Intel Core i7-8706G vs Intel Xeon D-1537 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8706G and Intel Xeon D-1537 occupy opposite ends of Intel’s product spectrum, yet their benchmark results are remarkably close. The data shows the i7-8706G, a mobile Kaby Lake-G part with a Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics engine, edges out the Xeon D-1537, a Broadwell-DE server chip, in every single Cinebench test. The wins are narrow, with deltas ranging from 0.5% to 0.7%, but they are consistent across all six head-to-head comparisons. This makes the matchup less about raw performance dominance and more about what each processor sacrifices to achieve its position.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most substantial margin comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i7-8706G scores 899 against the Xeon D-1537’s 893, a delta of 0.7%. This is the largest percentage gap in the entire comparison, and it reflects the i7-8706G’s higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz compared to the Xeon’s 2.30 GHz. The R20 single-core test tells a similar story: 377 for the i7-8706G versus 375 for the Xeon, a 0.5% advantage. These single-threaded results are decisive in the i7-8706G’s favor, even though both chips post identical 90-point scores in Cinebench R15 single-core, a tie that the data credits to the i7-8706G due to rounding in the delta calculation.

Multicore performance is where the Xeon D-1537’s 8 cores and 16 threads should theoretically flex its muscles against the i7-8706G’s 4 cores and 8 threads. Yet the benchmark results show the opposite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-8706G scores 641 versus 637, a 0.6% lead. The R20 multicore test repeats the pattern: 2674 for the i7-8706G, 2657 for the Xeon, again a 0.6% delta. The R23 multicore benchmark is the closest of the bunch, with the i7-8706G at 6368 and the Xeon at 6327, still a 0.6% edge for the mobile chip. Across all three multicore tests, the i7-8706G maintains a lead that is small but unbroken, suggesting that its higher per-core clock speeds more than compensate for the Xeon’s doubled core count in these workloads.

The overall average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The i7-8706G holds an average score of 1842, while the Xeon D-1537 sits at 1830. The nearest rivals list for the i7-8706G includes the Intel Core i5-7600 at 1844 (a -0.1% delta) and the AMD Athlon Gold PRO 3150G at 1836 (a 0.4% delta), placing it in a tight cluster of mid-range desktop and mobile parts. The Xeon D-1537, by contrast, is bracketed by the Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 at 1830 (0% delta) and the Intel Core i7-4790S at 1827 (0.1% delta), showing it competes with older enthusiast desktop silicon despite its server pedigree. Both processors land at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are statistically indistinguishable in overall standing.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if nuanced, conclusion. The Intel Core i7-8706G wins every benchmark in this comparison, from single-core to multicore, and does so with margins that, while small, are consistent. For users prioritizing raw Cinebench performance, the i7-8706G is the superior choice. It achieves this with a 65W TDP, a mobile form factor, and integrated Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics, making it a versatile option for compact systems that need both CPU and GPU capability. Its 3.10 GHz base clock and 4.10 GHz boost clock are the key drivers of its success, delivering higher frequencies than the Xeon at every point.

The Xeon D-1537, however, is not without its own rationale. Its 35W TDP is significantly lower, making it the more power-efficient part, a critical factor in dense server environments or fanless embedded designs. It also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i7-8706G, and offers dual-channel DDR3 and DDR4 memory support, whereas the i7-8706G only lists DDR4. The Xeon’s 8 cores and 16 threads provide headroom for highly parallel workloads that do not scale linearly in Cinebench, and its server market segment implies a focus on stability and throughput over single-threaded responsiveness. For a workstation or network appliance that runs sustained multi-threaded tasks and requires error-correcting memory, the Xeon D-1537’s feature set outweighs its slight performance deficit.

In short, the i7-8706G is the winner on pure benchmark scores, but the Xeon D-1537 wins on platform attributes like ECC support and power draw. The choice hinges on whether those attributes matter more than a 0.5-0.7% performance edge.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher Cinebench R23 multicore score?

A: The Intel Core i7-8706G scores 6368, while the Intel Xeon D-1537 scores 6327, giving the i7-8706G a 0.6% lead.

Q: Does the Xeon D-1537 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon D-1537 has ECC memory support, while the Intel Core i7-8706G does not.

Q: What is the difference in core count between the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i7-8706G has 4 cores and 8 threads, whereas the Intel Xeon D-1537 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-8706G has an average benchmark score of 1842, and the Intel Xeon D-1537 has an average of 1830, a difference of 0.6% in favor of the i7-8706G.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1537 has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-8706G has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Are there any benchmark tests where the Xeon D-1537 wins?

A: No. In all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i7-8706G is the winner, with zero wins for the Xeon D-1537.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge sharply on core configuration. The Intel Core i7-8706G offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon D-1537 doubles that to 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds also differ significantly: the i7-8706G runs at a 3.10 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost, whereas the Xeon D-1537 has a 1700.00 MHz base and 2.30 GHz boost. The TDP gap is notable, with the i7-8706G drawing 65 watts against the Xeon’s 35 watts. Socket compatibility separates them entirely: the i7-8706G uses Intel BGA 2270, and the Xeon D-1537 uses Intel BGA 1667.

Memory support is another differentiator. The i7-8706G supports only DDR4, while the Xeon D-1537 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus. The Xeon also includes ECC memory support, which the i7-8706G lacks. Integrated graphics are present only on the i7-8706G, which features a Radeon RX Vega M GL GPU; the Xeon D-1537 has no integrated graphics. The Xeon offers PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only), a spec not listed for the i7-8706G. Market segments reflect their intended use: the i7-8706G is a Mobile part, while the Xeon D-1537 is a Server/Workstation processor. Both are currently Active in production and have locked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

Architecturally, these are two distinct Intel designs. The Intel Core i7-8706G is built on Kaby Lake architecture with the codename Kaby Lake G, representing the Core i7 generation. The Intel Xeon D-1537 uses Broadwell architecture with the codename Broadwell, part of the Xeon D (Broadwell-DE) generation. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process node at Intel’s foundry, but the Xeon D-1537 is a larger and more complex die: it contains 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die size, while the i7-8706G does not have transistor or die size data listed.

Cache hierarchies are similar at the L1 and L2 levels, with both chips providing 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache configuration differs: the i7-8706G uses an 8 MB shared L3 cache, while the Xeon D-1537 allocates 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core. This per-core allocation is typical of server designs that prioritize consistent access latency across many cores, whereas the shared cache on the i7-8706G benefits its fewer, faster cores. The i7-8706G’s integrated Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics is a major architectural addition absent from the Xeon, which relies on external GPUs or headless operation. The Xeon D-1537’s support for both DDR3 and DDR4, combined with ECC, indicates a broader memory compatibility strategy aimed at legacy and reliability-focused deployments, while the i7-8706G’s DDR4-only support aligns with its mobile, consumer-oriented design.