Intel Core i7-8706G vs Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers six Cinebench tests, and the Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 wins every single one. The margin is consistent but narrow across the board, ranging from a 2.1% advantage in the Cinebench R20 single-core test to a 2.3% edge in three separate tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, and R23 multi-core.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 656 against 641 for the Core i7-8706G, a delta of 2.3%. The single-core variant of the same test shows 92 versus 90, a 2.2% win. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 2735 versus 2674, again a 2.3% gap, while the single-core result is 385 versus 377, a 2.1% gap. In the newest Cinebench R23 suite, the multi-core score is 6512 versus 6368, a 2.3% lead, and the single-core score is 919 versus 899, a 2.2% lead.

What stands out is the uniformity of the margin. The Xeon does not pull away in any one workload; instead, it maintains a stable, roughly two-point-percent advantage across all six measurements. This suggests the performance difference is structural, tied to the underlying design of each chip, rather than a quirk of any single benchmark. The average benchmark score for the Xeon is 1883, while the Core i7-8706G sits at 1842, a difference of 41 points or about 2.2%.

In terms of global percentile ranking, the Xeon places at the 43rd percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Core i7-8706G places at the 42nd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Xeon include the Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 with an average score of 1882 and a delta of 0.1%, the Intel Xeon D-1531 at 1885 with a delta of -0.1%, and the Intel Processor U300 at 1881 with a delta of 0.1%. The Core i7-8706G's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-7600 at 1844 with a delta of -0.1%, the AMD Athlon Gold PRO 3150G at 1836 with a delta of 0.4%, and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U at 1832 with a delta of 0.6%.

The data shows that both processors are extremely close in raw CPU throughput. The Xeon's wins are real but small, and any user switching between these two parts would be unlikely to perceive the difference in everyday tasks without precise instrumentation.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-DT, and is fabricated on a 14 nm process at Intel. Its die size is recorded at 182 mm². The Core i7-8706G uses the Kaby Lake architecture, specifically Kaby Lake G, also on a 14 nm process, but its die size is not recorded in the database.

Both chips have 4 cores and 8 threads, and both have the same per-core cache layout: 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The difference appears in the shared L3 cache. The Xeon has 6 MB of shared L3, while the Core i7-8706G has 8 MB of shared L3, a 2 MB advantage for the mobile part. Despite this larger cache, the Core i7-8706G still loses in every benchmark, indicating that the cache size does not translate into a performance win in Cinebench workloads.

The memory support differs significantly. The Xeon supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory, which is typical for a server or workstation part. The Core i7-8706G supports DDR4 memory, but the database does not list a memory bus width or bandwidth figure for it, and it does not support ECC.

The sockets are completely different. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1150, a desktop-style socket, while the Core i7-8706G uses Intel BGA 2270, a ball-grid array soldered to the motherboard. The Xeon carries a PCIe configuration of Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i7-8706G has no PCIe data recorded.

The thermal design power differs as well. The Xeon has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Core i7-8706G has a TDP of 65 watts. This is notable because the Core i7-8706G is a mobile part, yet it draws more power than the server-oriented Xeon. The Xeon also lacks integrated graphics entirely, while the Core i7-8706G includes a Radeon RX Vega M GL integrated GPU.

The production status also differs. The Xeon's production status is not recorded, while the Core i7-8706G is listed as "Active." The release dates are three years apart: the Xeon was released in June 2015, and the Core i7-8706G was released in January 2018.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-8706G has a base clock of 3.10 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz. The Core i7 is 0.10 GHz higher in this metric.

Q: Does the Xeon E3-1270L v4 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon supports ECC memory. The Core i7-8706G does not support ECC, which makes the Xeon the appropriate choice for error-correcting memory configurations.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size between the two?

A: The Core i7-8706G has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Xeon E3-1270L v4 has 6 MB. The Core i7 has a 2 MB larger L3 cache, yet it still loses in all recorded Cinebench comparisons.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: The Core i7-8706G includes a Radeon RX Vega M GL integrated GPU. The Xeon E3-1270L v4 has no integrated graphics, meaning it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon has an average benchmark score of 1883, while the Core i7-8706G has an average score of 1842. The Xeon leads by 41 points, which corresponds to roughly a 2.2% advantage.

Q: Is the Core i7-8706G still in production?

