Intel Core i7-8700T vs Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 Comparison

Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 and Intel Core i7-8700T represent two very different philosophies for low-power computing: one is a 10-core server chip from the Haswell-EP era built for sustained throughput, while the other is a 6-core desktop part from Coffee Lake engineered for efficiency within a 35 W envelope. The benchmark data shows a surprisingly consistent pattern, with the older Xeon edging out the newer Core i7 across every single Cinebench test, despite its lower clock speeds and older architecture. This analysis explores what those numbers mean, where each processor has a legitimate claim to superiority, and why the data might not tell the whole story.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking finding is the uniformity of the Xeon's victory. Across six Cinebench tests spanning three generations of the benchmark (R15, R20, and R23), the Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 wins every round with a deltaPct that hovers tightly between 8.1% and 8.3%. In the multicore R15 test, the Xeon scores 949 against the Core i7-8700T's 876, an 8.3% gap. That same 8.3% margin repeats in R20 multicore (3955 vs 3653) and R23 multicore (9417 vs 8698). The consistency is remarkable; it suggests the Xeon's advantage is structural rather than workload-specific.

Single-core results tell a slightly more nuanced story. The Xeon wins R15 single-core by 8.1% (133 vs 123), R20 single-core by 8.3% (558 vs 515), and R23 single-core by 8.2% (1329 vs 1228). Here is where the data gets interesting: the Core i7-8700T has a 4.00 GHz boost clock, while the Xeon's boost is just 2.50 GHz. Yet the Xeon still wins single-threaded performance by a significant margin. This is counterintuitive and worth questioning — either the Cinebench single-core tests are not scaling with raw clock speed, or the Xeon's older architecture is somehow more efficient per clock in this specific workload. The data does not explain why, but it is clear that clock frequency alone does not determine the outcome.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the picture. The Xeon E5-2628L v3 averages 2724 across all its benchmarks, while the Core i7-8700T averages 2701. That is a razor-thin 0.9% difference in aggregate, yet the head-to-head results show a much larger 8%+ gap in every Cinebench test. The i7-8700T has additional Geekbench scores (5168 multicore, 1343 single-core) that are not available for the Xeon, which likely pulls its average closer. This suggests that the two CPUs are far more comparable in overall performance than the Cinebench head-to-head implies.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the Xeon E5-2628L v3 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, one might assume it is simply the better processor. However, the winsA count of 6 and winsB count of 0 only tells part of the story. The Xeon's wins are all in Cinebench, which measures rendering and compute throughput. For workloads that resemble Cinebench's multi-threaded rendering tasks, the Xeon's 20 threads (10 cores) provide a clear advantage over the i7-8700T's 12 threads (6 cores). The 8.3% multicore margin is direct evidence of this.

The Core i7-8700T's advantages are not visible in the head-to-head data but are evident in the specification differences. It has a 4.00 GHz boost clock versus the Xeon's 2.50 GHz, which should translate to faster responsiveness in lightly-threaded tasks, even if Cinebench single-core does not show it. The i7-8700T also includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, meaning a system built around it does not require a discrete GPU for basic display output. The Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. For a desktop or small-form-factor build, this is a practical win for the i7-8700T that no benchmark score can capture.

Power consumption is another domain where the i7-8700T wins decisively, though the data only shows the 35 W TDP versus the Xeon's 75 W TDP. The i7-8700T uses less than half the power budget, which translates to lower cooling requirements and potentially quieter operation. The Xeon's 75 W TDP is low for a 10-core server chip, but it is still more than double the i7's draw. For always-on or thermally constrained systems, the i7-8700T is the clear choice.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two CPUs is substantial. The Xeon E5-2628L v3 is built on Intel's 22 nm Haswell-EP process, with a die size of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. The Core i7-8700T uses the newer 14 nm Coffee Lake process with a much smaller 154 mm² die. The node shrink explains how the i7-8700T achieves higher clocks (4.00 GHz boost) at a fraction of the power (35 W TDP). The Xeon's larger die and older process necessitate a lower 2.50 GHz boost to stay within its 75 W TDP.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. Both CPUs share the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) cache, but the Xeon has 25 MB of shared L3 cache versus the i7-8700T's 12 MB. That is more than double the last-level cache, which helps the Xeon feed its 10 cores and 20 threads. The i7-8700T's smaller cache is adequate for 6 cores but would likely become a bottleneck if it had more.

Memory support marks another major divergence. The Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 with a theoretical memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s; the i7-8700T is dual-channel with 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server and workstation reliability. The i7-8700T does not support ECC. The Xeon further offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 16 on the i7-8700T, making the Xeon far more suitable for multi-GPU or high-I/O workloads. The Xeon's socket is Intel Socket 2011-3, while the i7-8700T uses Socket 1151 — they are not interchangeable.

