Intel Core i7-7820HK vs Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-7820HK and the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 are both 4-core, 8-thread processors from Intel, but they serve fundamentally different market segments. The i7-7820HK is a mobile part designed for high-performance laptops, while the Xeon E3-1240 v5 is a server and workstation chip. The recorded data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the Xeon winning all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, though the i7-7820HK retains advantages in platform features like integrated graphics and an unlocked multiplier. The average benchmark scores are close: 2048 for the Core i7 and 2030 for the Xeon, placing them in adjacent performance percentiles (46th and 45th, respectively).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-7820HK has an average benchmark score of 2048, which is slightly higher than the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5's score of 2030. The i7-7820HK also sits at the 46th percentile of all CPUs, one point above the Xeon's 45th percentile.

Q: Does the Xeon E3-1240 v5 support ECC memory?

A: Yes. The Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server and workstation stability. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-7820HK does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in their power envelopes?

A: The Intel Core i7-7820HK has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 has a TDP of 80 watts. This reflects the mobile nature of the Core i7 versus the socketed, higher-power design of the Xeon.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-7820HK includes integrated graphics, specifically Intel HD Graphics 630. The Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output.

Q: Are these processors from the same architecture generation?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-7820HK is based on Kaby Lake (codename Kaby Lake-H), while the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 is based on Skylake (codename Skylake-DT). Both use the same 14 nm process node from Intel.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 scores 991 points, which is 10.2% higher than the Intel Core i7-7820HK's score of 890 points in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two CPUs is defined by their intended platforms. The Intel Core i7-7820HK is a Kaby Lake-H mobile processor, built for high-end laptops, while the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 is a Skylake-DT server and workstation part. Both are fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process, but the die sizes differ slightly: the Core i7 measures 126 mm², whereas the Xeon is 122 mm². The Xeon's transistor count is listed at 1,750 million, a figure not provided for the mobile chip.

The core and cache configurations are identical on paper. Both processors have 4 cores and 8 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The memory controllers also match, supporting DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. However, the Xeon E3-1240 v5 lists a specific memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Core i7-7820HK does not have a recorded memory bandwidth figure.

The most significant architectural divergence is in the feature set. The i7-7820HK includes Intel HD Graphics 630, making it a self-contained mobile platform. It also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, which is a hallmark of enthusiast mobile parts. The Xeon E3-1240 v5, by contrast, has no integrated graphics, a locked multiplier, and supports ECC memory. This positions the Xeon as a reliability-focused part for error-correcting workloads, whereas the Core i7 prioritizes consumer flexibility and graphics capability.

The sockets further differentiate the platforms: the Core i7 uses Intel BGA 1440, a ball-grid array soldered directly to the motherboard, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard LGA socket for desktop and workstation boards. This means the Xeon is a replaceable, socketed CPU, while the Core i7 is typically non-upgradeable. The production status for both is listed as end-of-life, and their release dates are about 15 months apart: the Xeon launched in late 2015, and the Core i7 followed in early 2017.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 wins every performance benchmark recorded in the database. Across all Cinebench versions (R15, R20, and R23), it outperforms the Core i7-7820HK in both multi-core and single-core tests by a consistent margin of about 10%. This makes the Xeon the clear choice for raw compute throughput, particularly in server or workstation environments where sustained multi-threaded workloads are common.

The Intel Core i7-7820HK, despite losing all six head-to-head tests, holds advantages in platform features that matter for its target market. Its integrated Intel HD Graphics 630 means a laptop based on this chip does not require a separate GPU for basic display output. The unlocked multiplier enables overclocking, which can partially offset the performance gap in scenarios where the user is willing to push the silicon. Its 45-watt TDP is significantly lower than the Xeon's 80-watt envelope, making it better suited for thin-and-light, high-performance notebooks.

In terms of market positioning, the Xeon E3-1240 v5 is the better option for error-correcting memory workloads, thanks to ECC support. The Core i7-7820HK is the better option for mobile users who need a powerful CPU with built-in graphics and overclocking headroom. The data shows that the Xeon is the superior raw performer, but the Core i7 wins on portability and integrated feature set.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Base Clock: Intel Core i7-7820HK has a base clock of 2.90 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz.
• TDP: The Core i7-7820HK is rated at 45 watts, the Xeon E3-1240 v5 at 80 watts.
• Socket: The Core i7-7820HK uses Intel BGA 1440, the Xeon E3-1240 v5 uses Intel Socket 1151.
• Architecture / Codename: Kaby Lake (Kaby Lake-H) for the Core i7, Skylake (Skylake-DT) for the Xeon.
• Die Size: 126 mm² for the Core i7, 122 mm² for the Xeon.
• Transistors: The Xeon E3-1240 v5 lists 1,750 million transistors; no figure is recorded for the Core i7.
• Memory Bandwidth: The Xeon lists 34.1 GB/s, while the Core i7 has no recorded value.
• ECC Memory: Supported on the Xeon, not supported on the Core i7.
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 630 on the Core i7, none on the Xeon.
• Market Segment: Mobile for the Core i7, Server/Workstation for the Xeon.
• Release Date: The Core i7 was released in early 2017, the Xeon in late 2015.
• Multiplier Unlocked: Yes for the Core i7, no for the Xeon.
• Part Number: SR32P for the Core i7, SR2LD for the Xeon.
• Launch MSRP: The Core i7-7820HK had a launch MSRP of $378, and the Xeon E3-1240 v5 had a launch MSRP of $282.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 wins all six tests, with a consistent performance advantage of approximately 10% over the Intel Core i7-7820HK. The largest single-core margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Xeon scores 416 versus the Core i7's 373, a delta of 10.3%. This edge is mirrored in multi-core results: Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the Xeon at 2948 points against 2648 for the Core i7, a 10.2% difference.

In Cinebench R15, the Xeon scores 707 multi-core and 99 single-core, compared to 635 and 89 for the Core i7, respectively. This translates to deltas of 10.2% and 10.1%. The most recent benchmark, Cinebench R23, continues the trend: the Xeon records 7020 multi-core and 991 single-core, while the Core i7 manages 6306 and 890, both exactly 10.2% behind.

The consistency of these deltas (ranging from 10.1% to 10.3%) suggests a systematic performance difference rather than workload-specific variance. This is likely attributable to the Xeon's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 2.90 GHz, even though both processors share the same 3.90 GHz boost clock. The Xeon's higher sustained clock rate, combined with its larger 80-watt TDP, allows it to maintain better performance under load. The Core i7-7820HK's lower TDP constrains its sustained output, despite the architectural similarity and identical core/thread counts.

The average benchmark scores reflect this gap, though they compress it: the Core i7's average of 2048 is slightly above the Xeon's 2030, because the Core i7 has Geekbench results (4173 multi-core, 1273 single-core) that are not present in the Xeon's benchmark set. The Xeon's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-5775R and Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5, with average scores within a fraction of a percent. The Core i7-7820HK's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 with an identical average score of 2048, indicating that the mobile chip holds its own in the broader performance ranking, even though it loses to this specific Xeon in direct comparison.