CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2124 and the Intel Core i7-5700HQ represent two distinct approaches to mobile and workstation computing, separated by three years of architectural evolution. The data shows a consistent and decisive performance advantage for the Xeon E-2124 across every benchmark category, with the Coffee Lake part leading by margins of 11% to 11.3% in all six Cinebench tests. Despite the i7-5700HQ offering twice the thread count (8 threads versus 4), the Xeon’s higher clock speeds and newer architecture overcome that deficit. The Xeon E-2124 also delivers superior platform features including ECC memory support and DDR4 memory bandwidth, though at a higher TDP of 71W versus 47W. The i7-5700HQ, however, retains advantages in its larger die size and lower power envelope, making it a more suitable option for thermally constrained systems. For workloads that prioritize single-threaded responsiveness and modern platform features, the Xeon E-2124 is the clear choice; for legacy mobile systems where power efficiency is paramount, the i7-5700HQ remains a viable option.

The Verdict

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E-2124 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with no benchmark victories for the Intel Core i7-5700HQ. The Xeon’s winning margins range from 11% in Cinebench R15 single-core to 11.3% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core. This consistency across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests indicates a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Xeon E-2124 achieves this despite having 4 cores and 4 threads, exactly half the thread count of the i7-5700HQ’s 4 cores and 8 threads. Its base clock of 3.30 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz dwarf the i7-5700HQ’s 2.70 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost, explaining why the Xeon maintains superiority even in multi-threaded tests where the i7-5700HQ could theoretically leverage its extra threads. The Xeon’s 8 MB of shared L3 cache also exceeds the i7-5700HQ’s 6 MB, further contributing to its performance edge.

For server and workstation workloads, the Xeon E-2124 is the obvious pick. It supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i7-5700HQ, and pairs with DDR4 memory at 42.7 GB/s bandwidth compared to the i7-5700HQ’s DDR3 at 29.9 GB/s. The Xeon’s Intel Socket 1151 platform offers upgrade flexibility, whereas the i7-5700HQ’s BGA 1364 socket is soldered, limiting future upgrades.

Conversely, the i7-5700HQ serves a different use case. Its 47W TDP is significantly lower than the Xeon’s 71W, making it better suited for compact laptops or all-in-one systems where thermal headroom is scarce. Its integrated Intel HD 5600 graphics and larger 182 mm² die size suggest a design focused on balanced mobile performance. Users who need a drop-in replacement for a legacy Broadwell-H laptop should consider the i7-5700HQ, but anyone building a new system with flexibility for memory, graphics, and future upgrades should choose the Xeon E-2124.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2124 outperforms the Intel Core i7-5700HQ in every single-core test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 809 versus the i7-5700HQ’s 727, a delta of 11.3%. The single-core advantage is consistent across Cinebench R15 (81 vs 73, 11% delta) and Cinebench R20 (339 vs 305, 11.1% delta).

Q: Does the Core i7-5700HQ’s higher thread count help in multi-core workloads?

A: No, the data shows the opposite. Despite the i7-5700HQ having 8 threads versus the Xeon E-2124’s 4 threads, the Xeon wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon scores 2408 versus 2164, a margin of 11.3%. The Xeon’s clock speed advantage of 3.30 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost overcomes the thread count deficit.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E-2124 supports ECC memory. This is a critical differentiator for server and workstation applications where data integrity is paramount. The Intel Core i7-5700HQ does not offer ECC support, limiting its suitability for mission-critical workloads.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The Xeon E-2124 supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i7-5700HQ supports DDR3 with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. This represents a 42.8% bandwidth advantage for the Xeon, which can translate to faster data-intensive operations.

Q: How do these processors compare to their closest rivals?

A: The Xeon E-2124’s average benchmark score of 1658 places it within 0.4% of the Intel Core i7-7600T (score 1664) and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H (score 1653). The i7-5700HQ’s average score of 1645 is 0.4% behind the Intel Core i7-4810MQ (score 1651) and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200G (score 1640). Both processors occupy the 40th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a lower power consumption?

