Intel Core i7-8705G vs Intel Xeon W-2123 Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2123 and Intel Core i7-8705G are both 4-core, 8-thread Intel processors from the 14 nm era, but they target completely different segments: the Xeon is a server/workstation part for Socket 2066, while the i7 is a mobile chip for BGA 2270. Benchmark results show the Xeon W-2123 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with advantages ranging from 11% to 12.1%. However, both processors sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs and have nearly identical average benchmark scores (2079 vs 2058), meaning the performance gap is consistent but not transformative. The Xeon W-2123 is the clear choice for workstation builds that need ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, and 48 PCIe lanes. The i7-8705G is the only option for a compact mobile platform, though its data shows lower scores in every measured test, and it lacks the Xeon's server-grade features. If you are building a socketed workstation, the Xeon W-2123 is the superior pick; if you need an integrated mobile solution, the i7-8705G is the only one of the two that fits that role.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward split. For anyone assembling a Socket 2066 workstation, the Intel Xeon W-2123 is the only sensible choice between these two. It wins every single head-to-head benchmark by a margin of at least 11%, and it brings ECC memory support, quad-channel memory, and 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes — features that the i7-8705G simply does not have. The Xeon also has a higher base clock (3.60 GHz vs 3.10 GHz) and a larger shared L3 cache (8.25 MB vs 8 MB), though its boost clock is lower (3.90 GHz vs 4.10 GHz). The i7-8705G, on the other hand, is a mobile part with integrated Intel HD Graphics 630, a 65 W TDP, and a compact BGA 2270 socket. If your build requires that form factor or those power characteristics, the i7 is your only option here, but you are accepting a performance deficit in every Cinebench test. Neither chip is unlocked, and both are end-of-life, so this is about picking the right tool for the platform, not the raw speed champion. The Xeon W-2123 is the workstation winner; the i7-8705G is the mobile fallback.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8705G boosts to 4.10 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Xeon W-2123's 3.90 GHz boost clock. However, this does not translate to a single-core benchmark win — the Xeon still leads in Cinebench R23 single-core with 1014 points versus 912 points.

Q: Does the Xeon W-2123 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon W-2123 has ECC memory support. The Intel Core i7-8705G does not support ECC memory. This is a critical differentiator for workstation reliability workloads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Xeon W-2123 uses a quad-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-8705G uses a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon's bandwidth is more than double, which matters for memory-intensive tasks.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does each processor provide?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2123 provides 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Core i7-8705G provides only 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. This makes the Xeon far more suitable for multiple GPUs or high-speed storage expansion.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the Intel Xeon W-2123 and the Intel Core i7-8705G have the multiplier locked. Neither offers overclocking flexibility.

Q: Which processor has a better average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2123 has an average benchmark score of 2079, while the Intel Core i7-8705G has an average score of 2058. The difference is roughly 1%, which is negligible in overall terms, despite the Xeon's consistent wins in Cinebench tests.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is clear from the codenames: the Xeon W-2123 uses Skylake-W, while the i7-8705G uses Kaby Lake G. Both are built on Intel's 14 nm process node, but they diverge in physical design. The Xeon W-2123 has a die size of 484 mm², which is significantly larger than the i7-8705G's 125 mm² die. The Xeon also has a larger L2 cache at 1 MB per core, compared to the i7's 256 KB per core. Both have the same 64 KB L1 cache per core. The Xeon has 8.25 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7 has 8 MB.

