Intel Core i7-8706G vs Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8706G and Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 are extraordinarily close in raw compute performance, separated by less than 1% in every Cinebench test in the data. The i7-8706G wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the margins are so narrow that the deciding factors are not speed but platform capabilities, power efficiency, and intended use case. The Core i7-8706G is a 4-core/8-thread mobile processor with integrated Radeon graphics, while the Xeon E5-2608L v3 is a 6-core/6-thread server chip with ECC memory support and a quad-channel memory bus. The data shows a statistical tie in compute, with the i7-8706G taking a 0.6% to 0.7% edge in multi-core workloads and a 0% to 0.7% edge in single-core tests, making the choice entirely about which platform-level features matter more for your workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8706G wins every single benchmark comparison in the dataset, but the victory margins are minuscule. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 641 against the Xeon's 637, a 0.6% advantage. In R20 multi-core, the gap is again 0.6% (2674 vs 2658). The R23 multi-core result shows 6368 vs 6329, also 0.6% ahead. Single-core results are even tighter: R15 single-core is a dead tie at 90 points each, R20 single-core is 377 vs 375 (0.5% ahead), and R23 single-core is 899 vs 893 (0.7% ahead). The i7-8706G's wins are consistent but not decisive — it never leads by more than 0.7%.

The Xeon E5-2608L v3 wins where the benchmarks do not measure: platform features. It is the only one of the two with ECC memory support, a critical feature for error-correcting workloads in servers and workstations. It also offers a quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, far beyond what the i7-8706G's unspecified memory bus configuration can claim. The Xeon has a 15 MB shared L3 cache compared to the i7's 8 MB, and it provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), enabling more expansion and I/O connectivity. For sustained server workloads, the Xeon's design priorities — cache, memory bandwidth, and ECC — are the wins that matter, even if Cinebench scores do not reflect them.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel eras and design philosophies. The Core i7-8706G uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, while the Xeon E5-2608L v3 is based on Haswell on a 22 nm node with 2,600 million transistors and a 356 mm² die size. The i7-8706G is a mobile part (market segment: Mobile) with a 65W TDP, whereas the Xeon is a server/workstation part with a 52W TDP. The Xeon's lower TDP despite an older, larger process node is notable — it achieves this with a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and no boost clock listed, while the i7-8706G has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz.

Core counts differ: the i7-8706G has 4 cores and 8 threads (with Hyper-Threading), while the Xeon has 6 physical cores and 6 threads (no Hyper-Threading). This explains the near-parity in multi-core scores — the Xeon's two extra physical cores compensate for the i7's higher clock speeds and simultaneous multi-threading. The i7-8706G includes integrated Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics, a unique feature for this comparison, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the i7 does not. The Xeon also has a quad-channel memory bus and 59.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, versus the i7's unspecified memory bus and bandwidth. The i7 uses socket Intel BGA 2270 (soldered), while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3 (socketed, upgradeable).

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-8706G wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests, but by less than 1%: R15 multi-core is 641 vs 637 (0.6% ahead), R20 multi-core is 2674 vs 2658 (0.6% ahead), and R23 multi-core is 6368 vs 6329 (0.6% ahead). The Xeon's two extra physical cores nearly close the gap against the i7's higher clock speeds.

Q: Does the Xeon E5-2608L v3 support ECC memory?

A: Yes. The Xeon E5-2608L v3 has ECC memory support enabled, and it uses a quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i7-8706G does not support ECC memory and its memory bus configuration is not specified in the data.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The Core i7-8706G has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Xeon E5-2608L v3 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz) and no boost clock listed in the data. The i7's clocks are substantially higher, which helps it match the Xeon's multi-core performance despite having two fewer physical cores.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No. The Xeon E5-2608L v3 is marked as "End-of-life" in production status, released in 2014. The Core i7-8706G is listed as "Active," released in 2018. The Xeon is a significantly older part.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between them?

A: The Core i7-8706G has an average benchmark score of 1842, while the Xeon E5-2608L v3 has an average score of 1830. The i7 sits 0.7% above its nearest rival (Intel Core i5-7600 at 1844, deltaPct -0.1), while the Xeon is tied with the Intel Xeon D-1537 at 1830 (deltaPct 0) and is within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-4790S.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8706G | Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 2000.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | None listed |

| TDP | 65 W | 52 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2270 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Haswell |

| Codename | Kaby Lake G | Haswell-EP |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not listed | 2,600 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 356 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 15 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Not listed | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon RX Vega M GL | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2018-01-31 | 2014-09-07 |

| Launch MSRP | None listed | $441 |

| Part Number | Not listed | SR20BSR21P |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i7-8706G, but the margins are negligible. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 641 vs the Xeon's 637, a 0.6% delta. The R15 single-core test is a perfect tie at 90 points each, with a 0% delta. Moving to R20 multi-core, the i7 scores 2674 vs 2658 (0.6% ahead), and R20 single-core shows 377 vs 375 (0.5% ahead). The R23 multi-core test has the i7 at 6368 vs 6329 (0.6% ahead), and R23 single-core is 899 vs 893 (0.7% ahead). The largest single-core delta is 0.7% (R23), and the largest multi-core delta is 0.6% (all three multi-core tests).

What these numbers mean: for any single-threaded task, the two processors are functionally identical — a 0% to 0.7% difference is well within run-to-run variance. For multi-threaded rendering workloads, the i7-8706G holds a consistent but tiny edge. The Xeon's 6 physical cores at 2.00 GHz base clock nearly match the i7's 4 cores at 3.10-4.10 GHz, which confirms the Xeon's efficiency in scaling across cores. However, the i7's higher clock speeds give it the edge in every test, even if that edge is under one percent. The average benchmark scores reflect this: 1842 for the i7 vs 1830 for the Xeon, a 0.7% overall difference.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-8706G outperforms the Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 in every Cinebench test, but the performance difference is so small (0% to 0.7%) that it should not be the deciding factor. The i7-8706G wins on single-core performance (377 vs 375 in R20, 899 vs 893 in R23) and multi-core (2674 vs 2658 in R20, 6368 vs 6329 in R23), and it offers integrated Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics, a 14 nm process, and a 4.10 GHz boost clock. It is also an active product with a 2018 release date, versus the Xeon's end-of-life status from 2014.

The Xeon E5-2608L v3, despite losing every benchmark, is the correct choice for specific server and workstation applications. It supports ECC memory — a feature the i7 lacks entirely — and provides a quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, plus 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes for expansion. Its 15 MB L3 cache is nearly double the i7's 8 MB. It also has a lower TDP (52W vs 65W) despite being built on an older 22 nm process with 2,600 million transistors. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $441, though pricing should not factor into the decision per this analysis.

Who should pick which: choose the i7-8706G for a mobile or compact system where integrated graphics are needed, where higher clock speeds (3.10 GHz base, 4.10 GHz boost) benefit single-threaded tasks, and where the 14 nm node's efficiency matters. Choose the Xeon E5-2608L v3 for a server or workstation where ECC memory is mandatory, where quad-channel memory bandwidth (59.7 GB/s) and 40 PCIe lanes enable heavy I/O, and where 6 physical cores at 2.00 GHz provide predictable multi-threaded throughput. The data shows these are not competitors in performance — they are competitors in platform fit, and the Xeon's feature set is the differentiator that its 0.6% benchmark deficit cannot erase.