Intel Core i7-8809G vs Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 and Intel Core i7-8809G are both 14 nm Kaby Lake parts with identical core counts and cache hierarchies, yet they serve fundamentally different market segments. The Xeon is a server/workstation processor on Socket 1151, while the Core i7 is a mobile BGA 2270 part. Despite the i7-8809G’s integrated Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics, benchmark data shows the Xeon holds a consistent performance lead across every tested Cinebench workload. The Xeon wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 12.7% to 13.2%, while the i7’s only additional data point is a Geekbench score that the Xeon lacks. Both processors sit at the 48th percentile against all CPUs, making them statistically similar in overall standing despite the Xeon’s per-test victories.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 boosts to 4.50 GHz, which is 0.30 GHz higher than the Intel Core i7-8809G’s 4.20 GHz boost clock.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between these two CPUs?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Xeon scores 481 versus the i7’s 425, a 13.2% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-8809G does not.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Xeon scores 8119 in multi-core Cinebench R23, which is 13% higher than the i7-8809G’s 7185.

Q: Which processor has the lower TDP?

A: The Intel Core i7-8809G has a 65 W TDP, which is 14 W lower than the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6’s 79 W TDP.

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

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 and the Intel Core i7-8809G are manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process node.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same Kaby Lake architecture family and 14 nm process node, but they diverge significantly in their implementation details. The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 uses the Kaby Lake-DT codename and belongs to the Xeon E3 generation, while the Intel Core i7-8809G uses the Kaby Lake G codename and belongs to the Core i7 generation. This codename difference reflects distinct design targets: the Xeon is a desktop-class server/workstation chip, whereas the i7-8809G is a mobile processor designed for compact, high-performance laptops.

The most striking architectural difference is the integrated graphics. The Xeon E3-1285 v6 includes HD Graphics P630, a basic integrated GPU typical of server parts, while the i7-8809G features a Radeon RX Vega M GH, a high-end discrete-class GPU on the same package. This makes the i7-8809G a hybrid solution, but the CPU core design remains similar. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The transistor count and die size are only listed for the Xeon (1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die), with no equivalent figures provided for the i7-8809G.

Memory support also differs. Both support DDR4, but the Xeon specifies a dual-channel memory bus with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-8809G’s memory bus and PCIe configuration are not listed in the data. ECC memory support is exclusive to the Xeon, reinforcing its workstation/server positioning. The sockets are entirely different: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-8809G uses Intel BGA 2270, meaning the i7 is soldered to the motherboard and not upgradeable. The Xeon has a 79 W TDP compared to the i7’s 65 W, which is notable given the i7’s more powerful integrated GPU. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither has a listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark results, the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 wins every head-to-head comparison in the Cinebench suite, making it the clear choice for CPU-bound workloads. The Xeon’s advantage is remarkably consistent across all tested scenarios, with deltas between 12.7% and 13.2%. This consistency suggests the Xeon’s higher base clock of 4.10 GHz and boost clock of 4.50 GHz provide a uniform performance uplift over the i7-8809G’s 3.10 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded.

The Xeon is better suited for server and workstation tasks where ECC memory support is required, and its Socket 1151 form factor allows for traditional desktop builds with upgradeable motherboards. Its higher TDP of 79 W indicates a willingness to trade power for sustained performance. The i7-8809G, despite losing all six Cinebench tests, has its own strengths that are not captured in the benchmark data. Its Radeon RX Vega M GH integrated graphics would excel at graphics-intensive tasks without a discrete GPU, and its 65 W TDP makes it more power-efficient on paper. The i7’s mobile BGA 2270 socket and 2018 release date (versus the Xeon’s 2017 release) position it as a later, more compact solution for high-end laptops.

The i7-8809G also has Geekbench scores (4590 multi-core, 1401 single-core) that are not available for the Xeon, but without a direct comparison, these numbers cannot be interpreted relative to the Xeon. For pure CPU compute performance as measured by Cinebench, the Xeon wins outright. The i7’s advantage lies in its integrated graphics and lower power envelope, making it a better fit for mobile systems where space and cooling are constrained.

Specification Differences

The following table highlights only the fields where the two processors differ:

| Specification | Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 | Intel Core i7-8809G |

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

| Base Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 79 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 2270 |

| Codename | Kaby Lake-DT | Kaby Lake G |

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

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | Not listed |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not listed |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated Graphics | HD Graphics P630 | Radeon RX Vega M GH |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Production Status | Not listed | Active |

| Release Date | 2017-07-31 | 2018-01-31 |

| Part Number | SR373 | Not listed |

Both CPUs share 4 cores, 8 threads, 14 nm process, Kaby Lake architecture, Intel as the foundry, DDR4 memory support, identical L1/L2/L3 cache sizes, and no unlocked multiplier. The i7-8809G has a Geekbench multi-core score of 4590 and single-core score of 1401, which are not listed for the Xeon.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results form a clear pattern: the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6 outperforms the Intel Core i7-8809G in every Cinebench test, with margins that barely vary across workloads. This uniformity indicates that the performance gap is driven by clock speed rather than any architectural advantage, as both processors have identical core counts, thread counts, and cache hierarchies.

In the multi-core tests, the Xeon’s advantage is steady at 13%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 818 against the i7’s 724, a 13% difference. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core (3409 vs 3017, 13%) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (8119 vs 7185, 13%). The consistency of this margin across three different versions of Cinebench suggests that the Xeon’s 1.0 GHz higher base clock provides a proportional scaling in multi-threaded performance that is not affected by workload generation.

The single-core results show an even slightly larger gap. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 115 versus the i7’s 102, a 12.7% advantage. Cinebench R20 single-core shows the largest delta at 13.2%, with the Xeon at 481 and the i7 at 425. Cinebench R23 single-core returns to a 13% margin, with scores of 1146 and 1014 respectively. These single-core margins are marginally higher than the multi-core margins, which is consistent with the Xeon’s higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 4.20 GHz on the i7.

The average benchmark score for the Xeon is 2348, placing it at the 48th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-9600 (2354, -0.3%), AMD Ryzen 5 2500X (2361, -0.5%), Intel Xeon E-2226GE (2365, -0.7%), and Intel Xeon E-2234 (2374, -1.1%). The i7-8809G has an average score of 2307, also at the 48th percentile, with nearest rivals being the Intel Core i5-10400H (2303, 0.2%), Intel Xeon E-2134 (2319, -0.5%), AMD Ryzen 7 2700 (2320, -0.6%), and Intel Xeon E5-2629 v3 (2283, 1.1%). The Xeon’s average score is 41 points higher than the i7’s, and its nearest rivals are all slightly higher-scoring, whereas the i7’s nearest rivals include both higher and lower-scoring parts. The Xeon’s win count of 6 against 0 for the i7 confirms its dominance in the available head-to-head tests.