Intel Core i7-4870HQ vs Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 has an average benchmark score of 1773, while the Intel Core i7-4870HQ scores 1769. The Xeon edges out the mobile Core i7 by a 0.2% margin.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Xeon E5-2637 v3 scores 6130 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the i7-4870HQ scores 5366. That represents a 14.2% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: Are these processors similar in overall performance ranking?

A: Yes. Both sit at the 41st percentile among all CPUs in the database, and both have an average benchmark score near 1770. Their nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 and AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Xeon E5-2637 v3 has a TDP of 135 watts, while the i7-4870HQ has a TDP of 47 watts. The mobile chip draws substantially less power.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Xeon E5-2637 v3 supports ECC memory, while the i7-4870HQ does not. This is a key feature for server and workstation reliability.

Q: What generation and architecture do both processors use?

A: Both are based on the Haswell architecture and are manufactured on a 22 nm process. The Xeon uses the Haswell-EP codename, while the i7 uses Crystalwell.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share a common Haswell heritage, but they diverge sharply in platform and package design. The Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 is built on the Haswell-EP codename, targeting the server and workstation market segment. It uses the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform, which enables a quad-channel DDR4 memory bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The i7-4870HQ, by contrast, uses the Crystalwell codename and is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1364 socket, with a dual-channel DDR3 memory bus delivering 25.6 GB/s. That memory bandwidth gap is significant; the Xeon offers more than 2.5 times the raw memory throughput.

The transistor counts and die sizes also tell a story of different design priorities. The Xeon packs 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die, while the i7-4870HQ has 1,400 million transistors on a 264 mm² die. The larger Xeon die accommodates a 15 MB shared L3 cache, whereas the i7 has a smaller 6 MB shared L3 cache. Both have identical per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) caches, but the Xeon’s larger L3 is expected given its server-class ambitions.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU alone, while the i7 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Xeon also includes integrated graphics as a non-feature — it has none — while the i7-4870HQ includes Intel HD 5200 graphics. The i7’s integrated GPU is a notable advantage for mobile systems that need display output without a discrete graphics card.

Both chips are 4-core, 8-thread designs with the same boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The base clocks differ: the Xeon runs at 3.50 GHz, while the i7 runs at 2.50 GHz. The Xeon’s higher base clock, combined with its larger cache and quad-channel memory, gives it a structural edge in sustained workloads. The i7 compensates with a much lower 47-watt TDP versus the Xeon’s 135 watts, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems. The Xeon is unlocked? No — neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

The production status for both is end-of-life. The Xeon launched in September 2014 with a launch MSRP of $996. The i7 launched earlier, in July 2014, and has no listed launch MSRP. The Xeon’s market segment is server/workstation, while the i7’s is mobile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3. Across six Cinebench tests — R15, R20, and R23, each in single-core and multi-core variants — the Xeon wins every matchup. The margin is remarkably consistent, hovering between 14.2% and 14.5% across all tests.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 617 against the i7’s 540, a 14.3% advantage. The single-core R15 result is similar: 87 versus 76, a 14.5% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 2574 multi-core and 363 single-core, while the i7 manages 2253 and 317, respectively. The deltas are 14.2% and 14.5%. In Cinebench R23, the latest test in the set, the Xeon scores 6130 multi-core and 865 single-core, versus 5366 and 757 for the i7. That works out to a 14.2% multi-core and 14.3% single-core lead.

What stands out is the uniformity of the performance gap. The Xeon doesn’t win by a larger margin in multi-core than in single-core; the advantage is essentially flat. This suggests the Xeon’s edge comes from higher base clock and better memory bandwidth rather than from scaling across cores. Both chips have identical core and thread counts, and both boost to the same 3.70 GHz. The Xeon’s 3.50 GHz base clock — a full 1.0 GHz higher than the i7’s 2.50 GHz — appears to be the primary driver of the consistent 14% performance advantage.

The i7-4870HQ does have an additional benchmark not present for the Xeon: Geekbench. It scores 3701 multi-core and 1143 single-core in that test. However, with no corresponding Xeon Geekbench result in the data, a direct comparison is not possible. The i7’s average benchmark score of 1769 sits just 0.2% below the Xeon’s 1773, which aligns with the 14% Cinebench gap being offset by the Geekbench results in the averaging.

The nearest rivals for the Xeon include the Intel Xeon E5-4610 v3 (average score 1777, delta -0.2%) and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 (1778, delta -0.3%). For the i7, the nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE (1766, delta 0.2%) and the Intel Xeon E-2224 (1762, delta 0.4%). Both chips sit in the same performance neighborhood as these competitors, but the Xeon and i7 are each other’s closest match in the provided rival lists.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a clear picture: the Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 is the faster processor in every head-to-head test available. It wins all six Cinebench comparisons, with margins between 14.2% and 14.5%. For users who need maximum compute throughput from a 4-core, 8-thread part, the Xeon is the better choice. Its 15 MB L3 cache, quad-channel DDR4 memory, and 68.3 GB/s memory bandwidth make it well-suited for server and workstation workloads where memory access patterns are demanding.

The i7-4870HQ, however, is not without merit. Its 47-watt TDP is a fraction of the Xeon’s 135 watts, making it the obvious pick for mobile or power-constrained systems. The integrated Intel HD 5200 graphics also eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic display scenarios. The Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. For a laptop or compact build, the i7’s lower power draw and on-chip GPU are decisive advantages, even if the raw benchmark numbers lag by roughly 14%.

The Xeon’s support for ECC memory is a critical feature for data integrity in servers, and its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide far more expansion headroom than the i7’s 16 lanes. The launch MSRP of $996 for the Xeon reflects its workstation positioning, though pricing comparisons are not part of this analysis.

In terms of overall performance percentile, both chips sit at the 41st percentile among all CPUs. They are direct rivals in the database, with average scores within 0.2% of each other. The Xeon wins on raw performance and platform features; the i7 wins on power efficiency and integrated graphics. The choice comes down to use case: the Xeon for a socketed workstation or server, the i7 for a mobile or low-power environment. Neither chip is currently in production; both are end-of-life parts.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 | Intel Core i7-4870HQ |

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

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | Intel BGA 1364 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| TDP | 135 W | 47 W |

| Codename | Haswell-EP | Crystalwell |

| Generation | Xeon E5 (Haswell-EP) | Core i7 (Crystal Well) |

| Transistors | 2,600 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 264 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 15 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 68.3 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Intel HD 5200 |

| Launch MSRP | $996 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SR202 | SR1ZX |

| Release Date | 2014-09-07 | 2014-06-30 |