Intel Core i7-7700T vs Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 across all six shared Cinebench tests. The Xeon wins every head-to-head matchup, with deltas ranging from 11.0% to 11.5%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 720 against the Core i7-7700T's 646, a lead of 11.5%. The single-core R15 result tells a similar story: 101 versus 91, an 11.0% advantage.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 3001 multicore and 423 single-core, while the i7-7700T records 2692 and 380 respectively. The multicore delta is 11.5%, and the single-core delta is 11.3%. In the more demanding R23 workload, the Xeon reaches 7146 multicore and 1008 single-core. The i7-7700T trails at 6410 and 905, with deltas of 11.5% and 11.4%.

The consistency of these margins is notable. Every test lands within a narrow 0.5 percentage point band, which suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific. The Xeon's 11.5% multicore advantage in R15, R20, and R23 is nearly identical across all three generations of the Cinebench suite. Single-core deltas hover just slightly lower, at 11.0% to 11.4%. This pattern indicates a uniform clock-for-clock efficiency difference rather than a scaling advantage that grows with thread count.

The average benchmark score in the database places the Xeon at 2067, with an average rival score of approximately 2059 to 2076 depending on the comparison. The i7-7700T averages 2039, putting it just 1.4% behind the Xeon's aggregate. That small aggregate gap is somewhat misleading, since the head-to-head Cinebench results show a much wider 11%+ spread. The aggregate includes the i7-7700T's additional Geekbench results, which are not present in the Xeon's benchmark list. The Xeon's percentile standing is 46th among all CPUs, while the i7-7700T sits at 45th, a difference of one percentile point.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process node, and both feature four physical cores with eight threads. The cache hierarchy is identical in structure: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The similarities end there.

The Xeon E3-1585 v5 belongs to the Skylake-H generation, using the Skylake architecture with the BGA 1440 socket. It is a server and workstation part, and its integrated graphics are Iris Pro Graphics P580. The i7-7700T is a Kaby Lake desktop processor on Socket 1151, with the HD 630 integrated graphics. Both are locked parts with no unlocked multiplier.

The base clock differs significantly. The Xeon runs at 3.50 GHz base and boosts to 3.90 GHz. The i7-7700T starts at 2.90 GHz base and boosts to 3.80 GHz. That 0.60 GHz base clock gap, combined with a 0.10 GHz boost advantage for the Xeon, explains most of the benchmark delta. The Xeon also carries a 65 W TDP, while the i7-7700T is rated at 35 W, reflecting the desktop part's lower power envelope.

Memory support diverges as well. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, with dual-channel memory and 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The i7-7700T supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a higher 38.4 GB/s bandwidth figure. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the i7-7700T does not. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes.

The die and transistor data are only recorded for the Xeon: 2,300 million transistors on a 171 mm² die. No such figures are available for the i7-7700T in the database. The Xeon's production status is end-of-life, while the i7-7700T is listed as active. Release dates differ by roughly seven months, with the Xeon arriving in late May 2016 and the i7-7700T in early January 2017.

Where Each One Wins

The data does not show any test where the i7-7700T comes out ahead. In every recorded Cinebench workload, the Xeon E3-1585 v5 is faster. The Xeon's wins span both multicore and single-core scenarios, covering short render tasks (R15), modern render tasks (R20), and extended render tasks (R23).

The i7-7700T does have two Geekbench results in the database, which the Xeon lacks. The i7-7700T scores 3938 multicore and 1248 single-core on Geekbench. Those results cannot be directly compared to the Xeon, since no Geekbench score is recorded for the Xeon. They do, however, contribute to the i7-7700T's average benchmark score of 2039, which is only 28 points below the Xeon's 2067 average.

For users who prioritize raw Cinebench rendering performance, the Xeon is the clear choice based on the recorded data. The 11.5% multicore advantage in all three Cinebench versions is a decisive margin. The single-core lead of 11.0% to 11.4% is equally consistent, meaning the Xeon also wins in lightly threaded workloads. The i7-7700T's lower TDP of 35 W versus 65 W suggests a thermal advantage for the desktop part, though the database does not include thermal or power consumption measurements beyond the TDP figures.

The Xeon's market segment is server and workstation, while the i7-7700T is a desktop part. For a workstation build requiring ECC memory, the Xeon is the only option of the two, since ECC support is not available on the i7-7700T. For a desktop build with DDR4-only memory and no ECC requirement, the i7-7700T still loses on raw performance but offers a lower TDP and active production status.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 scores 7146, while the Intel Core i7-7700T scores 6410. The Xeon leads by 11.5%.

Q: Is the single-core performance gap similar to the multicore gap?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 101 versus 91, an 11.0% lead. In R20 single-core, it is 423 versus 380, an 11.3% lead. In R23 single-core, it is 1008 versus 905, an 11.4% lead.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads. They also share the same cache layout: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3.

Q: Does the i7-7700T support ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory support is listed as true only for the Xeon E3-1585 v5. The i7-7700T does not support ECC.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds?

A: The Xeon E3-1585 v5 runs at 3.50 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The i7-7700T runs at 2.90 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost.

Q: Which processor has the higher TDP?

A: The Xeon E3-1585 v5 has a 65 W TDP. The i7-7700T has a 35 W TDP.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded fields. The Xeon E3-1585 v5 uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the i7-7700T uses Intel Socket 1151. The Xeon is based on Skylake-H, while the i7-7700T is Kaby Lake. The generation field lists the Xeon as Xeon E3 (Skylake-H) and the i7-7700T as Core i7 (Kaby Lake).

Base clocks are 3.50 GHz for the Xeon and 2.90 GHz for the i7-7700T. Boost clocks are 3.90 GHz and 3.80 GHz respectively. TDP is 65 W versus 35 W. The Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i7-7700T supports only DDR4. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s for the Xeon and 38.4 GB/s for the i7-7700T. ECC support is present on the Xeon but absent on the i7-7700T.

Integrated graphics differ: Iris Pro Graphics P580 on the Xeon, HD 630 on the i7-7700T. The market segment is server and workstation for the Xeon, desktop for the i7-7700T. Production status is end-of-life for the Xeon and active for the i7-7700T. Release dates are May 30, 2016 for the Xeon and January 2, 2017 for the i7-7700T. The launch MSRP for the Xeon is $556; no launch MSRP is recorded for the i7-7700T. Transistor count and die size are listed only for the Xeon at 2,300 million transistors and 171 mm², with no data for the i7-7700T. Part numbers are SR2RB for the Xeon and SR339 for the i7-7700T.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 is the faster processor in every measured category. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins between 11.0% and 11.5%. The Xeon's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.90 GHz, combined with the same core and thread count, produce a consistent performance advantage across single-core and multicore workloads.

The Xeon is the appropriate choice for users who need ECC memory support, server or workstation features, and maximum Cinebench rendering performance. Its end-of-life production status and 65 W TDP are the trade-offs. The i7-7700T, with its 35 W TDP and active production status, is the lower-power desktop alternative, but the data shows it is slower in every shared benchmark. Users who prioritize low power consumption and a desktop socket may prefer the i7-7700T, but they should expect a roughly 11% performance deficit in rendering workloads. The i7-7700T does offer two Geekbench results in the database, which the Xeon lacks, so users comparing across that suite will have to rely on the i7-7700T's scores of 3938 multicore and 1248 single-core without a direct Xeon counterpart.