Intel Core i7-3770K vs Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 and Intel Core i7-3770K are both quad-core, eight-thread processors from Intel, but they target fundamentally different segments of the market. The Xeon E5-1620 v3 is a Haswell-EP part built for servers and workstations, while the Core i7-3770K is an Ivy Bridge desktop chip. The benchmark data shows a consistent, if modest, performance advantage for the Xeon across every single test, but the real story lies in the architectural and platform differences that separate these two end-of-life CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, taking all six tests. The Core i7-3770K does not win a single one. This is not a case of a split decision where one chip excels at single-threaded tasks and the other at multi-threaded workloads; the Xeon is ahead in both categories. The largest margin is in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the Xeon scores 84 against the i7-3770K’s 78, a 7.7% advantage. The smallest margin is 6.6%, which appears in the Cinebench R15 multi-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core tests.

This means that for any workload that can leverage the Cinebench rendering engine, the Xeon E5-1620 v3 is the faster processor. The single-core wins are particularly notable because the i7-3770K has a higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz compared to the Xeon’s 3.60 GHz, yet it still loses. This indicates that the architectural improvements in the Haswell design, along with the larger 10 MB shared L3 cache, provide a more meaningful performance uplift than the raw clock speed advantage of the older Ivy Bridge chip. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput in applications like 3D rendering, video encoding, or scientific simulations, the Xeon is the clear winner based on this data.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on the platform and feature requirements, not on benchmark performance. If the decision were made purely on the Cinebench scores, the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 is the superior part, winning all six head-to-head tests. It offers a 6.6% to 7.7% performance advantage across the board. However, the Xeon demands a different ecosystem. It uses the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform, supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, and includes ECC memory support. It also provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

The Intel Core i7-3770K, on the other hand, is a more accessible desktop part. It fits into the Intel Socket 1155 platform, uses dual-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, and lacks ECC support. It does include integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000), which the Xeon does not have. The i7-3770K also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, whereas the Xeon is locked. The i7-3770K has a launch MSRP of $313. The Xeon E5-1620 v3 has no launch MSRP listed in the data.

Therefore, the Xeon E5-1620 v3 is the choice for a workstation or server build where ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, and maximum PCIe lanes are critical. The i7-3770K is the choice for a legacy desktop build where overclocking potential and integrated graphics are desired, and where the performance deficit of roughly 6.6% to 7.7% is an acceptable trade-off for a simpler, lower-power platform. The Xeon is not a drop-in upgrade for the i7; it is a different platform entirely.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory for the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 comes in the Cinebench R15 single-core test. The Xeon scores 84, while the i7-3770K scores 78, resulting in a 7.7% delta. This is the largest percentage difference in the entire comparison. It is a significant result because it shows that the Xeon’s IPC (instructions per clock) advantage, stemming from the newer Haswell architecture, is enough to overcome the i7-3770K’s 300 MHz boost clock advantage (3.90 GHz vs 3.60 GHz).

The multi-core tests tell a similar story, albeit with slightly smaller margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 595 versus 558 for the i7-3770K, a 6.6% difference. The R20 multi-core test shows the Xeon at 2482 and the i7-3770K at 2327, a 6.7% delta. The R23 multi-core test follows the same pattern, with the Xeon scoring 5910 and the i7-3770K scoring 5542, again a 6.6% difference. The consistency of these margins across different Cinebench versions suggests a stable performance gap that is not workload-specific.

The single-core results in the newer Cinebench versions mirror the R15 result. In R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 350 versus 328 for the i7-3770K, a 6.7% lead. In R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 834 versus 782, a 6.6% lead. The data shows a clear pattern: the Xeon E5-1620 v3 is consistently ahead by roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of a percent in every test. There is no test in the provided data where the i7-3770K manages to close the gap or take the lead.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 has an average benchmark score of 1709, while the Intel Core i7-3770K has an average score of 1688.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-3770K have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-3770K includes Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, whereas the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 does not list any integrated graphics.

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

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-3770K supports dual-channel DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: The Intel Core i7-3770K has an unlocked multiplier, meaning it can be overclocked. The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 has a locked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-3770K does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in their PCIe lane counts?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core i7-3770K provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only).

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different microarchitectures. The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 uses the Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-EP codename, while the Intel Core i7-3770K uses the Ivy Bridge architecture. Both are manufactured on a 22 nm process node at Intel. However, the transistor count and die size differ significantly. The Xeon has 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die, whereas the i7-3770K has 1,400 million transistors on a much smaller 160 mm² die.

The cache hierarchy is also different. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The key difference is in the L3 cache: the Xeon has 10 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-3770K has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. This 2 MB difference in the last-level cache could contribute to the Xeon’s performance lead in the benchmarks, as it allows more data to be stored closer to the cores.

The memory controllers are entirely different generations. The Xeon E5-1620 v3 supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus, yielding a theoretical bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The i7-3770K supports DDR3 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a theoretical bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. This is a massive difference in memory throughput and is a primary reason the Xeon is aimed at server and workstation workloads that are memory-bandwidth sensitive.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is the socket. The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3, while the Intel Core i7-3770K uses Intel Socket 1155. This means they are not interchangeable in a motherboard. The Xeon is classified as a Server/Workstation part, while the i7-3770K is a Desktop part.

The thermal design power (TDP) also differs significantly. The Xeon E5-1620 v3 has a TDP of 140 watts, while the i7-3770K has a TDP of 77 watts. This means the Xeon requires a more robust cooling solution and power delivery system. The base clocks are identical at 3.50 GHz, but the boost clocks differ. The Xeon boosts to 3.60 GHz, while the i7-3770K boosts higher to 3.90 GHz.

The Xeon supports ECC memory and has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the i7-3770K does not support ECC and has only 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The i7-3770K includes integrated graphics (Intel HD 4000), while the Xeon does not. The i7-3770K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon is locked. Finally, the release dates differ, with the i7-3770K released in 2012 and the Xeon released in 2014. The i7-3770K has a launch MSRP of $313.