Intel Core i7-9700T vs Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, and the margins are remarkably consistent across the board. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 949 against the Core i7-9700T's 839, a 13.1% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 133 versus 118, a 12.7% lead for the Xeon.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon extends its multi-core lead to 3955 versus 3496, again 13.1% ahead. The single-core R20 score shows 558 versus 493, a 13.2% gap, the largest delta of any test in this comparison. Cinebench R23 repeats the trend: multi-core 9417 versus 8325 (13.1% ahead) and single-core 1329 versus 1175 (13.1% ahead).

The consistency of these deltas is striking. Across six benchmarks, the Xeon's advantage never dips below 12.7% and never exceeds 13.2%. This suggests a fundamental architectural edge rather than workload-specific optimization. The Xeon's 10 cores and 20 threads provide a structural advantage in multi-threaded tasks, but the single-core wins indicate that even per-thread performance is superior in the recorded data.

The Core i7-9700T does have a significantly higher boost clock, 4.30 GHz versus 2.50 GHz for the Xeon, yet it still trails in every single-core test. This indicates that the Xeon's Haswell architecture delivers more instructions per clock in these workloads, or that the i7-9700T's low 35W TDP constrains its sustained boost behavior. The i7-9700T also has a Geekbench entry in its benchmark list, scoring 5503 multi-core and 1392 single-core, but since the Xeon has no Geekbench results in the database, no direct head-to-head comparison is possible for that test.

The overall benchmark averages reflect this dominance. The Xeon's average benchmark score is 2724, while the i7-9700T sits at 2668. Both processors land at the 50th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy similar tiers in the broader landscape, but the Xeon holds a clear edge in every measured Cinebench workload.

# FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 wins with a score of 9417, while the Intel Core i7-9700T scores 8325. The Xeon leads by 13.1%.

Q: Does the Core i7-9700T win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The Xeon E5-2628L v3 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests.

Q: How much faster is the Xeon in single-core Cinebench R20?

A: The Xeon scores 558 versus 493 for the i7-9700T, a 13.2% advantage. This is the largest single-core delta in the comparison.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between these two CPUs?

A: The Xeon E5-2628L v3 has an average benchmark score of 2724, while the Core i7-9700T averages 2668. The Xeon is higher, though both sit at the 50th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i7-9700T has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the Xeon E5-2628L v3 boosts to 2.50 GHz. Despite this, the Xeon still wins every single-core benchmark.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Xeon E5-2628L v3 supports ECC memory, while the Core i7-9700T does not.

# Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5-2628L v3 wins in every measured category, so the use-case split is driven by the magnitude and nature of its advantages rather than any benchmark victory for the i7-9700T.

For multi-threaded workloads, the Xeon is the clear choice. Its 10 cores and 20 threads produce a 13.1% lead in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. The 25 MB of shared L3 cache provides ample capacity for thread-heavy data sets, and the quad-channel memory bus delivers 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, which is 40% higher than the i7-9700T's 42.7 GB/s. Tasks like video rendering, scientific simulation, or virtual machine hosting would benefit from this combination of core count, cache, and memory throughput.

For single-threaded performance, the Xeon also wins, but the margin is slightly narrower in R15 (12.7%) than in R20 (13.2%) and R23 (13.1%). This means that even lightly threaded applications, such as legacy software or certain productivity tools, will see better performance on the Xeon. The i7-9700T's higher boost clock does not translate into a benchmark victory, likely due to its 35W TDP limiting sustained operation.

The Core i7-9700T does have advantages in platform characteristics. Its integrated UHD Graphics 630 provides display output without a discrete GPU, which the Xeon lacks entirely. The i7-9700T also fits the ubiquitous Socket 1151, potentially making motherboard compatibility easier in desktop systems. Its 35W TDP is less than half the Xeon's 75W, which matters for compact or thermally constrained builds.

However, from a pure performance standpoint, the Xeon wins everywhere. The i7-9700T's only "win" is in platform flexibility and power efficiency, not in any recorded benchmark.

# Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every core specification. The Xeon E5-2628L v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Core i7-9700T has 8 cores and 8 threads. The i7-9700T lacks Hyper-Threading, so its thread count equals its core count.

Base clocks are identical at 2000.00 MHz, but boost clocks differ substantially: the Xeon boosts to 2.50 GHz, while the i7-9700T boosts to 4.30 GHz. TDP also diverges sharply, with the Xeon rated at 75W and the i7-9700T at 35W.

Memory support shows the Xeon's server pedigree. It uses quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. The i7-9700T uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe lanes also differ: the Xeon provides 40 lanes (CPU only) versus 16 lanes for the i7-9700T.

The integrated GPU is exclusive to the i7-9700T, which includes UHD Graphics 630. The Xeon has no integrated graphics. Socket compatibility is split between Intel Socket 2011-3 for the Xeon and Intel Socket 1151 for the i7-9700T.

# Architecture Differences

The Xeon E5-2628L v3 is built on the Haswell-EP architecture using a 22 nm process node. The die size is 356 mm² with 2,600 million transistors. Its cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a 25 MB shared L3 cache.

The Core i7-9700T uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake Refresh, on a 14 nm process. The die is 180.3 mm², and transistor count is not recorded in the database. Cache sizes are 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3.

The Xeon's larger die and transistor count reflect its server-class design with more cores, more cache, and a more robust memory controller. The 22 nm node is older than the 14 nm node used by the i7-9700T, but the Xeon compensates with a higher TDP envelope and a more expansive silicon footprint.

The L3 cache difference is notable: 25 MB versus 12 MB. This more than doubles the shared cache capacity, which benefits workloads with large working sets or frequent inter-thread communication. The Xeon's quad-channel memory controller further amplifies this advantage, providing 59.7 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s.

The i7-9700T's 14 nm process allows for higher clock speeds at lower power, which explains its 4.30 GHz boost clock and 35W TDP. However, the recorded benchmarks show that this architectural approach does not overcome the Xeon's combination of more cores, more threads, and larger caches in Cinebench workloads.

# The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 outperforms the Intel Core i7-9700T in every recorded benchmark. The Xeon leads by 12.7% to 13.2% across all six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core scenarios. Its 10 cores and 20 threads, combined with 25 MB of L3 cache and quad-channel memory, deliver consistent wins regardless of workload type.

The Core i7-9700T is not without merits. Its 35W TDP makes it far more power-efficient, and its integrated UHD Graphics 630 provides display output that the Xeon cannot offer. The i7-9700T also uses the more common Socket 1151, which may simplify system integration. Its 4.30 GHz boost clock is significantly higher, though this does not translate into benchmark victories.

For users prioritizing raw performance in Cinebench and similar rendering workloads, the Xeon E5-2628L v3 is the stronger choice. Its advantages in core count, thread count, cache size, and memory bandwidth are decisive. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which is critical for data integrity in server or workstation environments.

For users prioritizing power efficiency, integrated graphics, or a more common desktop socket, the Core i7-9700T offers practical advantages. Its 35W TDP enables compact cooling solutions, and the built-in GPU eliminates the need for a separate graphics card in basic display scenarios.

The launch MSRP of the Xeon E5-2628L v3 is $1364, while the Core i7-9700T launched at $323. Both are end-of-life products, so platform availability and long-term support should factor into any decision.

The verdict from the recorded data: the Xeon E5-2628L v3 is the performance winner in every measured category, while the Core i7-9700T wins on platform flexibility and power draw. Choose the Xeon for maximum compute throughput and ECC reliability. Choose the i7-9700T for low-power desktop builds with integrated graphics.