Intel Core i7-8709G vs Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8709G and Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 are both 4-core, 8-thread mobile processors, but they target different segments: the former is a Kaby Lake-G part with a Radeon GPU, while the latter is a Skylake-H workstation chip. Benchmark data shows the i7-8709G edges out the Xeon in nearly every Cinebench test, though the margins are consistently slim.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-8709G wins all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but none by a commanding margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-8709G scores 679 against the Xeon’s 677, a 0.3% advantage. The single-core R15 result is a dead heat: both chips score 95, with the i7-8709G listed as the winner by a 0% delta. This pattern repeats across newer benchmark versions.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the i7-8709G at 2832 versus 2824 for the Xeon, again a 0.3% lead. The R20 single-core test is similarly tight: 399 for the i7-8709G against 398 for the Xeon, a 0.3% delta. The most recent Cinebench R23 results follow the same trajectory — the i7-8709G posts 6743 in multi-core versus 6726 for the Xeon, and 952 versus 949 in single-core, both 0.3% advantages.

These margins are negligible in real-world terms. The largest recorded difference is 17 points in R23 multi-core, which translates to roughly a third of a percent. Benchmark results indicate the i7-8709G holds a consistent, if minimal, performance edge across all tested workloads. The average benchmark score tells the same story: the i7-8709G averages 1950, while the Xeon averages 1945, a 0.3% gap that places both processors in the 44th percentile of all CPUs.

The nearest rivals list reinforces how close these parts are. The i7-8709G’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3400GE at 1954 (a -0.2% delta), followed by the Intel Core i5-1035G7 at 1948 (0.1%), the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5 at 1947 (0.2%), and the Xeon E3-1535M v5 at 1945 (0.3%). The Xeon E3-1535M v5’s nearest rival list includes the i7-8709G at 1950 with a -0.3% delta, confirming they are essentially peer performers.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel architectures and target different use cases. The i7-8709G uses the Kaby Lake architecture with the Kaby Lake G codename, while the Xeon E3-1535M v5 uses Skylake with the Skylake-H codename. Both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but the Xeon’s transistor count and die size are specified: 2,300 million transistors on a 122 mm² die. The i7-8709G does not have published transistor or die size data in the pack.

Clock speeds differ, with the i7-8709G running at a 3.10 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost, versus the Xeon’s 2.90 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The i7-8709G’s higher clocks likely explain its small benchmark advantage, despite identical core and thread counts. Both chips feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

The integrated graphics are a major differentiator. The i7-8709G pairs its CPU cores with a Radeon RX Vega M GH GPU, a substantial graphics solution for a mobile processor. The Xeon E3-1535M v5 instead uses HD Graphics P530, a basic integrated GPU typical of workstation chips. The i7-8709G supports only DDR4 memory, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, with dual-channel memory and a specified 34.1 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a key feature for workstation reliability, while the i7-8709G does not.

Socket and production status also differ. The i7-8709G uses Intel BGA 2270 and is listed as Active production, released on 2018-01-31. The Xeon uses Intel BGA 1440, is marked End-of-life, and was released on 2015-10-26. The Xeon carries a launch MSRP of $623, while the i7-8709G has no launch MSRP listed. The Xeon also specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-8709G’s PCIe configuration is not listed.

The Verdict

From the data, the i7-8709G is the faster processor, but only by a hair. It wins all six benchmark comparisons, yet the largest delta is 0.3%. Anyone expecting a meaningful performance leap from the newer Kaby Lake part will be disappointed — the benchmark results show these are effectively equivalent in raw CPU compute. The i7-8709G’s 4.10 GHz boost clock versus the Xeon’s 3.70 GHz gives it a theoretical advantage that materializes as a 0.3% edge in practice, likely due to thermal or power constraints.

The real deciding factors are not CPU performance but platform features. The i7-8709G’s Radeon RX Vega M GH integrated graphics make it the clear choice for anyone needing GPU compute without a discrete card. The Xeon E3-1535M v5 counters with ECC memory support, dual-channel DDR3/DDR4 compatibility, and a workstation-oriented feature set. The Xeon is also end-of-life, while the i7-8709G remains active.

For a mobile workstation where ECC memory and validated reliability matter more than raw speed, the Xeon E3-1535M v5 is the defensible pick despite its age. For anyone who wants a single package with strong integrated graphics and slightly better CPU scores, the i7-8709G is the better choice. The 45W TDP of the Xeon versus the 65W TDP of the i7-8709G also factors into mobile system design, with the Xeon drawing less power.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8709G | Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 |

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

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2270 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Skylake |

| Codename | Kaby Lake G | Skylake-H |

| Generation | Core i7 (Kaby Lake-G) | Xeon E3 (Skylake-H) |

| Transistors | Not listed | 2,300 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 122 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Not listed | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 34.1 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | False | True |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon RX Vega M GH | HD Graphics P530 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

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

| Release Date | 2018-01-31 | 2015-10-26 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $623 |

| Part Number | Not listed | SR2FM |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8709G boosts to 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 boosts to 3.70 GHz.

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

A: Yes, both the i7-8709G and the Xeon E3-1535M v5 have 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-8709G does not.

Q: What is the largest benchmark performance difference between the two?

A: The largest recorded difference is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i7-8709G scores 6743 versus the Xeon’s 6726, a 0.3% delta.

Q: Are both processors built on the same process node?

A: Yes, both the i7-8709G and the Xeon E3-1535M v5 are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core i7-8709G has a 65W TDP, while the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 has a 45W TDP.