Intel Core i7-8560U vs Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 and the Intel Core i7-8560U are both 4-core, 8-thread processors built on Intel’s 14 nm process, but they target fundamentally different market segments. The Xeon E3-1240L v5 is a server/workstation part with ECC memory support, while the i7-8560U is a mobile chip with integrated graphics. Benchmark data from Cinebench shows that the i7-8560U wins all six head-to-head comparisons, though the margins are consistently narrow, ranging from -1.4% to -2.5%. The average benchmark score for the i7-8560U is 1631, edging out the Xeon’s 1609, placing both at the 39th percentile of all CPUs. The data reveals a close contest where architectural differences and platform features, rather than raw performance, are the primary differentiators.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark table shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-8560U, which claims victory in all six Cinebench tests. The largest margin is in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the i7-8560U scores 80 against the Xeon’s 78, a delta of -2.5%. The smallest margin is a -1.4% delta, appearing in four tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core (568 vs 560), R20 multi-core (2369 vs 2336), R23 multi-core (5641 vs 5564), and R23 single-core (796 vs 785). The i7-8560U also wins the R20 single-core test with a score of 334 versus 329, a -1.5% delta.

Despite losing every benchmark, the Xeon E3-1240L v5 is not without its own domain of advantage. Its market segment is listed as Server/Workstation, and it supports ECC memory, a feature the i7-8560U lacks. The Xeon also uses the Intel Socket 1151 platform, which is a desktop socket, whereas the i7-8560U is soldered to the Intel BGA 1528 mobile socket. For workloads that require error-correcting memory or a socketed server platform, the Xeon is the only choice, even if its Cinebench scores are slightly lower.

The i7-8560U’s wins are consistent but small. In multi-core tests, the delta is always -1.4%, indicating a stable performance advantage of roughly 8 to 77 points depending on the test. In single-core tests, the deltas are -2.5% (R15) and -1.5% (R20), showing that the mobile chip’s higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz (versus 3.20 GHz on the Xeon) translates into a measurable, if modest, lead in lightly-threaded work. The i7-8560U also benefits from a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s compared to the Xeon’s 34.1 GB/s, which may contribute to its edge in memory-sensitive tasks, though the benchmark data does not isolate this factor.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, though narrow, performance winner: the Intel Core i7-8560U. It outperforms the Xeon E3-1240L v5 in every Cinebench test, with its average benchmark score of 1631 sitting 22 points higher than the Xeon’s 1609. The i7-8560U’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2623 v3, which scores 1630 with a delta of 0.1%, while the Xeon E3-1240L v5’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-10610U at 1611 with a delta of -0.1%. Both CPUs sit at the 39th percentile, meaning they are squarely mid-pack in the overall CPU landscape.

For users who prioritize raw Cinebench performance and integrated graphics, the i7-8560U is the better pick. Its UHD Graphics 620 provides a display output, and its 15 W TDP is lower than the Xeon’s 25 W, making it suitable for mobile or low-power builds. The i7-8560U also has a significantly higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which explains its single-core wins.

The Xeon E3-1240L v5, however, is the only option for server or workstation deployments that require ECC memory. Its socketed design (Intel Socket 1151) allows for easier replacement or upgrade compared to the BGA-soldered i7-8560U. The Xeon also has a higher base clock of 2.10 GHz versus the i7-8560U’s 1.80 GHz, which could matter in sustained workloads where boost clocks cannot be maintained. Users who need a server-grade platform with error correction should choose the Xeon, accepting a 1.4-2.5% performance deficit in Cinebench as the cost of that feature set.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive win for the Intel Core i7-8560U comes in the Cinebench R15 single-core test. Here, the i7-8560U scores 80, while the Xeon E3-1240L v5 manages only 78, yielding a -2.5% delta. This is the largest margin in either direction across all six tests. The R20 single-core test shows a similar pattern, with the i7-8560U at 334 and the Xeon at 329, a -1.5% delta. These single-core results align with the clock speed disparity: the i7-8560U boosts to 4.60 GHz, while the Xeon tops out at 3.20 GHz.

In multi-core workloads, the i7-8560U’s advantage narrows to a consistent -1.4% delta. The R15 multi-core test shows 568 versus 560, the R20 multi-core test shows 2369 versus 2336, and the R23 multi-core test shows 5641 versus 5564. The absolute point differences are 8, 33, and 77, respectively, but the percentage delta remains constant, indicating a proportional scaling advantage. The i7-8560U’s higher memory bandwidth (38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s) may help in these tests, though both CPUs share the same L3 cache size of 8 MB and identical L1 and L2 cache configurations.

The Xeon E3-1240L v5’s best showing is in the R23 single-core test, where it trails by only 11 points (785 versus 796), still a -1.4% delta. Across all six benchmarks, the Xeon never wins a single test, and its highest score in any test is 5564 in R23 multi-core. The i7-8560U’s highest score is 5641 in the same test. The data shows a consistent performer in the i7-8560U, with all deltas falling in a tight band between -1.4% and -2.5%, suggesting that the mobile chip’s architectural refinements (Whiskey Lake versus Skylake) provide a small but repeatable edge.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U has a higher average benchmark score of 1631, compared to the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5’s 1609. This places the i7-8560U slightly ahead, though both sit at the 39th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the Xeon E3-1240L v5 win any Cinebench tests?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Intel Core i7-8560U winning all six Cinebench tests, with the Xeon E3-1240L v5 losing by deltas ranging from -1.4% to -2.5%.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest gap is in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the Intel Core i7-8560U scores 80 versus the Xeon’s 78, a -2.5% delta. All other tests show a smaller margin.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-8560U does not. This is a key differentiator for server or workstation use.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 has a TDP of 25 W, while the Intel Core i7-8560U has a lower TDP of 15 W. The i7-8560U is the more power-efficient part.

Q: How do their boost clocks compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, significantly higher than the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5’s 3.20 GHz. The Xeon has a higher base clock of 2.10 GHz versus the i7-8560U’s 1.80 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel architectures. The Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 is based on the Skylake architecture (codename Skylake-DT) and belongs to the Xeon E3 generation. The Intel Core i7-8560U uses the Whiskey Lake architecture (codename Whiskey Lake-U) and belongs to the Core i7 generation. Both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process, but the Whiskey Lake design is newer, with a release date of 2018-09-30 versus the Xeon’s 2015-10-18.

The cache hierarchy is identical: each core has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Both CPUs support dual-channel DDR3 and DDR4 memory, though the i7-8560U has a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s compared to the Xeon’s 34.1 GB/s. The i7-8560U also includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 620, while the Xeon E3-1240L v5 has no integrated graphics listed.

The most significant platform differences lie in socket and memory support. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 1151, which is a socketed desktop platform, while the i7-8560U is a mobile part soldered to Intel BGA 1528. The Xeon supports ECC memory, making it suitable for error-sensitive server workloads, whereas the i7-8560U does not. Both CPUs provide PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon has a transistor count of 1,750 million and a die size of 122 mm², while those figures are not listed for the i7-8560U. The Xeon’s market segment is Server/Workstation, and it has a launch MSRP of $278, while the i7-8560U is a Mobile part with no launch MSRP listed. Both are end-of-life products, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.