Intel Core i7-3770 vs Intel Xeon Gold 6346 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous picture: the Intel Xeon Gold 6346 wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i7-3770. Across six Cinebench tests, the Xeon Gold 6346 posts a consistent delta of -82.8% relative to the i7-3770, meaning the i7-3770 scores roughly 82.8% lower in each test. This is not a close contest; it is a generational and architectural chasm.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-3770 scores 549, while the Xeon Gold 6346 scores 3190. That is a 5.8x advantage for the Xeon. Single-core R15 shows a similar gap: 77 versus 450, a 5.8x difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 2289 for the i7-3770 and 13293 for the Xeon Gold 6346, a 5.8x margin. Single-core R20 follows the pattern: 322 versus 1876, again roughly 5.8x. In Cinebench R23, the multi-core score for the i7-3770 is 5450, while the Xeon Gold 6346 reaches 31650, a 5.8x lead. Single-core R23 is 769 versus 4468, a 5.8x gap.

The consistency of the -82.8% delta across all six tests suggests that the performance difference is structural, not workload-dependent. The i7-3770 is not merely slower in specific tasks; it is slower by the same proportion in every rendering benchmark recorded. This uniformity points to a fundamental disparity in compute resources per core and total thread throughput.

It is worth remembering the i7-3770's average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 9706, while the Xeon Gold 6346's average is 9155. The i7-3770 actually has a higher average score in the database, despite losing every head-to-head Cinebench test. This is because the i7-3770 has additional PassMark scores (data compression, encryption, integer math, floating point, physics, and others) that are not recorded for the Xeon Gold 6346. The Xeon Gold 6346 only has Cinebench scores in this dataset, which pulls its average down. The head-to-head tests, however, are the more direct comparison, and there the Xeon Gold 6346 is decisively ahead.

The i7-3770 sits at the 66th percentile among all CPUs, while the Xeon Gold 6346 sits at the 65th percentile. Despite the massive head-to-head losses, the i7-3770's broader benchmark coverage keeps it in a similar percentile band. The Xeon Gold 6346's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 5320 (-0.9% delta), Intel Core i7-1165G7 (-0.9% delta), Intel Core i5-10300H (-0.9% delta), and Intel Core i5-1135G7 (+1.1% delta). The i7-3770's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-1035G1 (+0.2% delta), AMD EPYC 7402P (+1.9% delta), Intel Core 3 N350 (-2% delta), and Intel Core i7-7700HQ (+2.2% delta).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 6346 wins all three multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15, it scores 3190 versus 549 for the i7-3770. In R20, it scores 13293 versus 2289. In R23, it scores 31650 versus 5450. The delta is -82.8% in each case, indicating the i7-3770 is approximately 82.8% slower.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap as large as the multi-core gap?

A: Yes, it is nearly identical. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon Gold 6346 scores 450 versus 77 for the i7-3770. In R20, the scores are 1876 versus 322. In R23, they are 4468 versus 769. The delta is -82.8% or -82.9% across these tests, showing the i7-3770 lags by a similar proportion even in single-threaded workloads.

Q: Does the i7-3770 have any benchmark where it beats the Xeon Gold 6346?

A: In the recorded head-to-head data, no. The Xeon Gold 6346 wins all six Cinebench comparisons. However, the i7-3770 has additional PassMark scores (such as data compression at 105424, integer math at 22945, and floating point math at 11628) that are not recorded for the Xeon Gold 6346, so no direct comparison exists for those tests.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall percentile ranking?

A: The i7-3770 is at the 66th percentile among all CPUs, while the Xeon Gold 6346 is at the 65th percentile. Despite the Xeon Gold 6346 winning every head-to-head test, the i7-3770 has a slightly higher percentile ranking because its average benchmark score (9706) is higher than the Xeon Gold 6346's average (9155), which is dragged down by having only Cinebench scores in the database.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The i7-3770 supports dual-channel DDR3 with a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The Xeon Gold 6346 supports eight-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. That is an 8x difference in theoretical bandwidth, consistent with the server-class positioning of the Xeon.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i7-3770 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon Gold 6346 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Xeon has 4x the cores and 4x the threads, which directly explains its multi-core performance advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different Intel architectural eras. The Core i7-3770 is built on Ivy Bridge, a 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The Xeon Gold 6346 is built on Ice Lake-SP, a 10 nm process. The process node difference alone (22 nm versus 10 nm) represents a significant leap in transistor density and efficiency.

