Intel Core i7-3770K vs Intel Xeon E-2124 Comparison

FAQ

Q: What is the difference in core count between the Intel Core i7-3770K and Intel Xeon E-2124?

A: The Core i7-3770K has 4 cores and 8 threads, utilizing Hyper-Threading, while the Xeon E-2124 also has 4 cores but only 4 threads, so it lacks simultaneous multithreading. Both share 8 MB of L3 cache.

Q: How do their process nodes compare?

A: The Core i7-3770K uses Intel’s 22 nm process with a die size of 160 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. The Xeon E-2124 uses a newer 14 nm process with a smaller die size of 126 mm².

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2124 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-3770K does not. This makes the Xeon better suited for error-sensitive workstation tasks.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Core i7-3770K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Xeon E-2124 has a locked multiplier.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The Core i7-3770K has an average benchmark score of 1688, while the Xeon E-2124 has an average score of 1658. Both sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Core i7-3770K supports DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the Xeon E-2124 supports DDR4 memory with a higher bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

The Verdict

The benchmark data consistently favors the Intel Xeon E-2124 across every recorded workload, though the margins are modest. In all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Xeon E-2124 finishes ahead, with deltas ranging from -3.2% to -3.7% relative to the Core i7-3770K. The Xeon wins the Cinebench R15 multicore test with a score of 577 against 558, the R20 multicore test with 2408 against 2327, and the R23 multicore test with 5734 against 5542. It also wins every single-core variant: R15 single-core at 81 vs 78, R20 single-core at 339 vs 328, and R23 single-core at 809 vs 782.

The Core i7-3770K does have the higher average benchmark score of 1688 compared to 1658 for the Xeon, and it offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking plus Hyper-Threading. However, the recorded benchmark results show the Xeon E-2124 delivering superior performance in the Cinebench suite despite having fewer threads. For users prioritizing straight compute throughput in the measured tests, the Xeon E-2124 is the data-backed pick. For those who need overclocking flexibility or ECC memory support, the choice depends on the workload: the Core i7-3770K is the only one of the two with an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon is the only one with ECC support.

The Xeon E-2124 is designed for Server/Workstation segments, while the Core i7-3770K targets Desktop. Both are end-of-life products. The Xeon launches with a newer architecture, Coffee Lake, versus Ivy Bridge on the Core i7. The Xeon also supports faster DDR4 memory with higher bandwidth, which likely contributes to its edge in the memory-sensitive Cinebench tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E-2124 wins all six recorded Cinebench comparisons, but the differences are narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 577 against 558 for the Core i7-3770K, a 3.3% advantage. The R15 single-core test shows a similar pattern: 81 vs 78, a 3.7% gap, the largest margin in the set. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Xeon leads 2408 to 2327, a 3.4% difference, and in R20 single-core it leads 339 to 328, a 3.2% difference. The R23 multicore test has the Xeon at 5734 versus 5542, again a 3.3% margin, while R23 single-core is 809 vs 782, also 3.3%.

The consistency of these results is notable. The Xeon maintains a roughly 3.2% to 3.7% edge across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, even though the Core i7-3770K has twice the thread count. The Xeon’s higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz versus 3.90 GHz for the Core i7, combined with its newer 14 nm Coffee Lake architecture and faster DDR4 memory bandwidth, likely explains this uniform advantage. The Core i7-3770K does have a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 3.30 GHz for the Xeon, but that does not translate into a win in any recorded test.

The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The Core i7-3770K averages 1688 across its broader benchmark set, which includes Geekbench tests where it scores 3027 multicore and 860 singlecore. The Xeon E-2124 averages 1658, but it was not recorded in the Geekbench suite. The Core i7’s average is boosted by its two Geekbench results, which are not available for the Xeon. When comparing only the shared Cinebench tests, the Xeon is ahead every time.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several key specifications. The Core i7-3770K uses an Intel Socket 1155 interface, while the Xeon E-2124 uses Intel Socket 1151. The Core i7 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz; the Xeon has a lower base clock of 3.30 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The Core i7 supports 8 threads, the Xeon only 4. The Core i7 has a 77 W TDP, the Xeon a 71 W TDP.

Memory support differs significantly. The Core i7-3770K uses DDR3 with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, while the Xeon E-2124 uses DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon. The Core i7 has an unlocked multiplier, the Xeon is locked. The integrated graphics also differ: the Core i7 has Intel HD 4000, while the Xeon has UHD Graphics P630. The Core i7 was released in 2012 with a launch MSRP of $313; the Xeon was released in 2018 with a launch MSRP of $198.

Architecture Differences

The Core i7-3770K is built on Intel’s Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node. It packs 1,400 million transistors into a 160 mm² die. The Xeon E-2124 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake-S WS, on a 14 nm process node with a 126 mm² die size. The Core i7 belongs to the Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) generation, while the Xeon belongs to the Xeon E (Coffee Lake) generation.

Both processors have identical cache hierarchies at 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The key architectural difference is the thread support: the Core i7 enables 8 threads from 4 cores, whereas the Xeon runs 4 threads from 4 cores. The Xeon’s newer 14 nm process and Coffee Lake design deliver higher boost clocks and faster memory bandwidth, which the benchmark data shows translates into better Cinebench performance despite the thread deficit.

The Xeon also carries ECC memory support, a feature absent from the Core i7, and its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics P630 versus the older Intel HD 4000. Both use Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Core i7 was released in 2012, while the Xeon arrived in 2018, reflecting six years of architectural advancement in the latter.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E-2124 wins every recorded Cinebench benchmark, making it the stronger choice for compute-heavy rendering and multi-threaded workloads in the database. Its wins range from 3.2% to 3.7% across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants. The Xeon also offers ECC memory support, which matters for workstations where data integrity is critical, and its DDR4 memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s is substantially higher than the Core i7’s 25.6 GB/s. Its lower TDP of 71 W versus 77 W gives it a slight efficiency edge.

The Intel Core i7-3770K wins in specific use cases based on features rather than recorded benchmark scores. Its unlocked multiplier makes it the only one of the two suitable for overclocking. It also has a higher thread count at 8 threads versus 4, which could benefit heavily parallel workloads that scale with threads, though the Cinebench data does not show such an advantage. Its average benchmark score of 1688 is higher than the Xeon’s 1658, driven by its Geekbench results of 3027 multicore and 860 singlecore, which are not recorded for the Xeon. The Core i7 also has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz, which may help in lightly threaded tasks that do not reach boost frequencies.

For users choosing between the two today, the data points to the Xeon E-2124 for raw Cinebench performance, ECC support, and newer memory technology. The Core i7-3770K remains relevant for those who prioritize overclocking capability and the higher thread count, but it trails the Xeon in all shared benchmark comparisons. Both processors sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are mid-pack performers in the current database.