Server/Workstation part, and the Core i7 is a Mobile part. The Xeon is marked as end-of-life, while the Core i7's production status is not recorded. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $489, and the Core i7 has no listed launch MSRP.

The process node and foundry also differ: the Xeon is 14nm from Intel, and the Core i7 is 22nm from Intel. The release dates show a gap: the Xeon was released in January 2016, and the Core i7 was released in April 2012, nearly four years earlier. The part numbers are SR2QT for the Xeon and SR0MM for the Core i7. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.