Intel Core i7-9700E vs Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints an unusually one-sided picture. Across every recorded Cinebench test, the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 comes out ahead, winning all six head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Core i7-9700E does not claim a single victory in the shared benchmark suite. This is not a case of one chip dominating in multithreaded workloads while the other takes single-threaded honors; the Xeon leads in both categories.

The Xeon's advantage is consistent, hovering around 6.3% to 6.7% depending on the test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 1137 against the i7-9700E's 1069, a 6.4% margin. The single-core gap is slightly larger in relative terms, with the Xeon posting 160 versus 150, a 6.7% difference. Those margins repeat across R20 and R23, suggesting the Xeon's architectural advantages translate evenly across rendering workloads of varying intensity.

Where the i7-9700E might appeal is in scenarios that the recorded benchmarks do not capture directly. It has a much lower power envelope, its integrated graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems, and its newer release date suggests better platform availability in certain markets. But strictly within the measured data, the Xeon E5-1660 v4 wins every workload category. The i7-9700E's 8 threads versus the Xeon's 16 threads likely explains the multicore gap, while the Xeon's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 2.60 GHz helps explain its single-core edge despite the i7's higher 4.40 GHz boost.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process node, but they come from different architectural families. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 uses Broadwell-EP, a server-oriented design, while the Core i7-9700E uses Coffee Lake, a mainstream desktop architecture. That distinction drives nearly every other difference between them.

The Xeon has 8 cores and 16 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading. The i7-9700E also has 8 cores but only 8 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading. This is the most consequential divergence for multithreaded performance. The Xeon's 20 MB of shared L3 cache dwarfs the i7's 12 MB, which helps in workloads with large working sets. L1 and L2 caches are identical per core at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively.

Memory architecture differs substantially. The Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the i7-9700E is limited to dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s. That is a major bandwidth advantage for the Xeon, one that matters in memory-intensive rendering and compute tasks. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the i7 does not, a key feature for workstation reliability. PCIe lanes also favor the Xeon: 40 lanes (CPU only) versus 16 lanes on the i7, both Gen 3.

The Xeon's die is larger at 246 mm² versus 180.3 mm², and it carries 3,400 million transistors. The i7's transistor count is not recorded. The Xeon uses Socket 2011-3, while the i7 uses Socket 1151, meaning they are not interchangeable on any platform. The i7 includes integrated UHD Graphics 630; the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. The Xeon's TDP is 140 W, more than double the i7's 65 W, reflecting its server heritage and higher power delivery requirements. The Xeon launched in June 2016, while the i7 arrived in April 2019. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $1113, and the i7's launch MSRP was $323.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 1137 against 1069, a 6.4% lead. In single-core R15, the Xeon scores 160 against 150, a 6.7% lead. Moving to R20, the Xeon posts 4739 multicore against 4457, a 6.3% margin, and 669 single-core against 629, another 6.4% edge. The pattern holds in R23: the Xeon leads 11285 to 10613 in multicore (6.3%) and 1593 to 1498 in single-core (6.3%).

The consistency of these margins is notable. A 6.3% to 6.7% gap across six different tests, spanning three Cinebench generations, points to a stable underlying performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The Xeon's 16 threads clearly help in the multicore tests, but the single-core edge is more curious given that the i7's boost clock is substantially higher at 4.40 GHz versus 3.80 GHz. The Xeon's higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, combined with the older but higher-bandwidth memory subsystem, may allow it to sustain higher effective clocks in short single-threaded bursts.

The i7-9700E has additional Geekbench scores recorded: 5661 multicore and 1497 single-core. The Xeon has no Geekbench results in the database, so no direct comparison is possible there. The Xeon's average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 3264, while the i7's is 3197. Both chips sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs, meaning neither is an outlier at the top or bottom of the performance distribution. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 at an average score of 3265 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2516 at 3277 (-0.4%), and the Intel Core i3-12100T at 3277 (-0.4%). The i7-9700E's closest competitors are the Intel Core i3-13100T at 3198 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon E-2136 at 3193 (0.1%), and the Intel Core i5-1240P at 3202 (-0.2%).

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 wins all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Core i7-9700E wins none.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multicore workloads?

A: The Xeon leads by 6.4% in Cinebench R15 multicore (1137 vs 1069), 6.3% in R20 multicore (4739 vs 4457), and 6.3% in R23 multicore (11285 vs 10613).

Q: Does the Core i7-9700E have any advantage in single-core tests?

A: No. The Xeon wins all three single-core Cinebench tests, with margins of 6.7% in R15, 6.4% in R20, and 6.3% in R23.

Q: Why might the Xeon be faster despite the i7's higher boost clock?

A: The Xeon has a higher base clock (3.20 GHz vs 2.60 GHz), 16 threads versus 8, 20 MB of L3 cache versus 12 MB, and quad-channel memory bandwidth at 76.8 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. Any or all of these factors could contribute.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 supports ECC memory. The Core i7-9700E does not.

Q: Are these processors comparable in overall standings?

A: Both sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs. The Xeon's average benchmark score is 3264, while the i7's is 3197, a gap of about 2.1%.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. Core count is the same at 8, but threads differ: 16 on the Xeon versus 8 on the i7. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz on the Xeon and 2.60 GHz on the i7, while boost clocks reverse the order: 3.80 GHz on the Xeon and 4.40 GHz on the i7. TDP is 140 W for the Xeon and 65 W for the i7.

The Xeon uses Socket 2011-3, the i7 uses Socket 1151. Architecture is Broadwell-EP versus Coffee Lake. Both use a 14 nm process, but die sizes differ: 246 mm² for the Xeon, 180.3 mm² for the i7. The Xeon has 3,400 million transistors; the i7's count is not recorded. L3 cache is 20 MB on the Xeon, 12 MB on the i7. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the Xeon runs quad-channel with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7 runs dual-channel with 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon. PCIe connectivity favors the Xeon with 40 lanes versus 16, both Gen 3. The i7 includes UHD Graphics 630; the Xeon has no integrated graphics. Release dates are June 2016 for the Xeon and April 2019 for the i7. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $1113, the i7's was $323. Both are end-of-life and both have locked multipliers.

The Verdict

The data supports a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark. It wins all six Cinebench tests by margins between 6.3% and 6.7%, whether the workload is single-threaded or multithreaded. Its 16 threads, larger 20 MB L3 cache, quad-channel memory at 76.8 GB/s, and higher base clock give it a structural advantage that the i7-9700E's higher boost clock cannot overcome.

The Core i7-9700E is not without reasons to exist. Its 65 W TDP is less than half the Xeon's 140 W, which means simpler cooling and lower power draw in a smaller chassis. Its integrated UHD Graphics 630 allows for a system without a discrete GPU, something the Xeon cannot offer. The i7 also arrives on a newer platform with a later release date, and its launch MSRP was lower. But none of those factors appear in the benchmark results as performance wins. The i7 has Geekbench scores recorded that the Xeon lacks, so direct comparison in that suite is impossible.

For users whose priority is raw compute performance, especially in Cinebench-class rendering workloads, the Xeon E5-1660 v4 is the clear choice based on the recorded data. For users who need integrated graphics, lower power consumption, or a more recent platform, the i7-9700E offers those qualities, though it sacrifices measurable performance in every benchmark where the two overlap. The 53rd percentile standing for both chips suggests neither is a top-tier performer in the broader CPU landscape, but within this pairing, the Xeon is decisively ahead.