Intel Core i7-7800X vs Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Core i7-7800X, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests.

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two processors?

A: The Xeon E5-1680 v3 leads by margins ranging from 2.1% to 2.5% across all tested benchmarks. The largest advantage is 2.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the smallest is 2.1% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and Cinebench R23 single-core.

Q: Do the two processors differ in core and thread counts?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i7-7800X has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads — a difference of two cores and four threads.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications for each processor?

A: The Core i7-7800X supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, whereas the Xeon E5-1680 v3 also supports quad-channel DDR4 but with a lower bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-7800X does not.

Q: How do the two processors compare in overall benchmark percentile ranking?

A: The Core i7-7800X sits at the 54th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 3333, while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 sits at the 53rd percentile with an average score of 3265.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-7800X is built on the Skylake-X architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses the older Haswell-EP architecture on a 22 nm process node. This generational gap is significant, as the Skylake-X design benefits from a more advanced manufacturing process, which typically allows for higher clock speeds at lower power draw per transistor.

The Xeon E5-1680 v3 compensates for its older node with a larger physical design: it packs 2,600 million transistors across a 356 mm² die. The Core i7-7800X's transistor count and die size are not specified in the available data, but the architectural differences are clear from the cache hierarchy. The Xeon features 20 MB of shared L3 cache, more than double the 8.25 MB shared L3 on the Core i7-7800X. Per-core L2 cache also differs: the Core i7-7800X has 1 MB per core, while the Xeon has 256 KB per core. Both processors allocate 64 KB of L1 cache per core.

Socket and platform support diverge substantially. The Core i7-7800X uses Intel Socket 2066, while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The Xeon provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, compared to 28 lanes on the Core i7-7800X. Both support quad-channel DDR4 memory, but the Core i7-7800X achieves a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s for the Xeon.

The Core i7-7800X is classified as a desktop processor in the Core i7 X-Series 7th Generation lineup, while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 targets the server and workstation segment. Both have unlocked multipliers, and both are end-of-life products. The Core i7-7800X was released on June 25, 2017, while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 arrived earlier on September 7, 2014.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 wins every single benchmark category in the head-to-head comparison, making it the clear performance leader in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. Its two additional cores and four additional threads give it a structural advantage in heavily parallel tasks like 3D rendering, video encoding, and scientific computing — the kinds of workloads that scale with core count.

However, the Core i7-7800X has its own advantages that make it the better choice in specific scenarios. Its higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 3.20 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz versus 3.80 GHz mean that in lightly threaded applications or workloads that respond primarily to clock speed, the Skylake-X part can keep pace despite its core deficit. The 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth is also notably higher, which can benefit memory-intensive applications that saturate the memory subsystem.

The Core i7-7800X also offers more PCIe lanes from the CPU in its platform configuration, though the Xeon's 40 lanes are a decisive advantage for workstation setups with multiple GPUs or high-speed storage arrays. The Xeon's ECC memory support makes it the more appropriate choice for mission-critical server environments where data integrity is paramount. The Core i7-7800X, as a desktop part, is better suited for gaming and general productivity where ECC is unnecessary and higher memory bandwidth can provide a tangible benefit.

For users on Socket 2066, the Core i7-7800X represents a more modern platform with a newer process node. For those already invested in Socket 2011-3 server infrastructure, the Xeon E5-1680 v3 slots into existing boards and provides superior multi-core throughput.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-7800X | Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Haswell |

| Codename | Skylake-X | Haswell-EP |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not specified | 2,600 million |

| Die Size | Not specified | 356 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8.25 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 68.3 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe Lanes | 28 (Gen 3, CPU only) | 40 (Gen 3, CPU only) |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2017-06-25 | 2014-09-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $383 | Not specified |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 wins all six comparisons, but the margins are remarkably consistent and narrow. The largest delta is 2.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 160 against the Core i7-7800X's 156. This is a modest advantage, but it shows that even in single-threaded performance — traditionally a strength of newer architectures — the older Haswell part edges out Skylake-X.

In multi-core workloads, the Xeon's two extra cores produce a consistent 2.1% to 2.2% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the Xeon at 1137 versus 1113 for the Core i7-7800X, a delta of 2.1%. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core: the Xeon scores 4741 against 4638, a 2.2% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the same trend, with the Xeon at 11289 and the Core i7-7800X at 11044, again a 2.2% gap.

Single-core results in the newer Cinebench versions tell a similar story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon leads 669 to 654, a 2.2% margin. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the Xeon at 1593 versus 1559 for the Core i7-7800X, a 2.1% difference. Notably, the Core i7-7800X has additional Geekbench scores — 6144 multi-core and 1352 single-core — that are not available for the Xeon, so those results cannot be directly compared.

The consistency of the deltas across all six benchmarks is striking. Whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, the Xeon E5-1680 v3 maintains a nearly uniform 2.1% to 2.5% lead. This suggests the Xeon's advantage comes from its broader core count combined with clock speeds close enough to the Core i7-7800X to avoid a significant single-thread penalty. The Core i7-7800X's higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz is not enough to overcome the Xeon's architectural and core-count advantages.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The Core i7-7800X averages 3333 with a 54th percentile ranking, while the Xeon E5-1680 v3 averages 3265 with a 53rd percentile ranking. The Core i7's higher average score is likely influenced by its additional Geekbench results, but in the directly comparable Cinebench tests, the Xeon is the victor across the board.