Intel Core i7-8850H vs Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8850H and the Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 are both end-of-life Intel processors, but they target entirely different segments of the market. The data reveals a clear split: the Xeon E5-4620 v3 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, yet the two chips sit at the same 49th percentile overall and have nearly identical average benchmark scores (2604 vs 2587). This suggests that while the Xeon is consistently ahead, the margin is surprisingly narrow, and the real story lies in the architectural trade-offs that make each chip suitable for different workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is unambiguous in terms of raw performance: the Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 wins all six head-to-head tests. The largest margin comes in single-core performance, where it leads by 5.5% in Cinebench R15 (127 vs 120). Across the other five tests, the Xeon's advantage is a consistent 4.9% — a pattern that holds for both multi-core and single-core workloads in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. This consistency suggests the Xeon's lead is not workload-specific but rather a general performance advantage.

However, the Core i7-8850H has its own domain where it wins conceptually: efficiency and mobility. The i7-8850H carries a 45W TDP and is built for mobile platforms (Intel BGA 1440 socket), while the Xeon E5-4620 v3 is a 105W server/workstation part on Intel Socket 2011-3. The i7-8850H also includes integrated graphics (UHD 630), which the Xeon lacks entirely. In terms of clock speed, the i7-8850H has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost of 4.30 GHz, compared to the Xeon's 2.00 GHz base and 2.60 GHz boost. The i7's much higher boost clock does not translate into benchmark wins, but it does point to a design philosophy favoring bursty, single-threaded responsiveness over sustained throughput.

The Xeon's wins are built on its core advantage: 10 cores and 20 threads versus the i7's 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives the Xeon a 4.9% lead in every Cinebench multi-core test, from R15 (901 vs 857) to R23 (8946 vs 8511). The Xeon also has a much larger 25 MB shared L3 cache versus 12 MB on the i7, and it supports ECC memory and quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-8850H, by contrast, supports only DDR4 without ECC and has no listed memory bandwidth figure.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different architectural eras. The Core i7-8850H is built on Coffee Lake-H using a 14 nm process, measuring 149 mm². The Xeon E5-4620 v3 is a Haswell-EP part on a 22 nm process, with a much larger 356 mm² die and 2,600 million transistors. The newer 14 nm process gives the i7 a denser, more power-efficient design, which explains its 45W TDP despite higher clock speeds. The Xeon's older 22 nm process and 105W TDP reflect its server origins where power efficiency is secondary to core count and reliability features.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both chips have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the shared L3 is where the Xeon pulls ahead: 25 MB versus 12 MB. The Xeon's larger cache is typical of server processors designed to handle large working sets across many threads. The i7's smaller cache is paired with its higher boost clock, suggesting a design optimized for latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The Xeon has a quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC memory, while the i7-8850H supports DDR4 but without ECC and has no listed memory bus width or bandwidth. The Xeon also offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7's PCIe configuration is not specified. The i7 includes integrated UHD 630 graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all, relying on a discrete GPU in server configurations.

The release dates are separated by nearly three years: the Xeon launched in May 2015, while the i7-8850H launched in April 2018. Both are now end-of-life. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $1668, which is worth noting given its server market positioning, though the i7 has no listed launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is clear: the Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 outperforms the Intel Core i7-8850H in every measured test, with a consistent 4.9% lead in most workloads and 5.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core. If raw performance is the only criterion, the Xeon is the superior processor. However, the near-identical average benchmark scores (2604 vs 2587) and same 49th percentile ranking indicate that the differences are marginal in the broader context of all CPUs.

The choice between the two should be driven by platform requirements. The i7-8850H is a mobile processor on a BGA 1440 socket with integrated graphics, making it suitable for laptops or compact systems where the 45W TDP and built-in UHD 630 are essential. The Xeon E5-4620 v3 is a server/workstation part on Socket 2011-3 with ECC memory support, quad-channel bandwidth, and 40 PCIe lanes — features that matter in a server environment where data integrity and expansion capability are critical. The Xeon's 105W TDP and lack of integrated graphics make it unsuitable for mobile use, while the i7's lack of ECC support and limited memory bandwidth would be a drawback in a server role.

The data suggests that for multi-threaded server workloads, the Xeon's 10 cores and larger cache provide a modest but real advantage. For mobile or embedded applications, the i7's higher clock speeds and integrated graphics make it the only viable option from this pair. Neither chip is a clear winner overall; they are designed for different sockets, power envelopes, and reliability requirements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8850H has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Core i7-8850H support ECC memory?

A: No, the i7-8850H does not support ECC memory. The Xeon E5-4620 v3 does support ECC memory.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R15?

A: The Xeon E5-4620 v3 scores 127 versus the i7-8850H's 120, giving the Xeon a 5.5% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-8850H has integrated graphics (UHD 630). The Xeon E5-4620 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Core i7-8850H has a 45W TDP, while the Xeon E5-4620 v3 has a 105W TDP.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-8850H has an average benchmark score of 2604, and the Xeon E5-4620 v3 has 2587 — a difference of only 0.7%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E5-4620 v3 wins all six head-to-head tests, but the margins tell an interesting story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 901 versus 857 for the i7-8850H, a 4.9% delta. The single-core R15 test shows the largest gap: 127 vs 120, a 5.5% difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core test has the Xeon at 3757 versus 3574 (4.9% lead), and single-core at 530 versus 504 (4.9% lead). The same 4.9% margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core (8946 vs 8511) and single-core (1263 vs 1201).

The consistency of the 4.9% delta across multiple generations of Cinebench is notable. It suggests that the Xeon's advantage is structural — likely stemming from its 10 cores versus 6, and its 25 MB L3 cache versus 12 MB — rather than being workload-dependent. The single-core R15 test deviates slightly at 5.5%, which could reflect the Xeon's higher base clock in that specific test scenario, though its boost clock is significantly lower (2.60 GHz vs 4.30 GHz).

The i7-8850H never wins a single test, yet its average benchmark score is slightly higher (2604 vs 2587). This is because the i7 has two additional Geekbench scores (multi-core 4765 and single-core 1300) that are not present for the Xeon. Those Geekbench results pull the i7's average up, masking the fact that the Xeon wins every Cinebench test where both have data.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Core i7-8850H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-4620 v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads. Clock speeds favor the i7: 2.70 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost versus the Xeon's 2.00 GHz base and 2.60 GHz boost. The TDP is dramatically different at 45W for the i7 and 105W for the Xeon.

The sockets are incompatible: the i7 uses Intel BGA 1440, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The i7 is a Coffee Lake-H mobile part on 14 nm with a 149 mm² die, while the Xeon is Haswell-EP server silicon on 22 nm with a 356 mm² die and 2,600 million transistors. L3 cache is 12 MB on the i7 versus 25 MB on the Xeon, though both share 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Memory support differs significantly. The i7 supports DDR4 without ECC and has no memory bus or bandwidth specifications. The Xeon supports DDR4 with ECC, uses a quad-channel bus, and offers 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon also provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 has no PCIe specification listed. Integrated graphics are present only on the i7 (UHD 630); the Xeon has none. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $1668, while the i7 has no listed launch MSRP. Both parts are end-of-life, with the Xeon released in May 2015 and the i7 in April 2018.