Cache structures differ substantially. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 256 KB per core on the i7-3770, while the Xeon Gold 6346 has 1 MB per core, a 4x increase. The L3 cache is 8 MB shared on the i7-3770 versus 36 MB shared on the Xeon Gold 6346, a 4.5x difference. These larger caches on the Xeon are critical for server workloads that exhibit high cache locality and large working sets.

Memory architecture is another major divider. The i7-3770 uses dual-channel DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon Gold 6346 uses eight-channel DDR4 with 204.8 GB/s bandwidth, an 8x increase. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the i7-3770 does not. This makes the Xeon suitable for error-sensitive server environments where data integrity is paramount.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The i7-3770 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon Gold 6346 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 64 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon offers 4x the lane count and a newer generation, enabling more expansion cards, NVMe drives, and accelerators at higher bandwidth.

Integrated graphics are present on the i7-3770 (Intel HD 4000) but absent on the Xeon Gold 6346. This is expected: the i7-3770 targets desktop systems where a basic display output is useful, while the Xeon Gold 6346 is a server part that assumes a discrete GPU or no local display at all.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ:

| Specification | Intel Core i7-3770 | Intel Xeon Gold 6346 |

|----------------|---------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 4 | 16 |

| Threads | 8 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 77 W | 205 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1155 | Intel Socket 4189 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Ice Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 10 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | Not recorded |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | false | true |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 4, 64 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2012-04-28 | 2021-04-05 |

| Launch MSRP | $278 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SR0PK | SRKHNCD8068904570201 |

Both processors are multiplier-locked (no unlocked multiplier) and share the same L1 cache size of 64 KB per core. The i7-3770's launch MSRP was $278; no launch MSRP is recorded for the Xeon Gold 6346.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon Gold 6346 wins in every recorded rendering benchmark, and its architectural advantages make it the clear choice for heavy multi-threaded workloads. With 16 cores, 32 threads, 36 MB of L3 cache, eight-channel DDR4 memory at 204.8 GB/s, and 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, the Xeon Gold 6346 is built for server and workstation tasks: virtualization, database hosting, scientific computing, and large-scale data processing. Its ECC memory support adds reliability for long-running, error-sensitive operations. The 4x core and thread count, combined with 4.5x L3 cache and 8x memory bandwidth, translate directly into the -82.8% delta observed in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests.

The Intel Core i7-3770, despite losing every head-to-head test, still holds a place in the database at the 66th percentile. Its advantages are practical rather than performance-based. It has a much lower TDP (77 W versus 205 W), making it easier to cool in a desktop chassis. It includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000), eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. Its socket (Intel Socket 1155) and DDR3 memory support align with older, cheaper motherboards and RAM. For legacy desktop builds, office tasks, or lightweight single-threaded applications, the i7-3770 remains functional, though its single-core scores (77 in R15, 322 in R20, 769 in R23) are far below the Xeon Gold 6346's scores (450, 1876, 4468 respectively).

The Xeon Gold 6346's nearest rivals in the database include other Xeon and mobile Core parts (Xeon Gold 5320, Core i7-1165G7, Core i5-10300H, Core i5-1135G7), all within roughly 1% of its average score. The i7-3770's nearest rivals are a mix of mobile and server chips (Core i5-1035G1, EPYC 7402P, Core 3 N350, Core i7-7700HQ), also within roughly 2%. The i7-3770's higher average benchmark score (9706 versus 9155) is an artifact of its broader PassMark coverage, not an indication of superior performance. In direct head-to-head comparisons, the Xeon Gold 6346 is the definitive winner across all six recorded tests.