FAQ

Q: Why does the Xeon E5-2628L v3 win every Cinebench test despite having a much lower boost clock?

A: The Xeon has 10 cores and 20 threads versus 6 cores and 12 threads on the i7-8700T, providing 66% more parallel threads. Additionally, the Xeon has 25 MB of L3 cache versus 12 MB, and quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth versus dual-channel 42.7 GB/s. These advantages appear to outweigh the 1.5 GHz boost clock deficit in Cinebench workloads.

Q: Is the Core i7-8700T a better choice for everyday desktop use?

A: The data shows the i7-8700T has a 4.00 GHz boost clock, a 35 W TDP, and integrated UHD Graphics 630. The Xeon has no integrated graphics and a 75 W TDP. For tasks that do not scale with 20 threads, the i7-8700T's higher clock speed and lower power draw make it more practical for desktop builds, though its Cinebench scores are 8% lower.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 supports ECC memory. The Core i7-8700T does not have ECC support, which is a key consideration for systems requiring data integrity.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon E5-2628L v3 has an average benchmark score of 2724, while the Core i7-8700T averages 2701. That is a 0.9% difference in favor of the Xeon. The i7-8700T has additional Geekbench scores (5168 multicore, 1343 single-core) not available for the Xeon, which affects the average comparison.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The Xeon E5-2628L v3 supports quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i7-8700T supports dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon offers approximately 40% higher theoretical memory bandwidth.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Xeon E5-2628L v3 has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i7-8700T has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon provides 2.5 times the lane count, enabling more expansion cards.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 outperforms the Intel Core i7-8700T in every Cinebench test, with margins between 8.1% and 8.3%. If raw compute throughput in rendering-style workloads is the sole criterion, the Xeon is the better processor. Its 10 cores, 20 threads, 25 MB L3 cache, quad-channel memory, and ECC support make it a formidable server or workstation part despite its 2014 release date and 22 nm process.

However, the data also shows why the Core i7-8700T is not a loser. Its 4.00 GHz boost clock, 35 W TDP, integrated graphics, and smaller 154 mm² die on 14 nm technology make it a far more efficient and practical choice for desktop systems. The i7-8700T's average benchmark score of 2701 is only 0.9% behind the Xeon's 2724, indicating that in a broader range of tests, the two are nearly equal. The i7-8700T also includes Geekbench scores in its profile, suggesting it has been tested in more diverse scenarios.

The choice comes down to workload and platform. A server or workstation requiring ECC memory, multi-GPU support, or high memory bandwidth should pick the Xeon E5-2628L v3. A desktop user who values low power consumption, integrated graphics, and high single-thread clocks should pick the Core i7-8700T. The Xeon wins the benchmark war; the i7-8700T wins the efficiency and practicality battle.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in the following specification fields, with all values taken directly from the data:

• Cores: Xeon E5-2628L v3 has 10 cores; Core i7-8700T has 6 cores.
• Threads: Xeon has 20 threads; i7-8700T has 12 threads.
• Base Clock: Xeon runs at 2000.00 MHz; i7-8700T at 2400.00 MHz.
• Boost Clock: Xeon boosts to 2.50 GHz; i7-8700T boosts to 4.00 GHz.
• TDP: Xeon is rated at 75 W; i7-8700T at 35 W.
• Socket: Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3; i7-8700T uses Intel Socket 1151.
• Architecture: Xeon is Haswell-EP (22 nm); i7-8700T is Coffee Lake (14 nm).
• Die Size: Xeon measures 356 mm²; i7-8700T measures 154 mm².
• Transistors: Xeon has 2,600 million; i7-8700T has no listed transistor count.
• L3 Cache: Xeon has 25 MB shared; i7-8700T has 12 MB shared.
• Memory Bus: Xeon is quad-channel; i7-8700T is dual-channel.
• Memory Bandwidth: Xeon provides 59.7 GB/s; i7-8700T provides 42.7 GB/s.
• ECC Memory: Xeon supports ECC; i7-8700T does not.
• PCIe Lanes: Xeon offers Gen 3, 40 lanes; i7-8700T offers Gen 3, 16 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: Xeon has none; i7-8700T has UHD Graphics 630.
• Market Segment: Xeon is Server/Workstation; i7-8700T is Desktop.
• Release Date: Xeon launched 2014-09-07; i7-8700T launched 2018-04-01.
• Launch MSRP: Xeon launched at $1364; i7-8700T has no listed launch MSRP.
• Part Number: Xeon is SR1XZ; i7-8700T is SR3WX.