Intel Core i7-4870HQ vs Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 Comparison

Intel Core i7-4870HQ and Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 are both 22 nm Haswell parts with 4 cores and 8 threads, but they target fundamentally different platforms. The i7-4870HQ is a mobile chip soldered to a BGA 1364 package, while the Xeon E3-1241 v3 is a server/workstation processor for Socket 1150. Despite both sitting at the 41st percentile of all CPUs, the Xeon consistently outperforms the i7 across every benchmark in the data, making this a comparison about efficiency versus raw throughput.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E3-1241 v3 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with a remarkably consistent margin. In Cinebench R15, the Xeon scores 612 multi-core versus the i7's 540, a -11.8% delta for the i7. Single-core R15 shows the same story: 86 for the Xeon versus 76 for the i7, a -11.6% gap. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20, where the Xeon posts 2550 multi-core and 359 single-core, versus 2253 and 317 for the i7 — again a -11.6% and -11.7% delta respectively.

The newest benchmark in the set, Cinebench R23, confirms the trend with the Xeon at 6072 multi-core and 857 single-core, while the i7 manages 5366 and 757. That is a -11.6% delta in multi-core and -11.7% in single-core. The Xeon's lead is uniform, not workload-specific: it wins by roughly the same percentage whether the test stresses one core or all eight threads. This suggests a fundamental clock advantage rather than a cache or architecture quirk.

The i7-4870HQ does have one additional benchmark not shared by the Xeon: Geekbench, where it scores 3701 multi-core and 1143 single-core. However, since the Xeon has no Geekbench result in the data, no direct comparison is possible. The i7's average benchmark score sits at 1769, while the Xeon's is 1756 — a difference of only 0.7%, which reflects the fact that the i7's Geekbench scores pull its average up despite losing every Cinebench test. The nearest rivals for the i7 include the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE at 1766 (0.2% delta) and the Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 at 1773 (-0.2% delta). The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-4790T at 1755 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-5675C at 1759 (-0.2% delta).

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 22 nm process with 1,400 million transistors, but the die sizes diverge significantly. The i7-4870HQ has a die size of 264 mm², while the Xeon E3-1241 v3 is smaller at 160 mm². The larger die on the i7 is explained by its integrated graphics: the i7 packs Intel HD 5200 (the Iris Pro-class GPU), while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the Xeon a cleaner fit for systems with discrete GPUs, and it explains why the Xeon's smaller die still delivers higher performance.

The cache hierarchy differs in the L3, with the i7 offering 6 MB shared L3 versus the Xeon's 8 MB shared L3. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core. The extra 2 MB of L3 on the Xeon likely contributes to its consistent lead, though the clock speed difference is probably the dominant factor. The Xeon runs at a 3.50 GHz base clock and 3.90 GHz boost, while the i7 is at 2.50 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. That is a full 1.0 GHz advantage at base clock and a 0.20 GHz advantage at boost for the Xeon.

Power and platform targets diverge sharply. The i7 has a 47 W TDP, while the Xeon is rated at 80 W. The i7 uses the Intel BGA 1364 socket (soldered, not upgradeable), while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1150. The i7 is classified as a Mobile part, the Xeon as Server/Workstation. Memory support is DDR3 dual-channel with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth for both, but the Xeon adds ECC memory support while the i7 does not. Both run PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i7's codename is Crystalwell, the Xeon's is Haswell-WS, though both are Haswell architecture.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Xeon E3-1241 v3 wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 6072 versus the i7-4870HQ's 5366, a -11.6% delta for the i7. The Xeon also wins R15 multi-core (612 vs 540) and R20 multi-core (2550 vs 2253).

Q: Do the two processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The performance difference comes from clock speed and cache, not core count.

Q: Does the i7-4870HQ have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel HD 5200. The Xeon E3-1241 v3 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory for the Xeon.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Xeon E3-1241 v3 supports ECC memory. The i7-4870HQ does not, which is a key differentiator for workstation reliability use cases.

