Intel Core i7-4790 vs Intel Xeon W-3175X Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4790 and the Intel Xeon W-3175X occupy opposite ends of the Intel spectrum, separated by five years of architecture evolution and a massive gulf in core count. The benchmark data shows a decisive overall victory for the Xeon, winning all eight head-to-head tests, but the nature of those wins reveals distinct use-case scenarios that go beyond raw performance.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon W-3175X wins every single benchmark comparison, claiming 8 out of 8 head-to-head victories. The Intel Core i7-4790 does not win a single test. However, the magnitude of the Xeon's victories varies dramatically by workload type, which defines where each processor is appropriate.

In heavily threaded applications like Cinebench R23 multicore, the Xeon W-3175X completely dominates with a score of 38692 versus the i7-4790's 6171, a delta of -84.1%. This is the Xeon's home turf—rendering, scientific computing, and any workload that can scale across its 28 cores and 56 threads. The i7-4790's 4 cores and 8 threads are simply outmatched in this arena, and the data shows no contest.

The gap narrows considerably in single-threaded tests. In Geekbench singlecore, the Xeon W-3175X scores 1472 against the i7-4790's 1164, a delta of -20.9%. This is the closest margin in the entire comparison. While the Xeon still wins, the i7-4790's higher 4.00 GHz boost clock helps it remain competitive in lightly threaded tasks like older games or legacy applications that rely on a single core.

For day-to-day desktop responsiveness, the i7-4790's Passmark scores show it is not obsolete. Its single-thread score of 2228 and integer math score of 26129 indicate capable performance for everyday applications. The Xeon W-3175X, despite its Xeon branding, is not a typical desktop part—it is a workstation processor designed for sustained all-core loads, not bursty single-thread work. The data suggests the i7-4790 remains viable for older desktop use, while the Xeon W-3175X is the clear choice for professional multi-threaded workloads.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is enormous, reflecting five years of Intel development. The i7-4790 uses the Haswell architecture built on a 22 nm process node, while the Xeon W-3175X uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process node. This process shrink allows the Xeon to pack 8,000 million transistors onto a 688 mm² die, compared to the i7-4790's 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die.

Core configuration is the most striking difference. The i7-4790 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Xeon W-3175X has 28 cores and 56 threads—a 7x increase in core count and a 7x increase in thread count. This directly translates into the Xeon's overwhelming multicore benchmark victories.

Cache hierarchies also differ substantially. Both processors share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: the i7-4790 has 256 KB per core, while the Xeon W-3175X has 1 MB per core. The L3 cache is even more divergent, with the i7-4790 offering 8 MB shared versus the Xeon's 38.5 MB shared. This larger cache pool helps the Xeon feed its many cores efficiently.

Memory support represents another fundamental division. The i7-4790 uses DDR3 memory on a dual-channel bus, providing 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Xeon W-3175X uses DDR4 on a six-channel bus, delivering 128.0 GB/s—a 5x increase in memory bandwidth. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i7-4790 does not, making it suitable for error-sensitive server and workstation tasks.

Connectivity differs as well. The i7-4790 provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon W-3175X provides 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. This gives the Xeon far more room for expansion cards, GPUs, and NVMe storage. The i7-4790 includes integrated Intel HD 4600 graphics, while the Xeon W-3175X has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU. The i7-4790 has a locked multiplier, while the Xeon W-3175X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Their sockets are incompatible: the i7-4790 uses Intel Socket 1150, and the Xeon uses Intel Socket 3647.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent, with the Xeon W-3175X winning every test, but the deltas tell a nuanced story. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 3900 against the i7-4790's 621, a delta of -84.1%. This pattern repeats across all Cinebench versions: R20 multicore shows 16250 versus 2591, and R23 multicore shows 38692 versus 6171, both with the same -84.1% delta. The consistency of this percentage across Cinebench versions indicates that the Xeon's advantage scales linearly with the workload, regardless of the specific renderer version.

Single-core Cinebench results are similarly lopsided. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the Xeon scores 550 against the i7-4790's 87, a delta of -84.2%. The Xeon's single-core advantage persists through R20 (2294 vs 365) and R23 (5462 vs 871), each showing approximately -84.1% deltas. This is surprising given the i7-4790's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus the Xeon's 3.10 GHz, but the Xeon's newer Skylake architecture and higher 4.30 GHz boost clock compensate.

Geekbench results show a different pattern. In Geekbench multicore, the Xeon scores 14331 versus the i7-4790's 3927, a delta of -72.6%. This delta is smaller than the Cinebench multicore delta, suggesting Geekbench's multicore test is less sensitive to raw core count. In Geekbench singlecore, the Xeon scores 1472 versus 1164, a delta of only -20.9%—the closest margin in the entire comparison. This reinforces that the i7-4790's older architecture remains competitive in single-threaded tasks, despite its age.

The Passmark results for the i7-4790, while not directly compared head-to-head, provide context. Its highest Passmark score is 26129 in integer math, with a multithread score of 7264 and a single-thread score of 2228. These numbers are respectable for a desktop processor but pale in comparison to the Xeon's Cinebench and Geekbench multicore figures.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon W-3175X wins all 8 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-4790 wins zero.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Xeon W-3175X scores 38692 versus the i7-4790's 6171, a delta of -84.1%.

Q: Is the i7-4790 competitive in any area?

A: The closest margin is in Geekbench singlecore, where the Xeon W-3175X scores 1472 versus the i7-4790's 1164, a delta of -20.9%. This indicates the i7-4790 remains relatively competitive in single-threaded tasks.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory type?

A: No. The i7-4790 supports DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon W-3175X supports DDR4 on a six-channel bus with 128.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i7-4790 does not.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The i7-4790 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Xeon W-3175X has 28 cores and 56 threads.

Q: Do these processors use the same socket?

A: No. The i7-4790 uses Intel Socket 1150, while the Xeon W-3175X uses Intel Socket 3647. They are not interchangeable.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Xeon W-3175X is the superior processor for virtually every workload measured. Its 28 cores and 56 threads deliver roughly 6.3x the multicore performance of the i7-4790 in Cinebench R23, and its single-core advantage of about 20.9% in Geekbench shows that even in lightly threaded tasks, the newer Skylake architecture holds an edge.

The i7-4790's role is narrower. With its 4 cores, 8 threads, and 4.00 GHz boost clock, it remains a functional desktop processor for legacy applications and single-threaded tasks where its performance deficit is less severe. Its 66th percentile ranking among all CPUs matches the Xeon W-3175X's same 66th percentile, indicating that in the broad CPU landscape, both occupy similar overall standing despite their different strengths.

For professionals running multi-threaded workloads—rendering, simulation, data processing—the Xeon W-3175X is the only rational choice. Its six-channel DDR4 memory, 48 PCIe lanes, and ECC support make it a proper workstation platform. For users with older desktop systems looking to understand their i7-4790's capabilities, the data shows it is outclassed by the Xeon in every test but remains a serviceable part for basic computing tasks. The Xeon W-3175X's launch MSRP was $2999, while the i7-4790's was $312.

Specification Differences

| Feature | Intel Core i7-4790 | Intel Xeon W-3175X |

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

| Cores | 4 | 28 |

| Threads | 8 | 56 |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 84 W | 255 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel Socket 3647 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Skylake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 8,000 million |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 688 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 38.5 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Six-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 128.0 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe Lanes | 16 (Gen 3) | 48 (Gen 3) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4600 | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR1QF | SRF6LQRDK |