CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-7820X and Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 are both end-of-life Intel processors aimed at very different segments, yet their benchmark averages land them within a fraction of a percent of each other. The data shows a curious case where a desktop part with fewer cores and higher clocks trades blows with a server chip packing more than twice the core count, with the Xeon ultimately taking every single head-to-head benchmark by a narrow margin.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are strikingly consistent across all six Cinebench tests, with the Xeon E5-4669 v3 winning every single comparison by a margin between 1.4% and 1.7%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 1493 against the i7-7820X’s 1469, a delta of -1.6% from the perspective of the Core part. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story: the Xeon edges ahead with 210 points versus 207, a 1.4% advantage, the smallest gap of any test.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon extends its lead slightly in both metrics. In multicore, it posts 6222 against 6121, while in single-core it wins 878 to 863, a 1.7% margin that represents the largest delta in the entire comparison. The R23 results mirror the R15 pattern almost exactly: the Xeon takes multicore with 14815 over 14576 and single-core with 2091 over 2057, both at a 1.6% difference.

What makes these numbers particularly notable is that the i7-7820X has a massive clock speed advantage on paper, with a 3.60 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost versus the Xeon’s 2.10 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. Yet the Xeon’s 18 cores and 36 threads, versus 8 cores and 16 threads, more than compensate in multicore workloads, and even in single-core tests the Xeon holds a slight edge despite its lower frequency. The average benchmark scores confirm the overall parity: the i7-7820X averages 4321 across its benchmark suite, while the Xeon averages 4285, a difference of just 0.8% in favor of the Core processor when considering all tests including Geekbench, which the Xeon does not have results for.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different architectural generations and design philosophies. The i7-7820X is built on the Skylake-X architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the Xeon E5-4669 v3 is a Haswell-EP part fabricated on a larger 22 nm node. This generational gap is reflected in the die size: the Xeon’s die measures 662 mm², a substantial piece of silicon that houses 18 cores, whereas the i7-7820X’s die size is not listed in the data.

Cache configurations differ dramatically between the two. Both allocate 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache tells a different story: the i7-7820X provides 1 MB per core, while the Xeon offers only 256 KB per core. The shared L3 cache heavily favors the Xeon, which packs 45 MB shared across all cores, compared to the i7-7820X’s 11 MB shared. This 34 MB difference in last-level cache is a critical differentiator for server workloads that rely on large working sets.

The platforms themselves are incompatible. The i7-7820X uses Intel Socket 2066, while the Xeon E5-4669 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. Both support DDR4 memory in quad-channel configurations, but the memory bandwidth ratings differ: the i7-7820X is rated at 85.3 GB/s, while the Xeon manages 68.3 GB/s. The Xeon supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i7-7820X, and both processors offer PCIe Gen 3 connectivity, with the Xeon providing 40 lanes versus the i7-7820X’s 28 lanes.

The i7-7820X is an unlocked part, meaning the multiplier can be adjusted for overclocking, while the Xeon is locked. The Xeon also carries a dual part number (SR22M QH9B), suggesting engineering sample or multiple stepping identifiers, while the i7-7820X uses a single SR3L5 designation. The market positioning further separates them: the i7-7820X is a desktop processor from the Core i7 X-Series 7th Generation, while the Xeon E5-4669 v3 is explicitly a server/workstation part from the Haswell-EP generation.

Where Each One Wins

The data paints a clear picture of the Xeon E5-4669 v3 winning every Cinebench test, but the margins are so slim that the practical implications depend heavily on workload type. The Xeon’s victories in single-core tests, despite a 1.60 GHz lower base clock and 1.60 GHz lower boost clock, are the most surprising result. This suggests the Haswell-EP architecture, combined with its massive 45 MB L3 cache, delivers better per-thread performance than the clock speed advantage of the Skylake-X part would indicate.

For multicore workloads, the Xeon’s 18 cores and 36 threads provide a natural advantage that the benchmark results confirm, even though the margin is only 1.6% in R15 and R23 multicore tests. The i7-7820X does not win a single head-to-head benchmark in the data, yet its average benchmark score across all tests including Geekbench is 4321, which is 0.8% higher than the Xeon’s 4285 average. This discrepancy arises because the i7-7820X has Geekbench multicore and single-core scores (7855 and 1422 respectively) that are not matched by the Xeon, which lacks Geekbench results entirely.

In practical terms, the i7-7820X’s higher clock speeds and unlocked multiplier make it better suited for lightly threaded desktop applications where overclocking can extract additional performance, while the Xeon’s core count and ECC support position it for memory-intensive server workloads. The Xeon’s 40 PCIe lanes also give it an edge in configurations requiring multiple high-bandwidth devices. The i7-7820X’s higher memory bandwidth rating of 85.3 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s could benefit memory-sensitive tasks, though the Xeon’s larger cache may offset this in cache-friendly workloads.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every fundamental specification. The core count stands as the most significant divergence: the i7-7820X offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-4669 v3 provides 18 cores and 36 threads, more than double. Clock speeds favor the i7-7820X substantially, with a 3.60 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost against the Xeon’s 2.10 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. Thermal design power is similar, with the i7-7820X rated at 140 W and the Xeon at 135 W.

The process node separates them by a generation, with the i7-7820X on 14 nm versus the Xeon’s 22 nm. Cache hierarchies differ as noted: L2 cache is 1 MB per core on the i7-7820X versus 256 KB per core on the Xeon, while L3 cache is 11 MB shared versus 45 MB shared respectively. The Xeon’s die size of 662 mm² is listed, while the i7-7820X’s is not available. ECC memory support is exclusive to the Xeon, and the PCIe lane count favors the Xeon at 40 lanes versus 28 lanes. The i7-7820X has an unlocked multiplier; the Xeon does not. The i7-7820X launched on 2017-06-25 with an MSRP of $599, while the Xeon launched earlier on 2015-05-31 with an MSRP of $7007. Both processors are end-of-life and share the same market segment classification for their respective categories: Desktop for the i7-7820X and Server/Workstation for the Xeon.

FAQ

Q: Which processor won the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 won all six Cinebench head-to-head tests, taking R15 multicore (1493 vs 1469), R15 single-core (210 vs 207), R20 multicore (6222 vs 6121), R20 single-core (878 vs 863), R23 multicore (14815 vs 14576), and R23 single-core (2091 vs 2057).

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-7820X has an average benchmark score of 4321, which is 0.8% higher than the Xeon E5-4669 v3’s average of 4285. This is because the i7-7820X includes Geekbench results (7855 multicore, 1422 single-core) that the Xeon does not have.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Xeon E5-4669 v3 has 18 cores and 36 threads, while the i7-7820X has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having more than double the cores, the Xeon only leads by 1.6% in Cinebench R23 multicore.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E5-4669 v3 supports ECC memory, while the i7-7820X does not. Both processors use DDR4 memory in a quad-channel configuration, but the i7-7820X has a higher memory bandwidth rating of 85.3 GB/s versus the Xeon’s 68.3 GB/s.

Q: What are the socket requirements for each processor?

A: The i7-7820X uses Intel Socket 2066, while the Xeon E5-4669 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. These sockets are not interchangeable, and the processors also differ in PCIe lane count, with the Xeon offering 40 lanes versus 28 lanes on the i7-7820X.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The i7-7820X has significantly higher clock speeds with a 3.60 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost, compared to the Xeon’s 2.10 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. The i7-7820X also has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Xeon is locked.