Intel Core i7-4790S vs Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 and the Intel Core i7-4790S are both 22 nm Haswell parts from the same era, yet they target completely different corners of the market. The Xeon is a 6-core, 6-thread server processor with a 52 W TDP and quad-channel DDR4 support, while the Core i7-4790S is a 4-core, 8-thread desktop chip with a 65 W TDP and dual-channel DDR3. Despite their architectural kinship, the benchmark data shows a consistent, if modest, performance advantage for the Xeon across every Cinebench test recorded, making the choice between them a matter of platform needs rather than raw speed.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 wins all six recorded benchmark comparisons. The Core i7-4790S does not claim a single victory in the Cinebench R15, R20, or R23 suites. That does not mean the i7-4790S is without merit; its wins are contextual rather than benchmark-based.

The Xeon E5-2608L v3 is the pick for multi-threaded workloads that scale across six physical cores. Its 7.1% advantage in every multicore test — from 637 vs 595 in Cinebench R15 to 6329 vs 5911 in R23 — is consistent and repeatable. For server racks, virtualization hosts, or any workload that can use all six threads, the Xeon’s edge is the deciding factor.

The Core i7-4790S, by contrast, wins on platform flexibility. It includes Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely. It runs on the ubiquitous Intel Socket 1150 with dual-channel DDR3, making it a drop-in upgrade for existing desktop systems. The i7-4790S also has a higher base clock (3.20 GHz vs 2.00 GHz) and a 4.00 GHz boost clock, where the Xeon has no listed boost clock at all. For single-threaded responsiveness in lightly threaded applications, the i7-4790S’s higher clocks suggest better day-to-day feel, even though the Xeon scores higher in the single-core Cinebench tests (90 vs 84 in R15, 893 vs 834 in R23).

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Haswell microarchitecture, but they diverge in nearly every physical and platform attribute. The Xeon E5-2608L v3 is built on Haswell-EP, the server variant, while the i7-4790S uses the desktop Haswell design. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 22 nm process, but the Xeon packs 2,600 million transistors across a 356 mm² die, compared to 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die for the i7-4790S. That larger die houses 6 cores with 6 threads, whereas the i7-4790S has 4 cores but 8 threads via Hyper-Threading.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Xeon offers 15 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-4790S has 8 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The memory subsystem is where the platforms truly separate: the Xeon supports DDR4 over a quad-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC memory, while the i7-4790S uses DDR3 over dual channels with 25.6 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe lane counts also differ — 40 lanes for the Xeon versus 16 for the i7-4790S — both at Gen 3.

The Xeon has no integrated graphics, reinforcing its server role. The i7-4790S includes Intel HD 4600, making it a self-contained desktop solution. Power envelopes are inverted relative to core count: the 6-core Xeon draws 52 W, while the 4-core i7-4790S draws 65 W, reflecting the Xeon’s low-power server design and the i7’s higher clock speeds.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably uniform. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the Xeon E5-2608L v3 beats the Core i7-4790S by exactly 7.1% in every single test. This consistency suggests the performance gap is structural — a function of core count and cache size — rather than workload-specific.

In Cinebench R15, the Xeon scores 637 multicore and 90 single-core, versus 595 and 84 for the i7-4790S. The 42-point multicore gap and 6-point single-core gap both translate to that same 7.1% delta. Moving to R20, the Xeon posts 2658 multicore and 375 single-core, while the i7-4790S manages 2482 and 350. The multicore difference is 176 points; the single-core difference is 25 points.

In the more demanding Cinebench R23, the Xeon reaches 6329 multicore and 893 single-core. The i7-4790S trails with 5911 and 834. That 418-point multicore gap is the largest absolute difference in the dataset, reinforcing the Xeon’s advantage as thread counts scale. Notably, the i7-4790S has additional Geekbench results — 3307 multicore and 1056 single-core — that are not available for the Xeon, so no direct comparison can be made on that suite.