Q: What is the socket type for each processor?

A: The i7-4870HQ uses Intel BGA 1364, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard. The Xeon E3-1241 v3 uses Intel Socket 1150, which is a standard LGA socket that can be replaced.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-4870HQ has an average benchmark score of 1769, while the Xeon E3-1241 v3 has 1756. Despite the Xeon winning every head-to-head Cinebench test, the i7's Geekbench scores (3701 multi-core, 1143 single-core) raise its average slightly.

Specification Differences

• Base Clock: 2.50 GHz (i7-4870HQ) vs 3.50 GHz (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• Boost Clock: 3.70 GHz (i7-4870HQ) vs 3.90 GHz (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• TDP: 47 W (i7-4870HQ) vs 80 W (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1364 (i7-4870HQ) vs Intel Socket 1150 (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• Codename: Crystalwell (i7-4870HQ) vs Haswell-WS (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• Die Size: 264 mm² (i7-4870HQ) vs 160 mm² (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• L3 Cache: 6 MB shared (i7-4870HQ) vs 8 MB shared (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD 5200 (i7-4870HQ) vs None (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• ECC Memory: No (i7-4870HQ) vs Yes (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• Market Segment: Mobile (i7-4870HQ) vs Server/Workstation (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• Release Date: 2014-06-30 (i7-4870HQ) vs 2014-05-10 (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• Launch MSRP: Not available (i7-4870HQ) vs $273 (Xeon E3-1241 v3)
• Part Number: SR1ZX (i7-4870HQ) vs SR1R4 (Xeon E3-1241 v3)

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Xeon E3-1241 v3 is the faster processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all six Cinebench comparisons by margins between -11.6% and -11.8% from the i7's perspective. The Xeon's higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 2.50 GHz) and boost clock (3.90 GHz vs 3.70 GHz) explain the bulk of this advantage, with the additional 2 MB of L3 cache likely helping as well. The Xeon also brings ECC memory support and a standard Socket 1150 that can be replaced, making it the better choice for a fixed workstation build.

The i7-4870HQ's only advantages are its 47 W TDP versus the Xeon's 80 W, and its integrated Intel HD 5200 graphics. For a mobile platform where the CPU is soldered to the board, the lower power draw and built-in GPU make sense. However, the i7's Geekbench scores (3701 multi-core, 1143 single-core) do not appear in the Xeon's data, so the overall average benchmark score of 1769 for the i7 versus 1756 for the Xeon is not a direct performance comparison. If you need raw compute and are building a desktop, the Xeon wins outright. If you need an integrated GPU and low power consumption in a laptop, the i7 is the only option of the two.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 wins on: Every Cinebench benchmark in the data — R15 multi-core (612 vs 540), R15 single-core (86 vs 76), R20 multi-core (2550 vs 2253), R20 single-core (359 vs 317), R23 multi-core (6072 vs 5366), and R23 single-core (857 vs 757). It also wins on ECC memory support, L3 cache capacity (8 MB vs 6 MB), base clock speed, boost clock speed, and socket upgradeability. The Xeon is the clear pick for multi-threaded rendering, server workloads, or any task where the extra 1.0 GHz base clock translates into faster completion times.

Intel Core i7-4870HQ wins on: Power efficiency, with a 47 W TDP versus the Xeon's 80 W. It also has integrated Intel HD 5200 graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely. The i7's Geekbench scores (3701 multi-core, 1143 single-core) are present in the data while the Xeon has no Geekbench result, so the i7 shows a measurable capability there that the Xeon cannot match in this dataset. The i7 also has a larger die size (264 mm² vs 160 mm²), which reflects the integrated GPU's silicon footprint. For a compact mobile system or any build that cannot accommodate a discrete GPU, the i7 is the only viable choice. For everything else, the Xeon's performance lead is decisive.