Intel Core i7-7820HK vs Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-7820HK and Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 are both 4-core, 8-thread Intel processors, but they target entirely different segments: the former is an unlocked mobile chip for high-end laptops, while the latter is a server/workstation part for socketed desktops. Despite the Core i7’s newer Kaby Lake architecture, the benchmark data shows a consistent and decisive performance advantage for the Xeon in every single test, despite the two processors having identical average benchmark scores of 2048 and identical 46th percentile rankings among all CPUs. The Xeon E3-1270 v5 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with the Core i7-7820HK trailing by roughly 11% across the board.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E3-1270 v5 dominates every workload category, both multi-threaded and single-threaded. In Cinebench R15, the Xeon scores 713 points in multi-core, while the Core i7-7820HK manages 635, a delta of -10.9% for the mobile chip. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story: the Xeon hits 100, while the Core i7 scores 89, an 11% deficit.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the gap remains consistent. The Xeon E3-1270 v5 posts 2974 in multi-core versus 2648 for the Core i7-7820HK, again an 11% difference. Single-core R20 results show 419 for the Xeon and 373 for the Core i7, another 11% lead for the server part. The pattern holds in the most recent Cinebench R23 test: the Xeon scores 7082 multi-core and 999 single-core, while the Core i7-7820HK trails with 6306 and 890, respectively. The deltas are -11% and -10.9%.

What is notable is the consistency of the margin. Across six tests spanning three versions of Cinebench, the performance gap hovers tightly between 10.9% and 11%, never wavering. This suggests the advantage is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental clock-speed and power-delivery advantage. The Xeon’s higher base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz, compared to the Core i7’s 2.90 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost, directly translate into a nearly uniform speedup in both lightly-threaded and fully-loaded scenarios.

The Geekbench results are only available for the Core i7-7820HK, which scores 4173 multi-core and 1273 single-core, but no comparable Xeon scores exist in the data for that test. Still, the Cinebench sweep is unambiguous. Notably, the average benchmark score for both parts is identical at 2048, and the nearest rival list places them at a 0% deltaPct from each other. This parity in aggregate score masks the fact that the Xeon wins every individual benchmark in the head-to-head set, while the Core i7’s Geekbench numbers pull its average up to match.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 713 in R15, 2974 in R20, and 7082 in R23, while the Core i7-7820HK scores 635, 2648, and 6306, respectively. The Xeon leads by 11% in each case.

Q: Is the Core i7-7820HK competitive in single-threaded performance?

A: No. The Xeon E3-1270 v5 wins every single-core test as well. The Xeon scores 100 in R15, 419 in R20, and 999 in R23, while the Core i7 scores 89, 373, and 890. The gap is consistently between 10.9% and 11%.

Q: Why does the Xeon perform better despite being an older architecture?

A: The data shows the Xeon has a substantial clock advantage. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz and boost clock is 4.00 GHz, versus the Core i7-7820HK’s 2.90 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost. The Xeon also has a higher 80W TDP, while the Core i7 is limited to 45W, which allows the server chip to sustain higher performance.

Q: Do the two processors have the same cache configuration?

A: Yes. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. They also both support dual-channel DDR3 and DDR4 memory.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 supports ECC memory. The Core i7-7820HK does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: They are exactly equal. Both processors have an average benchmark score of 2048 and a percentile ranking of 46 among all CPUs. Their nearest rivals list them with a 0% deltaPct from each other.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel microarchitectures. The Core i7-7820HK is built on Kaby Lake, specifically the Kaby Lake-H variant, while the Xeon E3-1270 v5 uses Skylake, designated Skylake-DT. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process node at Intel’s foundry. The Core i7 has a die size of 126 mm², while the Xeon is slightly smaller at 122 mm². The Xeon’s transistor count is listed as 1,750 million, while no transistor count is provided for the Core i7.

The most significant architectural divergence is in market segment and power envelope. The Core i7-7820HK is a mobile processor with a 45W TDP, designed for high-performance laptops. The Xeon E3-1270 v5 is a server/workstation part with an 80W TDP, allowing it to run at much higher sustained clocks. This is reflected in the base clocks: 2.90 GHz for the Core i7 versus 3.60 GHz for the Xeon. Boost clocks are closer, at 3.90 GHz and 4.00 GHz, respectively, but the Xeon still holds the edge.

The Core i7-7820HK includes integrated graphics in the form of Intel HD Graphics 630, while the Xeon E3-1270 v5 has no integrated graphics at all. The Core i7 also has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, whereas the Xeon has a locked multiplier. Both processors use the same PCIe configuration: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Memory support is also identical, with both supporting DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, though the Xeon additionally lists a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

The sockets are entirely different. The Core i7-7820HK uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile socket, while the Xeon E3-1270 v5 uses Intel Socket 1151, a desktop/server socket. The Core i7’s part number is SR32P, and the Xeon’s is SR2LF. The release dates differ by over a year: the Core i7 was released in January 2017, while the Xeon launched in October 2015. Both parts are end-of-life.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal: the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded. Across six Cinebench tests, it beats the Core i7-7820HK by a consistent 11% margin, in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The identical average benchmark scores of 2048 for both chips obscure this fact, but the head-to-head results show the Xeon winning all six comparisons, with the Core i7 winning none.

Pick the Intel Core i7-7820HK if you need a mobile processor with integrated graphics and an unlocked multiplier. Its 45W TDP is suited for laptops, and it includes Intel HD Graphics 630, which the Xeon lacks entirely. The unlockable multiplier offers overclocking potential, but the base performance is squarely behind the Xeon.

Pick the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 if raw performance is the priority and you can accommodate an 80W TDP in a desktop socket. It is faster in every measured test, supports ECC memory, and offers higher clock speeds out of the box. The lack of integrated graphics is a non-issue for server/workstation builds with discrete GPUs. The Xeon’s locked multiplier is a minor drawback, but its stock performance already exceeds the Core i7’s.

The choice comes down to platform, not capability. On a pure performance-per-benchmark basis, the Xeon E3-1270 v5 is the clear winner. The Core i7-7820HK’s only advantages are its mobility, integrated graphics, and overclocking headroom, none of which show up as a win in the head-to-head benchmark data.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-7820HK | Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45W | 80W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Skylake |

| Codename | Kaby Lake-H | Skylake-DT |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 122 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,750 million |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 34.1 GB/s |

| ECC Support | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 630 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | January 2017 | October 2015 |

| Launch MSRP | $378 | $339 |

| Unlocked Multiplier | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SR32P | SR2LF |