Intel Core i7-5775R vs Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-5775R and the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 are both 14 nm, four-core, eight-thread Intel parts from the same era, yet the benchmark data tells a surprisingly one-sided story. While their aggregate average benchmark scores are nearly identical—2031 for the i7-5775R and 2030 for the Xeon—the head-to-head results show the Xeon winning every single workload test. This creates a fascinating contradiction: the two CPUs are statistical twins in overall standing, but in direct competition, the Xeon E3-1240 v5 is consistently ahead by roughly 9% across the board.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data from the six head-to-head benchmark comparisons is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 wins all six tests, with no victories for the Intel Core i7-5775R. The margins are remarkably uniform, clustering tightly between 9.1% and 9.6% in favor of the Xeon. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 707 against the i7-5775R’s 641, a delta of -9.3%. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern, with the Xeon at 99 and the i7-5775R at 90, a 9.1% gap.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 2948 for the Xeon versus 2671 for the i7-5775R, a 9.4% difference. The single-core R20 test shows 416 against 376, a 9.6% gap—the largest margin in the entire comparison. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score is 7020 for the Xeon versus 6360 for the i7-5775R (9.4% delta), and the single-core score is 991 versus 897 (9.5% delta). The consistency of these deltas is striking; every test lands within half a percentage point of 9.4%.

This uniformity suggests that the performance difference is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental per-clock advantage. The Xeon’s base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.90 GHz are both higher than the i7-5775R’s 3.30 GHz and 3.80 GHz, which likely explains the consistent edge. The data does not show a single scenario where the i7-5775R’s architecture or cache configuration closes the gap—even in single-threaded tests, where clock speed differences usually dominate, the Xeon holds its lead.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark wins, the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 is the clear winner in every measured category: multicore rendering, single-core rendering, and all three generations of Cinebench tests. The Xeon wins both multicore and single-core categories in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, meaning there is no scenario in the data where the i7-5775R comes out ahead.

For the i7-5775R, the wins column is empty—it records 0 wins against the Xeon’s 6. This is not a case of one chip excelling in one type of workload while the other excels in another; the Xeon simply dominates every benchmark listed. The i7-5775R does have a single Geekbench multicore score of 3996 and a single-core score of 1218, but these are not part of the head-to-head comparison, so they cannot be used to claim a win. The data implies that if a user’s priority is raw compute performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the Xeon is the only logical choice between these two.

There is a nuance worth investigating: the i7-5775R includes integrated Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics. This means the i7-5775R could be considered a win for systems that need a GPU without a discrete card, but the benchmark data provides no graphics scores to quantify this advantage. The Xeon’s win is purely computational, and the i7-5775R’s potential win is in a feature category that remains unmeasured in this dataset.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divergence between these two chips is significant, even though both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process. The i7-5775R is based on the Broadwell architecture (codename Broadwell), while the Xeon E3-1240 v5 uses Skylake (codename Skylake-DT). This generational difference is reflected in their die sizes: the Broadwell chip measures 182 mm², whereas the Skylake die is substantially smaller at 122 mm². The Xeon’s transistor count is listed at 1,750 million, while the i7-5775R’s transistor count is not provided in the data.

Cache configurations also differ meaningfully. Both chips have identical L1 and L2 caches (64 KB per core and 256 KB per core, respectively), but the L3 cache is larger on the Xeon: 8 MB shared versus 6 MB shared on the i7-5775R. This 2 MB difference in last-level cache could contribute to the Xeon’s consistent performance edge, particularly in workloads that benefit from larger shared cache pools.

The i7-5775R is built around the Broadwell architecture, which is known for its integrated graphics capabilities—it ships with Iris Pro Graphics 6200. The Xeon, by contrast, has no integrated graphics at all, which is typical for server/workstation processors. This is a major architectural difference: the i7-5775R is a desktop part with a robust iGPU, while the Xeon is a server part that assumes a discrete GPU will be present. The sockets also differ, with the i7-5775R using Intel BGA 1364 (soldered) and the Xeon using Intel Socket 1151 (LGA), which has implications for upgradeability and cooling solutions.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications, starting with clock speeds. The Xeon E3-1240 v5 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the i7-5775R operates at 3.30 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The Xeon’s 200 MHz advantage at both base and boost is the most likely explanation for its benchmark superiority.

Power consumption also differs: the Xeon has a TDP of 80 W, compared to the i7-5775R’s 65 W. This 15 W difference reflects the Xeon’s higher clocks and likely contributes to its performance lead, though it also implies higher cooling requirements. Memory support diverges as well—the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i7-5775R only supports DDR3. The Xeon’s memory bandwidth is rated at 34.1 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s for the i7-5775R, a 4.2 GB/s advantage. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon, which is a critical differentiator for server reliability. The i7-5775R includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics. Market segments also differ: the i7-5775R is classified as Desktop, while the Xeon is Server/Workstation.

The launch MSRP for the i7-5775R is $384, and for the Xeon E3-1240 v5 it is $282. Both chips are end-of-life, with release dates in 2015 (May for the i7-5775R, October for the Xeon). Both have locked multipliers, and both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-5775R has an average benchmark score of 2031, while the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 has an average score of 2030. The difference is a negligible 0.1% in favor of the i7-5775R.

Q: How much faster is the Xeon E3-1240 v5 in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Xeon scores 7020 in Cinebench R23 multicore, compared to the i7-5775R’s 6360, representing a 9.4% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: Does the i7-5775R win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The i7-5775R records 0 wins, while the Xeon E3-1240 v5 wins all 6 head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The Xeon E3-1240 v5 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-5775R has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, a difference of 2 MB.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-5775R does not.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each chip?

A: The i7-5775R has a TDP of 65 W, and the Xeon E3-1240 v5 has a TDP of 80 W.

The Verdict

The data is decisive: the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 is the superior processor for compute-heavy workloads, winning every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison by a consistent margin of roughly 9%. Its higher base and boost clocks, larger 8 MB L3 cache, and broader memory support (DDR3 and DDR4) give it a clear performance advantage over the i7-5775R in Cinebench tests. The Xeon’s 80 W TDP is higher than the i7-5775R’s 65 W, but that trade-off is reflected in its uniformly faster scores.

For users who prioritize raw multi-threaded and single-threaded compute, the Xeon E3-1240 v5 is the only choice between these two. It also offers ECC memory support, making it suitable for workstation or server reliability requirements. The i7-5775R, however, is not without its place: it includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200, which the Xeon entirely lacks, making it a potential pick for systems without a discrete GPU. Its lower TDP and soldered BGA package also suggest a different use case, but in terms of pure CPU benchmark performance, the Xeon wins outright.

The i7-5775R’s near-identical average benchmark score (2031 vs 2030) is a statistical artifact of including Geekbench tests that favor it, but the head-to-head Cinebench data shows no such parity. The Xeon’s 6-0 sweep is the clearest signal in the dataset. If a buyer has to choose strictly on the evidence presented, the Xeon E3-1240 v5 is the faster chip, and the i7-5775R’s only saving grace is its integrated graphics and lower power draw—neither of which is measured in the benchmark results.