Memory architecture differs substantially. The Xeon W-2123 supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-8705G supports dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i7. PCIe capabilities are another major divergence: the Xeon has 48 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the i7 has only 8 Gen 3 lanes. The i7-8705G includes integrated Intel HD Graphics 630, whereas the Xeon W-2123 has no integrated graphics. The Xeon targets the server/workstation market, while the i7 is a mobile part. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 2066, and the i7 uses Intel BGA 2270. Release dates also differ, with the Xeon arriving on 2017-08-28 and the i7 on 2018-01-06.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several key specification fields. The Xeon W-2123 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, while the i7-8705G has a base clock of 3.10 GHz. However, the i7 has a higher boost clock at 4.10 GHz versus the Xeon's 3.90 GHz. The Xeon has a TDP of 120 W, while the i7 has a TDP of 65 W — a significant power draw difference. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 2066, and the i7 uses Intel BGA 2270. Their architectures differ: Skylake-W versus Kaby Lake. The Xeon has a die size of 484 mm², while the i7 has a die size of 125 mm². L2 cache is 1 MB per core on the Xeon versus 256 KB per core on the i7. L3 cache is 8.25 MB shared on the Xeon versus 8 MB shared on the i7. Memory bus is quad-channel on the Xeon and dual-channel on the i7. Memory bandwidth is 85.3 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the Xeon but not on the i7. PCIe lanes are 48 on the Xeon versus 8 on the i7. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the i7 has Intel HD Graphics 630. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $294, and the i7 has no listed launch MSRP. The Xeon's market segment is Server/Workstation, and the i7's is Mobile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon W-2123 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with no wins for the i7-8705G. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 724 against the i7's 651, a delta of 11.2%. In R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 102 versus 91, a delta of 12.1%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon scores 3019 multicore versus 2714, again an 11.2% delta, and 425 single-core versus 383, an 11% delta. In Cinebench R23, the Xeon scores 7189 multicore versus 6464, an 11.2% delta, and 1014 single-core versus 912, an 11.2% delta. The largest percentage win for the Xeon is in R15 single-core at 12.1%, while the smallest is in R20 single-core at 11%. The pattern is consistent: the Xeon leads by roughly 11% across all workloads, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded. The i7's higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz does not help it in single-core tests — the Xeon still leads in every single-core benchmark. The i7 does have additional Geekbench results not present for the Xeon, with a multicore score of 3968 and single-core score of 1277, but since the Xeon lacks those tests, they cannot be directly compared.

The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The Xeon W-2123 has an average score of 2079, while the i7-8705G has an average of 2058. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-9350KF (2082, -0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 (2086, -0.3% delta). The i7-8705G's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-10105T (2058, 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (2059, -0.1% delta). Both processors sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs, which means they are roughly equivalent in overall standing despite the Xeon's consistent Cinebench wins.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon W-2123 wins in every measured compute benchmark. It is ahead by 11.2% in Cinebench R15 multicore, 12.1% in R15 single-core, 11.2% in R20 multicore, 11% in R20 single-core, 11.2% in R23 multicore, and 11.2% in R23 single-core. This means the Xeon is the better choice for any CPU-bound rendering, encoding, or simulation task where those Cinebench workloads are representative. Beyond raw compute, the Xeon wins on platform features: it has quad-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, ECC support, and 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. These features make it the only viable choice for a workstation that needs large memory throughput, error-correcting memory for stability, or multiple expansion cards. The Xeon also has a larger L2 cache (1 MB per core) and a larger die (484 mm²), which may indicate more robust internal resources for sustained workloads.

The Intel Core i7-8705G has no benchmark wins in this comparison, but it wins in platform flexibility for mobile systems. It has a 65 W TDP, which is nearly half the Xeon's 120 W, making it suitable for compact or battery-powered designs. It includes integrated Intel HD Graphics 630, so it does not require a discrete GPU for basic display output. Its BGA 2270 socket is soldered, which means it is designed for thin laptops or all-in-one systems where the Xeon's Socket 2066 cannot fit. The i7 also has a higher boost clock at 4.10 GHz, though that does not translate to a performance win in the measured benchmarks. If the use case is a low-power mobile device with integrated graphics, the i7-8705G is the only option between the two. For everything else — especially any workstation task that benefits from ECC, quad-channel memory, or extensive PCIe connectivity — the Xeon W-2123 is the definitive winner based on this data.