CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 and Intel Core i7-5775C sit at opposite ends of Intel’s 2015 lineup, yet their average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The Xeon posts an average score of 2227, while the Core i7 trails by just 0.1% at 2224. That statistical tie masks a complete divergence in how each CPU achieves its results: the Xeon leans on 12 cores and 24 threads, the Core i7 on higher clocks and a newer architecture. The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep, but the underlying story is more complex than a simple winner.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E5-4648 v3 wins all six recorded benchmark comparisons, and it does so with remarkable consistency. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 776 against the Core i7’s 660, a 17.6% advantage. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story: 109 versus 93, a 17.2% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 3234 multi-core and 456 single-core, compared to 2750 and 388 for the Core i7, deltas of 17.6% and 17.5%, respectively. The R23 results repeat the pattern: 7701 versus 6549 multi-core and 1087 versus 924 single-core, both 17.6% apart.

The uniformity of these margins is striking. Every single-core delta falls between 17.2% and 17.6%, and every multi-core delta sits at exactly 17.6%. This suggests the Xeon’s advantage is structural rather than workload-dependent. In Cinebench’s rendering workloads, the Xeon’s 12 physical cores deliver a consistent edge over the Core i7’s 4 cores, even though the Core i7 clocks much higher. The single-core results are more surprising, the Xeon’s 1700 MHz base and 2.20 GHz boost still outpace the Core i7’s 3.30 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost in these tests. The Core i7’s newer Broadwell architecture and 14 nm process node do not compensate for the Xeon’s larger cache and server-grade memory subsystem in these particular workloads.

The closest the Core i7 comes is in R23 single-core, where the Xeon leads by only 163 points. Yet even that represents a 17.6% margin. The Core i7 has no benchmark wins here, winsA is 6 and winsB is 0. Notably, the Core i7 has two Geekbench scores in its individual benchmark list (4989 multi-core, 1441 single-core) that are absent from the head-to-head table, so the comparison is limited to Cinebench results. Within that scope, the Xeon’s sweep is absolute, but the narrow average-score gap between the two CPUs (2227 versus 2224) indicates that other workloads could shift the balance.

Architecture Differences

These two processors come from different branches of Intel’s family tree. The Xeon E5-4648 v3 is a Haswell-EP part built on a 22 nm process node, while the Core i7-5775C is Broadwell on 14 nm. The process shrink gives the Core i7 a transistor density advantage, though the Xeon’s die size is 356 mm² versus 182 mm² for the Core i7. The Xeon packs 2,600 million transistors; the Core i7’s transistor count is not listed in the data.

Core counts diverge sharply: the Xeon has 12 cores and 24 threads, the Core i7 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Cache allocation follows the core count. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the Xeon’s L3 cache is 30 MB shared, compared to 6 MB shared on the Core i7. That 5x difference in L3 capacity is a major factor in the Xeon’s multi-threaded performance, as more data can reside on-die for the 12-core workload.

Memory architecture differs at every level. The Xeon supports DDR4 over a quad-channel bus, yielding 59.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Core i7 uses DDR3 on a dual-channel bus, capped at 25.6 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory; the Core i7 does not. PCIe lane counts reflect their market positions: the Xeon provides Gen 3, 40 lanes, while the Core i7 offers Gen 3, 16 lanes. The Core i7 includes integrated Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. Sockets are incompatible, the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3, the Core i7 uses Socket 1150.

The Core i7 has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, whereas the Xeon is locked. Process nodes differ (22 nm versus 14 nm), and the Xeon’s TDP of 105 W is higher than the Core i7’s 65 W, reflecting the larger core count and server-oriented power budget.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5-4648 v3 wins every Cinebench test in the head-to-head set, making it the straightforward choice for rendering and content-creation workloads that scale with core count. Its 17.6% multi-core lead in R15, R20, and R23 indicates that the 12-core configuration provides a consistent advantage in heavily parallelized tasks. The 30 MB L3 cache and quad-channel DDR4 bandwidth (59.7 GB/s) further support memory-intensive server workloads, and ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive data processing. The 40 PCIe lanes allow for multiple expansion cards or accelerators.

The Core i7-5775C, despite losing all head-to-head tests, holds advantages that are not captured in the Cinebench data. Its 65 W TDP is 38% lower than the Xeon’s, making it far more efficient for desktop use. The unlocked multiplier permits overclocking, which could close or exceed the single-core gap in non-Cinebench applications. The integrated Iris Pro Graphics 6200 provides a display output and hardware acceleration that the Xeon entirely lacks. For a desktop user running legacy DDR3 memory, the dual-channel 25.6 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for typical productivity tasks, and the smaller 182 mm² die suggests lower manufacturing cost per unit.

The average benchmark scores reveal the nuance: the Xeon’s 2227 average is only 0.1% above the Core i7’s 2224, and the nearest-rival data places the Core i7 at a 0.1% delta below the Xeon. In mixed workloads, the Core i7’s higher base clock (3.30 GHz versus 1.70 GHz) and boost clock (3.70 GHz versus 2.20 GHz) could deliver better responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks, even if Cinebench single-core scores favor the Xeon.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i7-5775C has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Xeon E5-4648 v3 has an average benchmark score of 2227, and the Core i7-5775C scores 2224. The delta is 0.1% in favor of the Xeon.

Q: Does the Core i7-5775C win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 6 wins for the Xeon E5-4648 v3 and 0 wins for the Core i7-5775C across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The Xeon E5-4648 v3 supports DDR4 with quad-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i7-5775C supports DDR3 with dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Core i7-5775C has integrated graphics, specifically Iris Pro Graphics 6200. The Xeon E5-4648 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the TDPs of these two CPUs?

A: The Xeon E5-4648 v3 has a TDP of 105 W, and the Core i7-5775C has a TDP of 65 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-4648 v3 | Intel Core i7-5775C |

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

| Cores | 12 | 4 |

| Threads | 24 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1.70 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 105 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Broadwell |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 182 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 30 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 59.7 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 3, 40 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Iris Pro Graphics 6200 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Launch MSRP | $2405 | $366 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR26R | SR2AG |

The Verdict

The benchmark data points decisively toward the Xeon E5-4648 v3 for any workload represented by Cinebench. Its 17.6% lead across all multi-core tests and 17.2-17.6% lead in single-core tests makes it the stronger performer in rendering and compute-heavy tasks. The 12-core configuration, 30 MB L3 cache, and 59.7 GB/s memory bandwidth provide a substantial infrastructure advantage over the Core i7-5775C’s 4 cores, 6 MB L3, and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth.

However, the Core i7-5775C is not without merit. Its 65 W TDP makes it suitable for compact desktop builds, the unlocked multiplier offers overclocking headroom, and integrated graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU. The 14 nm process node and smaller 182 mm² die indicate a more modern fabrication approach. For a desktop user who prioritizes efficiency, upgradability, and graphics output, the Core i7-5775C remains a viable option despite losing every head-to-head test.

The Xeon’s launch MSRP of $2405 versus the Core i7’s $366 reflects their intended markets, the Xeon targets server/workstation deployments where multi-threaded throughput and ECC memory justify the cost, while the Core i7 serves mainstream desktop users. The production statuses reinforce this: the Xeon is end-of-life, while the Core i7 is still active. The data shows that if raw Cinebench performance is the sole criterion, the Xeon E5-4648 v3 is the definitive choice. If the workload extends beyond rendering to include graphics, overclocking, or power-sensitive scenarios, the Core i7-5775C offers capabilities the Xeon cannot match. The 0.1% average score difference between them is the closest margin in the nearest-rival list, making this a case where the right pick depends entirely on the intended use case.