Intel Core i7-8709G vs Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unusually one-sided in this matchup. The Intel Core i7-8709G wins all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests against the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3. That means the i7-8709G takes the crown in every workload category measured: single-core, multi-core, and across three different Cinebench versions (R15, R20, and R23).

For the Xeon E3-1231 v3, there is no benchmark in the database where it comes out ahead. Its wins, if any, would have to come from areas outside the recorded Cinebench suite. The Xeon does have one notable advantage in the specification sheet: it supports ECC memory, which the i7-8709G does not. That is a feature-level difference, not a performance win, but it matters for certain use cases like error-sensitive workstation tasks.

The i7-8709G's consistent 13% edge in multi-core tests suggests it is simply the faster processor for threaded workloads. The single-core advantage follows the same pattern, hovering around 13.1%. This is not a case where one chip wins lightly-threaded tasks and the other wins heavily-threaded ones; the i7-8709G dominates both.

Looking at the broader database context, the i7-8709G sits at the 44th percentile among all CPUs, while the Xeon E3-1231 v3 sits at the 43rd percentile. That is a razor-thin gap in overall standing, yet the direct head-to-head Cinebench results show a clear and repeatable margin. The average benchmark score tells a similar story: the i7-8709G averages 1950, the Xeon averages 1925, a difference of 25 points. The percentile rankings are close because the database includes a wide range of CPUs, but when placed side by side, the i7-8709G is the faster part.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The i7-8709G is built on Kaby Lake, specifically the Kaby Lake G variant, using a 14 nm process. It is classified as a mobile processor, designed for laptops and compact systems, and it uses the Intel BGA 2270 socket, which means it is soldered to the board and not upgradeable. Its integrated graphics are the Radeon RX Vega M GH, a notable inclusion for a chip in this class.

The Xeon E3-1231 v3 is a Haswell part, specifically Haswell-WS, built on a 22 nm process. It is a server or workstation processor, uses the Intel Socket 1150, and is now end-of-life. It has no integrated graphics at all. The Xeon also carries a part number, SR1R5, and its transistor count is listed at 1,400 million with a die size of 160 mm². The i7-8709G does not have transistor or die size figures in the database.

Both chips have the same core and thread configuration: 4 cores and 8 threads. Cache is also identical in structure: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. The differences are in the supporting technology. The i7-8709G supports DDR4 memory, while the Xeon supports DDR3. The Xeon has a dual-channel memory bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s; the i7-8709G has no memory bus or bandwidth figures recorded. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the i7-8709G does not. The Xeon lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU; the i7-8709G has no PCIe data in the database.

Clock speeds differ as well. The i7-8709G has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Xeon starts higher at 3.40 GHz base but boosts to only 3.80 GHz. That higher boost clock on the i7-8709G helps explain its single-core advantage. The i7-8709G also has a lower TDP at 65 watts versus the Xeon's 80 watts, which is notable given the i7's higher boost frequency.

Release dates separate the two by nearly four years. The Xeon was released on May 10, 2014; the i7-8709G arrived on January 31, 2018. The Xeon had a launch MSRP of $250, while the i7-8709G has no launch MSRP recorded. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are consistent across every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-8709G scores 679 against the Xeon's 601, a 13% advantage. In R15 single-core, the margin is 95 to 84, or 13.1%. These are not flukes; the pattern repeats in newer Cinebench versions.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the i7-8709G at 2832 versus the Xeon at 2506, again a 13% delta. Single-core R20 is 399 to 353, also 13%. The R23 results follow the same trend: multi-core is 6743 to 5967, a 13% gap, and single-core is 952 to 842, a 13.1% gap.

The i7-8709G also has Geekbench results recorded in the database, but those are only for the Xeon. The Xeon's Geekbench multi-core score is 3939 and single-core is 1109. The i7-8709G has no Geekbench entries, so a direct comparison in that suite is not possible from the recorded data.