The percentile data places both processors at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are statistically peers in the broader market. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 1830 for the Xeon and 1827 for the i7-4790S, a delta of 0.1%. The nearest rival lists confirm this tight grouping, with the Xeon D-1537 and Core i5-8305G both scoring 1830-1831.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core i7-4790S has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon has more physical cores, but the i7-4790S has more threads overall due to Hyper-Threading.

Q: Is the Xeon E5-2608L v3 faster in every benchmark?

A: Yes. In all six head-to-head Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multicore), the Xeon E5-2608L v3 wins with a 7.1% delta over the Core i7-4790S. The Core i7-4790S has no benchmark wins in the dataset.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The Xeon E5-2608L v3 supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and ECC capability. The Core i7-4790S supports DDR3 over a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-4790S has integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD 4600. The Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What are the power consumption figures?

A: The Xeon E5-2608L v3 has a 52 W TDP, while the Core i7-4790S has a 65 W TDP. The Xeon consumes less power despite having more physical cores.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon E5-2608L v3 has an average benchmark score of 1830, and the Core i7-4790S has an average of 1827. The delta between them is 0.1%, with the Xeon slightly ahead. Both sit at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification beyond the shared 22 nm process node and Haswell architecture.

• Cores: 6 (Xeon) vs 4 (i7-4790S)
• Threads: 6 (Xeon) vs 8 (i7-4790S)
• Base Clock: 2000.00 MHz (Xeon) vs 3.20 GHz (i7-4790S)
• Boost Clock: None listed (Xeon) vs 4.00 GHz (i7-4790S)
• TDP: 52 W (Xeon) vs 65 W (i7-4790S)
• Socket: Intel Socket 2011-3 (Xeon) vs Intel Socket 1150 (i7-4790S)
• Codename: Haswell-EP (Xeon) vs Haswell (i7-4790S)
• Transistors: 2,600 million (Xeon) vs 1,400 million (i7-4790S)
• Die Size: 356 mm² (Xeon) vs 177 mm² (i7-4790S)
• L3 Cache: 15 MB shared (Xeon) vs 8 MB shared (i7-4790S)
• Memory Support: DDR4 (Xeon) vs DDR3 (i7-4790S)
• Memory Bus: Quad-channel (Xeon) vs Dual-channel (i7-4790S)
• Memory Bandwidth: 59.7 GB/s (Xeon) vs 25.6 GB/s (i7-4790S)
• ECC Memory: Yes (Xeon) vs No (i7-4790S)
• PCIe Lanes: 40 (Xeon) vs 16 (i7-4790S)
• Integrated Graphics: None (Xeon) vs Intel HD 4600 (i7-4790S)
• Market Segment: Server/Workstation (Xeon) vs Desktop (i7-4790S)
• Lauch MSRP: $441 (Xeon) vs $312 (i7-4790S)

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on use case. For any workload that leverages all available cores — rendering, compiling, virtualization, or server-side processing — the Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 is the superior choice. It wins every recorded benchmark by 7.1%, offers more L3 cache (15 MB vs 8 MB), supports ECC memory and DDR4, and provides 40 PCIe lanes versus 16. Its 52 W TDP is also lower than the i7-4790S’s 65 W, which is notable for dense server deployments.

The Intel Core i7-4790S is the better fit for desktop systems where its integrated HD 4600 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU, and where its higher base and boost clocks (3.20 GHz and 4.00 GHz) provide snappier response in single-threaded applications. It also slots into the vastly more common Socket 1150 platform with inexpensive DDR3 memory. The i7-4790S’s 8 threads give it better multi-threading potential per core than the Xeon’s 6 threads, but the Xeon’s extra two physical cores and larger cache win out in the benchmark suite.

Both processors are end-of-life, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1830 vs 1827). The decision rests on platform requirements: pick the Xeon E5-2608L v3 for a server or workstation build that demands ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, and maximum core count at low power. Pick the Core i7-4790S for a desktop build that needs integrated graphics, higher clock speeds, and compatibility with mainstream DDR3 motherboards. The benchmarks give the Xeon the performance crown, but the i7-4790S wins on integration and platform simplicity.