Intel Core i7-8706G vs Intel Xeon E5-1620 v4 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data from the database shows a remarkably consistent picture: the Intel Core i7-8706G wins every single recorded Cinebench test against the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v4. The margins are narrow but uniform, which suggests a fundamental per-clock advantage rather than any workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-8706G scores 641 against the Xeon's 627, a 2.2% advantage. The single-core result is nearly identical in percentage terms: 90 versus 88, a 2.3% edge for the i7. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The i7-8706G posts 2674 multi-core and 377 single-core, while the Xeon E5-1620 v4 manages 2616 and 369 respectively. That is again a 2.2% lead in multi-core and a 2.2% lead in single-core.

The most recent Cinebench R23 results tell the same story. The i7-8706G reaches 6368 multi-core and 899 single-core. The Xeon E5-1620 v4 finishes at 6230 multi-core and 879 single-core. The deltas are 2.2% and 2.3% respectively. Across all six benchmark comparisons, the i7-8706G wins every time, with six wins recorded and zero for the Xeon.

The average benchmark score in the database puts the i7-8706G at 1842, with the Xeon at 1802. That is a raw gap of 40 points, or roughly 2.2%, which aligns perfectly with the per-test deltas. Both processors sit at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically close in overall standing despite the consistent per-test edge for the i7.

For context, the nearest rivals to the i7-8706G include the Intel Core i5-7600 at an average score of 1844, which is only 0.1% ahead, and the AMD Athlon Gold PRO 3150G at 1836, which is 0.4% behind. The Xeon E5-1620 v4 sits near the Intel Core i3-9100 at 1806 (0.2% ahead) and the Intel Core i3-9320 at 1808 (0.4% ahead). These surrounding scores reinforce that both chips occupy a similar performance tier, with the i7 holding a slim but repeatable advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-8706G wins outright in every benchmark category recorded in the database. That includes both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads across three different Cinebench versions. The largest relative win is in single-core tests, where the delta reaches 2.3% in both R15 and R23. In multi-core tests, the lead sits at a steady 2.2% across all three versions.

What does this mean in practice? For workloads that depend heavily on single-thread performance, such as older games, lightly threaded productivity apps, or daily desktop responsiveness, the i7-8706G holds a measurable edge. The 2.3% single-core advantage is small but consistent, and it appears in both older and newer Cinebench releases.

For multi-threaded rendering or encoding tasks, the i7-8706G again leads, but only by 2.2%. This is a narrow margin. In a real-world render that takes an hour, the i7 would finish roughly a minute or two earlier. That is not a transformative difference, but it is a real one.

The Xeon E5-1620 v4 does not claim a single win in the recorded benchmarks. Its only potential advantages lie outside raw compute performance, namely in platform features like ECC memory support, quad-channel memory bandwidth, and a much higher TDP envelope that suggests it can sustain heavy loads in a workstation chassis. But strictly from the benchmark data, the i7-8706G is the faster processor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and target different platforms. The Intel Core i7-8706G uses the Kaby Lake G architecture on a 14 nm process node. It is a mobile part, soldered to an Intel BGA 2270 socket, and it includes integrated Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics. The Xeon E5-1620 v4 uses the Broadwell-EP architecture, also on a 14 nm node, but it is a desktop workstation processor for Intel Socket 2011-3.

Both chips have 4 cores and 8 threads, so thread counts are identical. The cache layouts differ slightly. The i7-8706G has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has the same L1 and L2 sizes per core, but its L3 is 10 MB shared, giving it a 2 MB larger last-level cache.

Clock speeds tell a more interesting story. The i7-8706G runs at a base clock of 3.10 GHz and boosts to 4.10 GHz. The Xeon E5-1620 v4 has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz, but its boost clock is only 3.80 GHz. So the i7 starts lower but boosts 0.30 GHz higher. That higher boost clock likely explains the i7's consistent single-core wins despite the Xeon's higher base frequency.

The Xeon also carries a significantly larger transistor count and die size. It is listed at 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The i7's transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database. The Xeon supports quad-channel memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, whereas the i7's memory bus and bandwidth figures are not listed. ECC memory is supported on the Xeon but not on the i7.

