Intel Core i7-5775R vs Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 wins every recorded benchmark in this comparison, and it does so by a strikingly consistent margin. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Xeon leads the Core i7-5775R by between 11.1% and 11.4%. That uniformity suggests a fundamental clock-speed advantage rather than any workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 713 against 641 for the Core i7, a delta of 11.2%. The single-core test shows the same story: 100 versus 90, an 11.1% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 2974 multi-core and 419 single-core, while the Core i7 manages 2671 and 376 respectively, deltas of 11.3% and 11.4%. The newest rendering workloads reinforce the pattern: in Cinebench R23, the Xeon scores 7082 multi-core and 999 single-core, beating the Core i7's 6360 and 897 by 11.4% in both tests.

The data shows no benchmark where the Core i7-5775R takes the lead. Its best result relative to the Xeon is still a loss by more than 11%. The Xeon's average benchmark score of 2048 sits just above the Core i7's 2031, though this aggregate measure includes Geekbench results that only the Core i7 recorded, so the gap in directly comparable tests is larger than the average suggests.

The Xeon also holds a higher position in the overall percentile rankings. It sits at the 46th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core i7 sits at the 45th. Both are mid-pack processors by modern standards, but the Xeon is consistently the stronger performer in every direct head-to-head measurement.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E3-1270 v5 is the clear pick for pure compute throughput. Its wins span multi-core rendering, where the 11.3% and 11.4% margins in R20 and R23 matter for threaded workloads, and single-core performance, where the 11.1% to 11.4% advantages translate to snappier response in lightly threaded tasks. If the workload is rendering, compiling, or any CPU-bound compute, the recorded data points squarely to the Xeon.

The Core i7-5775R does have one exclusive capability in the data: integrated graphics. The Core i7 includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics listed. For a system that needs display output without a discrete GPU, the Core i7 is the only option between the two. The Xeon, by contrast, targets the server and workstation segment, where a discrete GPU or a remote management setup is assumed.

The Core i7 also has a lower TDP of 65 watts against the Xeon's 80 watts. For thermally constrained or compact builds, that 15-watt difference could be relevant, though the database does not provide cooling or power consumption measurements beyond the TDP figures themselves.

The Xeon counters with ECC memory support, which the Core i7 lacks. For workstation reliability use cases, error-correcting memory is a meaningful feature, and it is exclusive to the Xeon in this matchup. The Xeon also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the Core i7 is limited to DDR3. Memory bandwidth figures follow: the Xeon records 34.1 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s for the Core i7.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process, but they come from different architectural generations. The Xeon E3-1270 v5 uses the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-DT codename, while the Core i7-5775R uses Broadwell. This generation gap explains much of the performance difference: Skylake's higher clock speeds and architectural refinements deliver the consistent 11% margins seen throughout the benchmarks.

The transistor counts tell an interesting story. The Xeon packs 1,750 million transistors into a 122 mm² die. The Core i7's transistor count is not recorded in the database, but its die size is larger at 182 mm². The smaller Skylake die with a higher transistor count indicates a denser, more modern design. The larger Broadwell die likely reflects the integrated Iris Pro Graphics 6200, which occupies silicon that the server-focused Xeon does not need.

Cache configurations differ as well. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache is 8 MB on the Xeon versus 6 MB on the Core i7. That 2 MB difference in last-level cache favors the Xeon in workloads with larger working sets.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 across a dual-channel bus, while the Core i7 is limited to DDR3. The Xeon's memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s, exceeding the Core i7's 29.9 GB/s. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The Xeon is built for the server and workstation market segment, while the Core i7 targets desktop use. The Xeon's ECC memory support and lack of integrated graphics reflect that division. Both processors are end-of-life products, but they launched roughly five months apart: the Core i7 released in May 2015 and the Xeon in October 2015.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. Clock speeds are the most obvious: the Xeon runs at 3.60 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost, while the Core i7 runs at 3.30 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The Xeon's 0.30 GHz advantage in base clock and 0.20 GHz advantage in boost clock align with its benchmark superiority.

Thermal design power differs by 15 watts: 80 watts for the Xeon, 65 watts for the Core i7. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the Core i7 uses Intel BGA 1364, meaning the Core i7 is soldered to the board rather than socketed. The Xeon's socketed design allows for future CPU upgrades, while the BGA package does not.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core i7 supports only DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the Xeon but not on the Core i7. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $339, while the Core i7's is $384. Both are multiplier-locked, so neither offers unlocked overclocking.

The Xeon's part number is SR2LF, and the Core i7's is SR2AL. The Xeon's L3 cache is 8 MB shared, versus 6 MB shared on the Core i7. The die size difference is significant: 122 mm² for the Xeon, 182 mm² for the Core i7. The Core i7 includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the Xeon lists no integrated graphics.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 wins every multi-core test in the database. It leads by 11.2% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (713 versus 641), 11.3% in R20 multi-core (2974 versus 2671), and 11.4% in R23 multi-core (7082 versus 6360).

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The Xeon wins all three single-core Cinebench tests by margins between 11.1% and 11.4%. In Cinebench R15 it scores 100 versus 90, in R20 it scores 419 versus 376, and in R23 it scores 999 versus 897.

Q: Does the Core i7-5775R have any advantages over the Xeon?

A: Yes, the Core i7 includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Core i7 also has a lower TDP of 65 watts compared to the Xeon's 80 watts.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 supports ECC memory. The Core i7-5775R does not list ECC support. The Xeon also supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the Core i7 supports only DDR3.

Q: Are these processors the same architecture?

A: No. The Xeon uses the Skylake architecture (Skylake-DT codename), while the Core i7 uses Broadwell. Both are built on Intel's 14 nm process, but the Xeon has a smaller die at 122 mm² and a larger 8 MB L3 cache versus the Core i7's 6 MB.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon has an average benchmark score of 2048, placing it at the 46th percentile of all CPUs. The Core i7 has an average score of 2031, placing it at the 45th percentile.

The Verdict

The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 is the superior processor in this comparison, and the data is unambiguous. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks by margins of at least 11.1%, with the largest gaps reaching 11.4% in Cinebench R20 and R23. Its higher base and boost clocks, larger L3 cache, dual memory type support, and ECC capability make it the stronger choice for compute-focused systems.

The only reason to choose the Core i7-5775R is its integrated Iris Pro Graphics 6200. If the build needs display output without a discrete GPU, the Core i7 is the only viable option between these two. Its lower 65-watt TDP also makes it easier to cool in compact systems, though the database does not provide thermals beyond the TDP figures.

For server and workstation use, the Xeon's ECC memory support, DDR4 compatibility, and higher memory bandwidth are decisive. The data shows the Xeon is faster in every measured workload, and the architectural advantages of Skylake over Broadwell are clear. The Core i7's higher launch MSRP of $384 versus the Xeon's $339 further underscores the value of the Xeon on paper, discounting the integrated graphics advantage of the Core i7.

The verdict is straightforward: if the workload is CPU compute, take the Xeon E3-1270 v5. If the system requires integrated graphics and a lower TDP, the Core i7-5775R is the pick, but it will trail the Xeon by more than 11% in every rendering benchmark in the database.