A: The database lists the Core i7-8706G as "Active" in production status. The Xeon E3-1270L v4 does not have a recorded production status.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specifications. The base clock is 3.00 GHz for the Xeon and 3.10 GHz for the Core i7-8706G. The boost clock is 3.60 GHz for the Xeon and 4.10 GHz for the Core i7-8706G, a 0.50 GHz advantage for the mobile part.

The TDP is 45 watts for the Xeon and 65 watts for the Core i7-8706G. The socket is Intel Socket 1150 for the Xeon and Intel BGA 2270 for the Core i7-8706G. The architecture is Broadwell for the Xeon and Kaby Lake for the Core i7-8706G, with codenames Broadwell-DT and Kaby Lake G respectively.

The process node is 14 nm for both, but the die size is 182 mm² for the Xeon and not recorded for the Core i7-8706G. The L3 cache is 6 MB shared for the Xeon and 8 MB shared for the Core i7-8706G. Memory support is DDR3 for the Xeon and DDR4 for the Core i7-8706G. The memory bus is dual-channel for the Xeon and not recorded for the Core i7-8706G. Memory bandwidth is 29.9 GB/s for the Xeon and not recorded for the Core i7-8706G.

ECC memory support is true for the Xeon and false for the Core i7-8706G. The PCIe configuration is Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the Xeon and not recorded for the Core i7-8706G. Integrated graphics are absent for the Xeon and present as Radeon RX Vega M GL for the Core i7-8706G. The market segment is Server/Workstation for the Xeon and Mobile for the Core i7-8706G. The release date is June 2015 for the Xeon and January 2018 for the Core i7-8706G. The part number is SR2AZ for the Xeon and not recorded for the Core i7-8706G. The production status is not recorded for the Xeon and Active for the Core i7-8706G. The multiplier is not unlocked for either chip.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, winner in raw CPU performance. The Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests with margins between 2.1% and 2.3%. Its average benchmark score of 1883 is 41 points higher than the Core i7-8706G's 1842. The Xeon also holds a slightly higher global percentile ranking at 43rd versus 42nd.

However, the Core i7-8706G is not without its own advantages in the recorded data. It has a higher base clock (3.10 GHz versus 3.00 GHz), a substantially higher boost clock (4.10 GHz versus 3.60 GHz), and a larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB). It also includes integrated graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely.

The choice depends on the use case. For a server or workstation environment where ECC memory support is required and the system will have a discrete GPU, the Xeon is the better choice based on its slightly higher benchmark scores and lower TDP of 45 watts. For a mobile system where integrated graphics are necessary and the higher boost clock might be leveraged in bursty workloads, the Core i7-8706G is the more appropriate part, despite its lower benchmark scores.

The Xeon's wins are consistent, but they are small. The Core i7-8706G's higher clocks and cache did not translate into a single benchmark victory, which suggests that the Xeon's architectural efficiency in Cinebench outweighs the raw clock and cache advantages of the Kaby Lake part.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 wins in every recorded CPU benchmark. It is ahead by 2.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, R20 multi-core, and R23 multi-core. It is ahead by 2.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core and R23 single-core, and by 2.1% in Cinebench R20 single-core. Users who prioritize raw multi-core throughput for rendering or simulation workloads should favor the Xeon based on these results.

The Xeon also wins in power efficiency at the CPU level, with a TDP of 45 watts versus 65 watts for the Core i7-8706G. This is a 20-watt difference, making the Xeon the more power-conscious choice for sustained compute workloads, especially in a server context.

The Core i7-8706G wins in areas outside of the Cinebench results. It has the higher base and boost clocks, which could benefit single-threaded tasks that are not captured in these specific benchmarks. It has 2 MB more L3 cache, which may help in workloads with larger working sets. It has integrated graphics, allowing for a system without a discrete GPU. It supports DDR4 memory, which is more modern than the Xeon's DDR3. It is listed as Active in production, while the Xeon's status is not recorded.

The Core i7-8706G is the only one of the two with a mobile market segment designation, and its BGA 2270 socket confirms it is designed for soldered, compact systems. The Xeon's Socket 1150 implies a replaceable, desktop-style installation.

In summary, the Xeon is the benchmark winner across all six tests and the lower-power option. The Core i7-8706G is the higher-clocked, more feature-rich mobile part with integrated graphics and DDR4 support. The recorded data favors the Xeon for pure CPU performance, but the Core i7-8706G offers capabilities that the Xeon does not.