Intel Core i7-7800X vs Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clear, consistent sweep in the head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 wins all six recorded benchmark tests against the Intel Core i7-7800X, though the margins are narrow in every case. The largest single advantage appears in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the Xeon scores 160 against the Core's 156, a delta of -2.5 percent from the Core's perspective. That is the widest gap recorded across the entire comparison.

Multi-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1137 versus 1113 for the Core, a -2.1 percent delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 4739 for the Xeon and 4638 for the Core, again a -2.1 percent delta. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test yields 11285 for the Xeon and 11044 for the Core, holding the same -2.1 percent margin. Single-core results in R20 and R23 are similarly tight: 669 versus 654 (-2.2 percent) in R20, and 1593 versus 1559 (-2.1 percent) in R23.

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Across six tests, the Xeon's advantage never exceeds 2.5 percent and never drops below 2.1 percent. This suggests a stable, systematic performance edge rather than a workload-specific anomaly. The Xeon's 8 cores and 16 threads, compared to the Core's 6 cores and 12 threads, likely contribute to the multi-core wins, while the Xeon's single-core victories indicate that its slightly lower base and boost clocks (3.20 GHz and 3.80 GHz versus 3.50 GHz and 4.00 GHz) do not translate into a disadvantage in lightly threaded work.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this picture. The Core i7-7800X has an average score of 3333, placing it in the 54th percentile of all CPUs. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 has an average score of 3264, placing it in the 53rd percentile. Despite the Xeon winning every head-to-head test, its overall average is lower, which reflects how the database aggregates across a broader set of workloads and generations. The Core's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon D-1587 (average 3350, delta -0.5 percent), the Intel Core i5-11400T (average 3309, delta 0.7 percent), and two AMD parts at 3303 (delta 0.9 percent). The Xeon's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 (average 3265, delta 0 percent), the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2516 (average 3277, delta -0.4 percent), and the Intel Core i3-12100T (average 3277, delta -0.4 percent). These values show that both CPUs sit in a crowded mid-range band where percentage differences between adjacent parts are small.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for raw benchmark performance: the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 is the faster part in every recorded test. Its wins range from 2.1 percent to 2.5 percent, which is a modest but consistent margin. For users who prioritize maximum Cinebench scores, whether single-core or multi-core, the Xeon is the choice based on these measurements.

The Intel Core i7-7800X does not win a single head-to-head test in the database. However, its average benchmark score is higher (3333 versus 3264), and its percentile ranking is one point higher (54th versus 53rd). This means that in the broader database context, the Core sits slightly higher relative to all CPUs, even though it loses to the Xeon in the direct comparison. The Core also carries a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 3.20 GHz) and boost clock (4.00 GHz versus 3.80 GHz), which may benefit certain workloads not captured in the six head-to-head tests.

The verdict depends on the use case. If the workload is dominated by the specific Cinebench tests recorded here, the Xeon E5-1660 v4 is the superior processor. If the user values the higher average standing in the database, the Core i7-7800X offers a slightly better overall profile. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the Core does not, which matters for systems requiring error-correcting memory. The Core has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon does not, which matters for overclocking. Neither advantage appears in the benchmark scores, but both are recorded in the specifications.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 wins all six recorded head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from -2.1 percent to -2.5 percent from the Core's perspective.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 160 versus the Core's 156, a -2.5 percent delta.

Q: Does the Core i7-7800X have any benchmark advantage?

A: In the head-to-head tests, no. However, the Core has a higher average benchmark score (3333 versus 3264) and a higher percentile ranking (54th versus 53rd) in the database.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The Core has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Xeon has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory configuration?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory with a quad-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Xeon additionally supports ECC memory; the Core does not.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Xeon has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Core has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several core specifications. The Core i7-7800X has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-1660 v4 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks differ: 3.50 GHz for the Core, 3.20 GHz for the Xeon. Boost clocks differ: 4.00 GHz for the Core, 3.80 GHz for the Xeon. The Core uses Intel Socket 2066, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The Core's L2 cache is 1 MB per core; the Xeon's is 256 KB per core. The Core's L3 cache is 8.25 MB shared; the Xeon's is 20 MB shared. The Core has 28 PCIe lanes (Gen 3, CPU only); the Xeon has 40 PCIe lanes (Gen 3, CPU only). The Core does not support ECC memory; the Xeon does. The Core has an unlocked multiplier; the Xeon does not. The Core is part of the Core i7 X-Series 7th Gen with Skylake-X architecture; the Xeon is part of the Xeon E5 Broadwell-EP family. The Core's part number is SR3L4; the Xeon's is SR2PK. The Core's launch MSRP is $383; the Xeon's launch MSRP is $1113. The Core was released on 2017-06-25; the Xeon on 2016-06-19. The Xeon has recorded transistor count (3,400 million) and die size (246 mm²); the Core has no recorded values for either.

Architecture Differences

The Core i7-7800X is built on the Skylake architecture with the Skylake-X codename, using a 14 nm process node from Intel. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 is built on the Broadwell architecture with the Broadwell-EP codename, also using a 14 nm process node from Intel. Both CPUs come from Intel's foundry. The Xeon has a documented transistor count of 3,400 million and a die size of 246 mm²; no such data is recorded for the Core.

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The Core has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Xeon has 256 KB per core. The Core's L3 cache is 8.25 MB shared; the Xeon's is 20 MB shared. These differences reflect the distinct design goals: the Core emphasizes higher per-core clocks with a smaller L3, while the Xeon provides more cores and a much larger shared L3.

Memory support is identical in type and bandwidth: both use DDR4 with a quad-channel bus and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon adds ECC memory support, which the Core lacks. PCIe lane counts differ: the Core provides 28 lanes (Gen 3, CPU only), while the Xeon provides 40 lanes (Gen 3, CPU only). The Core has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking; the Xeon's multiplier is locked. The Xeon supports a higher maximum thread count due to its 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Core's 6 cores and 12 threads offer fewer concurrent threads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 wins in every recorded Cinebench test, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads across R15, R20, and R23. Its performance advantage ranges from 2.1 percent to 2.5 percent, which is consistent but small. For users running Cinebench-style rendering tasks, the Xeon is the better performer based on the data.

The Intel Core i7-7800X wins in the broader database context, with a higher average benchmark score (3333 versus 3264) and a higher percentile rank (54th versus 53rd). Its higher base and boost clocks (3.50 GHz and 4.00 GHz versus 3.20 GHz and 3.80 GHz) may provide an edge in workloads that are not covered by the six head-to-head tests, though the recorded data does not show such an advantage directly. The Core also has an unlocked multiplier, which allows manual overclocking, a feature the Xeon lacks.

For ECC memory requirements, the Xeon is the only option, as it supports ECC while the Core does not. For PCIe expansion, the Xeon offers 40 lanes versus the Core's 28 lanes, which may matter for systems with many add-in cards or NVMe devices. For users who prioritize the highest single-threaded or multi-threaded Cinebench scores, the Xeon is the clear winner. For users who value a higher average standing among all CPUs, or who plan to overclock, the Core i7-7800X is the more attractive part. The recorded data gives the Xeon the benchmark crown, but the Core holds a slight edge in the aggregate database ranking.