What is striking is the uniformity of the margin. Whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded, and regardless of the Cinebench generation, the i7-8709G holds a 13% to 13.1% lead. This suggests the performance gap is structural, tied to the i7's newer architecture and higher boost clock, rather than workload-specific. A 13% lead in single-core is significant for everyday responsiveness, and a 13% lead in multi-core is meaningful for rendering or compilation tasks.

The Xeon's higher base clock of 3.40 GHz does not translate into a win anywhere. The i7-8709G's boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which is 0.30 GHz higher than the Xeon's boost, appears to be the decisive factor. The i7 also benefits from the newer 14 nm process versus the Xeon's 22 nm, which likely contributes to its ability to sustain higher clocks within a lower TDP envelope.

The Verdict

The data points to one clear conclusion: the Intel Core i7-8709G is the faster processor in this pairing. It wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark by a consistent 13% margin, in both single-core and multi-core workloads. For anyone choosing between these two based purely on Cinebench performance, the i7-8709G is the pick.

But the choice is not purely about speed. The Xeon E3-1231 v3 supports ECC memory, a feature the i7-8709G lacks. If the workload demands error-correcting memory for data integrity, the Xeon is the only option here. The Xeon also uses the Socket 1150 platform, which is a standard LGA socket, potentially offering more motherboard flexibility, while the i7-8709G is a BGA 2270 mobile part, soldered and non-upgradeable.

The Xeon is end-of-life, while the i7-8709G is still listed as active. That matters for long-term availability and support. The Xeon also has a recorded launch MSRP of $250, but no pricing comparison is possible since the i7-8709G has no MSRP in the database.

For a desktop or workstation build where ECC is not required, the i7-8709G is the better performer. For a server or workstation application where ECC memory is mandatory, the Xeon is the only viable choice despite its lower benchmark scores. The i7-8709G also brings integrated graphics, specifically the Radeon RX Vega M GH, which means it can drive a display without a discrete GPU, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics and requires a separate graphics card.

The percentile rankings are close, 44th for the i7-8709G and 43rd for the Xeon, but the direct comparison shows a clear gap. The average benchmark scores confirm this: 1950 versus 1925. If the database only had these two CPUs to rank, the i7-8709G would sit above the Xeon.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-8709G wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. In R15 it scores 679 versus 601, in R20 it scores 2832 versus 2506, and in R23 it scores 6743 versus 5967. Each win is by a 13% margin.

Q: Does the Xeon E3-1231 v3 have any performance advantage?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head benchmarks show the Xeon losing all six tests. The Xeon does have a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz versus 3.10 GHz, but its boost clock of 3.80 GHz is lower than the i7-8709G's 4.10 GHz, and that does not produce a win in any measured test.

Q: Can the Xeon E3-1231 v3 use ECC memory?

A: Yes. The Xeon supports ECC memory, while the i7-8709G does not. This is the Xeon's key feature advantage and makes it suitable for error-sensitive workloads where data corruption is unacceptable.

Q: What socket do these processors use?

A: The i7-8709G uses Intel BGA 2270, which is a soldered mobile socket. The Xeon E3-1231 v3 uses Intel Socket 1150, a standard LGA socket used in desktop and workstation motherboards.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i7-8709G has integrated graphics in the form of a Radeon RX Vega M GH. The Xeon E3-1231 v3 has no integrated graphics at all, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-8709G has an average benchmark score of 1950, while the Xeon E3-1231 v3 has an average of 1925. The i7-8709G also ranks at the 44th percentile among all CPUs, one point higher than the Xeon's 43rd percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8709G | Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 |

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

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Haswell |

| Codename | Kaby Lake G | Haswell-WS |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 80 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2270 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Not recorded | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 25.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

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

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

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

| Release Date | 2018-01-31 | 2014-05-10 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $250 |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 160 mm² |

| Part Number | Not recorded | SR1R5 |

Both processors share the same core count (4), thread count (8), and cache layout (64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 8 MB shared L3). Neither has an unlocked multiplier.