Intel Core i7-7820HK vs Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 across every shared Cinebench workload. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 723 against the Core i7-7820HK's 635, a 13.9% advantage. Single-core in R15 follows the same pattern: 102 versus 89, which is a 14.6% gap, the largest margin of any test in this comparison.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon again leads multicore with 3015 points over 2648, and single-core with 425 over 373. Both deltas sit at 13.9%. The story does not change in Cinebench R23 multicore: 7179 for the Xeon versus 6306 for the Core i7, a 13.8% difference. Single-core R23 shows 1013 against 890, another 13.8% margin. Across all six head-to-head tests, the Xeon wins every one. The wins are consistent in relative terms, with all deltas landing between 13.8% and 14.6%. That uniformity suggests the advantage is structural rather than workload-specific.

The average benchmark score places the Xeon at 2076, while the Core i7-7820HK scores 2048. The Xeon's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon W-2123, averages 2079, only 0.1% higher, so the Xeon sits essentially at parity with that workstation part. The Core i7-7820HK matches the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 exactly at 2048, and it trails the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U by 0.1% and the Intel Xeon E3-1275 v5 by 0.2%. Both CPUs occupy the 46th percentile among all processors in the database, meaning they are rated at the same overall performance tier despite the Xeon winning every direct comparison. The percentile is identical for each part, so the database treats them as comparable overall performance peers.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5-2628 v3 wins in every workload category where both were measured. Multicore rendering clearly favors the Xeon, and the margin is substantial enough to matter for anyone running sustained threaded workloads. The same holds for single-core tests, which is more surprising given the Core i7-7820HK has a higher base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 3.90 GHz compared to 2.50 GHz and 3.00 GHz. The Xeon's single-core lead in the data is not small, 13.9% to 14.6% depending on the Cinebench version, so even lightly threaded tasks show a real advantage for the Xeon in this pairing.

The Core i7-7820HK does bring capabilities the Xeon lacks. It has an unlocked multiplier and integrated Intel HD Graphics 630, which matters in mobile systems where a discrete GPU is not always present. It supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, making it flexible across different laptop platforms. The Xeon has no integrated graphics at all, so a workstation using it requires a separate display adapter. For a laptop builder prioritizing portability and chip flexibility, the Core i7-7820HK is the only option of the two that fits that design approach. The Xeon targets server and workstation markets with ECC memory support and quad-channel DDR4, while the Core i7-7820HK targets mobile users with dual-channel memory support.

In terms of pure benchmark performance, the Xeon wins all six recorded tests, so users seeking maximum compute throughput should favor the Xeon without hesitation. Users needing a mobile chip with graphics onboard will find the Core i7-7820HK to be the only practical candidate between the two.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher benchmark score in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 scores 7179, while the Intel Core i7-7820HK scores 6306. The Xeon wins by 13.8%.

Q: How does the single-core performance compare in Cinebench R15?

A: The Xeon E5-2628 v3 records 102 points, and the Core i7-7820HK records 89 points. The Xeon leads by 14.6% in this test.

Q: Are the two CPUs rated at the same overall performance percentile level?

A: Yes, both parts sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are close as well, 2076 for the Xeon and 2048 for the Core i7-7820HK.

Q: What is the closest rival to the Xeon E5-2628 v3 in the database?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2123 has an average score of 2079, which is 0.1% higher than the Xeon's 2076. The difference is less than 1% in either direction.

Q: Does the Core i7-7820HK have any performance advantage over the Xeon E5-2628 v3 in the head-to-head tests?

A: No, the Xeon wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Core i7-7820HK does not win a single recorded head-to-head test.

Q: Can the Core i7-7820HK support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported on the Core i7-7820HK. The Xeon E5-2628 v3 does support ECC memory as part of its server and workstation feature set.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i7-7820HK has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the Xeon E5-2628 v3 has a boost clock of 3.00 GHz.

Specification Differences

The Xeon E5-2628 v3 uses 8 cores and 16 threads, compared to the Core i7-7820HK's 4 cores and 8 threads. The Core i7 has double the cores and threads per socket. Base clocks differ as well, with the Core i7 at 2.90 GHz and the Xeon at 2.50 GHz, and boost clocks differ by 0.90 GHz, with the Core i7 at 3.90 GHz and the Xeon at 3.00 GHz. The Xeon has a TDP of 85 watts and the Core i7-7820HK has a TDP of 45 watts.

Sockets are entirely different: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3, and the Core i7-7820HK uses Intel BGA 1440. Memory channels differ as well, with the Xeon supporting quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Core i7-7820HK supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory with dual-channel memory support. PCIe lanes differ greatly, with the Xeon providing 40 lanes through its CPU-only setup and the Core i7-7820HK providing 16 lanes. ECC memory is present in the Xeon E5-2628 v3, while the Core i7 supports it as absent, and integrated graphics are present as Intel HD Graphics 630 in the Core i7-7820HK, but absent from the Xeon. The Core i7-7820HK has an unlocked multiplier set to true, while the Xeon is locked multiplier set to false.

Release dates differ by years: the Xeon was released in 2014, and the Core i7-7820HK was released in 2017. L3 cache sizes differ drastically: the Xeon includes 20 MB shared, while the L3 cache for the Core i7-7820HK is 8 MB shared, and L1 cache is 64 KB per core for both, and L2 cache is also 256 KB per core for both. DDR3 memory support is only present on the Core i7-7820HK, as the Xeon supports DDR4.

Architecture Differences

The Xeon E5-2628 v3 is based on the Haswell architecture, with the codename Haswell-EP, using a 22 nm process node from Intel, and the Core i7-7820HK uses a 14 nm process node with the architecture name Kaby Lake, with the codename Kaby Lake-H. The Xeon has 2,600 million transistors and a die size of 8 million transistors and a die size measurement of 126 mm². The Xeon has a die size of 356 mm², while the Core i7-7820HK has a 126 mm² die size, and the Core i7-7820HK has a smaller die size.

Cache differences are limited to total L3 memory, with the Xeon having 20 MB shared and the Core i7-7820HK having 8 MB shared, while L1 cache is 64 KB per core and L2 cache is 256 KB per core for both. The Xeon uses the Xeon E5 (Haswell-EP) generation, while the Core i7-7820HK uses the Core i7 (Kaby Lake-H) generation. The Xeon has a market segment of server and workstation, while the Core i7-7820HK is a mobile chip.

The Verdict

Benchmark results indicate the Xeon E5-2628 v3 is the faster processor in this head-to-head comparison. It wins all six Cinebench tests, with margins from 13.8% to 14.6% against the Core i7-7820HK. The Xeon achieves this with more cores and threads, 8 cores and 16 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads, and more L3 cache, 20 MB versus 8 MB. Its single-core advantage, despite lower clocks, points to efficiency differences in how each chip handles the workload. The Core i7-7820HK is better suited to mobile applications with its 45-watt TDP, integrated graphics, DDR3 and DDR4 memory support, and unlocked multiplier for enthusiasts looking for a chip that can be tuned for overclocking builds. Users building a server or workstation where ECC memory support matters should choose the Xeon E5-2628 v3.