Power and thermals differ sharply. The i7-8706G has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Xeon E5-1620 v4 draws 140 watts. That is more than double the thermal design power. The Xeon is also marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i7 is still active. The i7's integrated graphics are a major differentiating feature; the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-8706G. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 90 versus the Xeon's 88, and in R23 it scores 899 versus 879. Both are 2.3% advantages.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads. The differences appear in clock speeds, cache size, memory support, and platform features.

Q: Does the Xeon E5-1620 v4 support ECC memory?

A: Yes. The Xeon E5-1620 v4 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-8706G does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i7-8706G has a TDP of 65 watts. The Xeon E5-1620 v4 has a TDP of 140 watts. That is more than double the power envelope.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The i7-8706G boosts to 4.10 GHz. The Xeon E5-1620 v4 boosts to 3.80 GHz. The i7's boost is 0.30 GHz higher.

Q: Are there any benchmark categories where the Xeon wins?

A: No. The recorded data shows the i7-8706G winning all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with zero wins for the Xeon.

Specification Differences

The database records the following differences between the two processors:

• Base clock: The i7-8706G runs at 3.10 GHz. The Xeon runs at 3.50 GHz.
• Boost clock: The i7-8706G boosts to 4.10 GHz. The Xeon boosts to 3.80 GHz.
• TDP: The i7-8706G is rated at 65 watts. The Xeon is rated at 140 watts.
• Socket: The i7-8706G uses Intel BGA 2270. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3.
• Architecture: The i7-8706G is Kaby Lake G. The Xeon is Broadwell-EP.
• L3 cache: The i7-8706G has 8 MB shared. The Xeon has 10 MB shared.
• Memory bus: The i7-8706G has no listed bus width. The Xeon is quad-channel.
• Memory bandwidth: The i7-8706G has no listed figure. The Xeon has 76.8 GB/s.
• ECC support: The i7-8706G does not support ECC. The Xeon does.
• PCIe: The i7-8706G has no listed PCIe lanes. The Xeon has Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only).
• Integrated graphics: The i7-8706G includes Radeon RX Vega M GL. The Xeon has none.
• Transistors: Not recorded for the i7-8706G. The Xeon has 3,400 million.
• Die size: Not recorded for the i7-8706G. The Xeon has a 246 mm² die.
• Market segment: The i7-8706G is mobile. The Xeon is desktop.
• Production status: The i7-8706G is active. The Xeon is end-of-life.
• Release date: The i7-8706G was released in 2018-01-31. The Xeon was released in 2016-06-19.
• Part number: Not listed for the i7-8706G. The Xeon's part number is SR2P6.
• Launch MSRP: The i7-8706G has no listed MSRP. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $294.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-8706G outperforms the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v4 in every recorded test. The margins are consistent at 2.2% to 2.3%, and they hold across single-core and multi-core workloads in three different Cinebench versions. If you are choosing purely on compute performance, the i7-8706G is the faster chip.

However, the Xeon E5-1620 v4 brings platform capabilities that the i7 simply does not have. It supports ECC memory, which is critical for data-integrity-sensitive workloads. It offers quad-channel memory with a listed bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, which can matter for memory-bound server tasks. It has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, enabling more expansion cards or high-bandwidth devices. Its larger 10 MB L3 cache may also help in certain cache-sensitive workloads, though the benchmark data does not show a practical advantage.

The power envelope tells a different story. The Xeon's 140 watt TDP is more than double the i7's 65 watts. In a compact or mobile system, the i7 is far easier to cool and power. The i7 also includes Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics, meaning it can output to a display without a discrete GPU. The Xeon has no integrated graphics and requires a separate graphics card.

The production statuses also matter for long-term planning. The i7-8706G is listed as active. The Xeon E5-1620 v4 is end-of-life. For new system designs, the i7 is the more current part.

The recommendation depends on the use case. For a mobile workstation or compact desktop where power efficiency, integrated graphics, and slightly better raw benchmark scores matter, the i7-8706G is the clear choice. For a stationary workstation or server where ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, and PCIe lane count are non-negotiable requirements, the Xeon E5-1620 v4 is the appropriate part, despite its lower benchmark scores and higher power draw.

Strictly from the recorded data, the i7-8706G wins on performance. The Xeon wins on platform features that the benchmarks do not measure. Choose accordingly.