A: The Intel Core i7-5700HQ has a TDP of 47W, significantly lower than the Intel Xeon E-2124’s 71W. This makes the i7-5700HQ more suitable for thermally constrained mobile devices, while the Xeon’s higher TDP reflects its workstation-oriented performance targets.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Xeon E-2124 is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS codename, and belongs to the Xeon E-2100 series. It uses a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel, with a die size of 126 mm². The Intel Core i7-5700HQ, in contrast, is based on the Broadwell architecture (codename Broadwell-H) and also uses a 14 nm process from Intel, but with a substantially larger die size of 182 mm².

Cache hierarchies differ notably. Both processors share the same L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) cache allocation, but the Xeon E-2124 offers 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus the i7-5700HQ’s 6 MB. This additional 2 MB of L3 cache provides the Xeon with more on-die storage for frequently accessed data, contributing to its performance advantage in both single and multi-threaded workloads.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Xeon E-2124 comes with UHD Graphics P630, while the i7-5700HQ features Intel HD 5600. The Xeon’s graphics solution is part of its workstation positioning, though neither processor’s integrated graphics is the primary focus for benchmark comparisons.

Memory architecture is a significant differentiator. The Xeon E-2124 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-5700HQ supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. This generational memory upgrade from DDR3 to DDR4 provides the Xeon with substantially higher memory throughput, which benefits memory-intensive applications.

Both processors support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), so expansion capabilities are identical in that regard. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, meaning overclocking is not officially supported. The Xeon E-2124 has a part number of SR3WQ, while the i7-5700HQ is identified as SR2BP.

Specification Differences

The specification tables reveal several key differences between the two processors. The most obvious is the thread count: the Xeon E-2124 has 4 threads, while the i7-5700HQ has 8 threads. Clock speeds are dramatically different, with the Xeon’s base clock of 3.30 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz versus the i7-5700HQ’s 2.70 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost.

Thermal design power differs by 24W, with the Xeon at 71W and the i7-5700HQ at 47W. Socket compatibility is entirely different: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-5700HQ uses Intel BGA 1364, meaning they are not interchangeable in any system.

Memory support is another major specification difference. The Xeon E-2124 supports DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-5700HQ supports DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory support is present only on the Xeon, not on the i7-5700HQ.

The market segments differ, with the Xeon classified as Server/Workstation and the i7-5700HQ as Desktop. The Xeon’s launch MSRP of $198 contrasts with the i7-5700HQ’s launch MSRP of $378. The Xeon was released on 2018-07-11, while the i7-5700HQ was released on 2015-06-01.

Both processors have 4 cores, 64 KB L1 cache per core, and 256 KB L2 cache per core. The Xeon has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-5700HQ has 6 MB. Both are 14 nm parts from Intel, but the i7-5700HQ has a larger die at 182 mm² versus 126 mm² for the Xeon.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E-2124 across all six Cinebench tests. The largest margins appear in the multi-core tests, where the Xeon’s clock speed advantage is most pronounced.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon E-2124 scores 577 against the i7-5700HQ’s 519, a delta of 11.2%. This is noteworthy because the i7-5700HQ has twice the threads, yet the Xeon’s 3.30 GHz base clock and 4.30 GHz boost clock overcome the thread disadvantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 81 for the Xeon versus 73 for the i7-5700HQ, an 11% delta.

Cinebench R20 results follow the same trend. The multi-core test shows the Xeon at 2408 versus 2164, an 11.3% delta. Single-core R20 gives the Xeon 339 points against the i7-5700HQ’s 305, a margin of 11.1%.

Cinebench R23, the most demanding of the three versions, shows the Xeon E-2124 continuing its dominance. In multi-core R23, the Xeon scores 5734 versus 5154, an 11.3% delta. The single-core R23 test shows 809 for the Xeon against 727 for the i7-5700HQ, again an 11.3% delta.

The consistency of these margins, hovering between 11% and 11.3%, indicates a systematic performance advantage rather than a test-specific anomaly. The Xeon’s higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache provide a uniform benefit across all workload types.

The i7-5700HQ has no benchmark victories in this comparison, with a win count of 0 versus 6 for the Xeon. Even when considering its additional benchmark results (Geekbench multi-core score of 3129 and single-core score of 1085), the i7-5700HQ’s average benchmark score of 1645 falls below the Xeon’s average of 1658. This 13-point difference in average score places the Xeon at the 40th percentile of all CPUs, matching the i7-5700HQ’s percentile ranking, but the Xeon achieves this with a lower thread count and more modern architecture.