Intel Core i7-9750HF vs Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 emerges as the decisive winner in every recorded Cinebench test, taking all six head-to-head matchups against the Intel Core i7-9750HF. The data shows a consistent single-thread and multi-thread advantage for the server part, with deltas of 8.1 to 8.3 percent across the board. The Xeon leads by 8.3 percent in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 9417 against the Core i7's 8696, and by 8.3 percent in R23 single-core, 1329 versus 1227.

The Core i7-9750HF does hold one unique advantage in the recorded data: it appears in a Geekbench result set that the Xeon lacks entirely. The Core i7 scores 4844 in Geekbench multi-core and 1365 in single-core. For users whose workload mix includes Geekbench-style tests, the Core i7 provides a reference point that the Xeon does not have in the database.

The Xeon E5-2628L v3 is the pick for multi-threaded server or workstation workloads where Cinebench-class rendering is representative. Its 10 cores and 20 threads, combined with 25 MB of shared L3 cache, deliver a measurable edge. The Core i7-9750HF, with 6 cores and 12 threads, suits mobile deployments where the 45 W TDP and 149 mm² die size fit a compact package, though the benchmark data shows it trailing in every shared test.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story: the Xeon sits at 2724 with a 50th percentile ranking, while the Core i7 averages 2662, also at the 50th percentile. The delta between them is roughly 2.3 percent in average score, and the nearest rivals for each confirm their relative standing. The Xeon's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U at 2722, a 0.1 percent gap, while the Core i7's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 at 2664, a 0.1 percent difference in favor of the rival.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and serve different market segments. The Xeon E5-2628L v3 uses the Haswell-EP architecture on a 22 nm process node, built at Intel with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. It targets the Server/Workstation segment with an Intel Socket 2011-3 interface. The Core i7-9750HF uses Coffee Lake-HR architecture on a 14 nm node, with a die size of 149 mm² and no transistor count recorded, mounted on Intel BGA 1440 for the Mobile segment.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The Xeon offers 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Core i7 provides 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks favor the mobile part at 2.60 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, and the boost clock difference is larger: 4.50 GHz for the Core i7 against 2.50 GHz for the Xeon. Power envelopes are reversed in magnitude: the Xeon has a 75 W TDP, the Core i7 a 45 W TDP.

Cache hierarchies share per-core L1 and L2 sizes, 64 KB and 256 KB respectively, but diverge at L3. The Xeon carries 25 MB of shared L3, the Core i7 only 12 MB. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the Xeon uses a quad-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Core i7 uses dual-channel with 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the Xeon and not on the Core i7.

PCIe capabilities differ in detail. The Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i7 simply lists Gen 3 without a lane count. Neither part includes integrated graphics. The Xeon launched on 2014-09-07 with a recorded launch MSRP of $1364, while the Core i7 released on 2019-04-22 with no launch MSRP recorded. Both are end-of-life, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 wins with a score of 949 against the Intel Core i7-9750HF's 876, a delta of 8.3 percent. This is the largest multi-core margin in the head-to-head data alongside the R20 and R23 results.

Q: Does the Core i7-9750HF have any benchmark where it leads?

A: No. In the six head-to-head Cinebench tests recorded, the Core i7-9750HF loses all of them. Its only exclusive data point is a Geekbench multi-core score of 4844 and single-core score of 1365, tests that have no corresponding Xeon entry in the database.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Xeon E5-2628L v3 supports quad-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. The Core i7-9750HF uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon's bandwidth is roughly 40 percent higher, though the exact percentage is not recorded.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-9750HF does not, as indicated by its false ECC flag in the database.

Q: How do their single-core scores compare in Cinebench R23?

A: The Xeon scores 1329, the Core i7 scores 1227, giving the Xeon an 8.3 percent lead. This is consistent with the 8.1 percent delta in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scored 133 and the Core i7 scored 123.

Q: What are the release dates for these two parts?

A: The Xeon E5-2628L v3 released on 2014-09-07. The Core i7-9750HF released on 2019-04-22. Both are marked end-of-life in the database.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show clear divergence across nearly every field. The Xeon has 10 cores and 20 threads; the Core i7 has 6 and 12. Base clock is 2000.00 MHz for the Xeon versus 2.60 GHz for the Core i7. Boost clock is 2.50 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. TDP is 75 W versus 45 W.

Socket and packaging differ completely: Intel Socket 2011-3 for the server part, Intel BGA 1440 for the mobile part. The process node is 22 nm for Haswell-EP, 14 nm for Coffee Lake-HR. Die size is 356 mm² versus 149 mm², and transistor count is recorded for the Xeon at 2,600 million, with no value for the Core i7.

Cache sizes: L1 and L2 are identical per core at 64 KB and 256 KB, but L3 shared cache is 25 MB on the Xeon versus 12 MB on the Core i7. Memory bus width is quad-channel versus dual-channel, with bandwidth 59.7 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. ECC is supported on the Xeon only. PCIe is Gen 3 with 40 lanes for the Xeon, Gen 3 with no lane count for the Core i7. Both lack integrated graphics.

Market segment is Server/Workstation for the Xeon and Mobile for the Core i7. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $1364; the Core i7 has none recorded. Part numbers are SR1XZ for the Xeon and SRG1T for the Core i7. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers six Cinebench tests, and the Xeon wins all of them with a narrow but consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 949 against 876, a delta of 8.3 percent. The single-core R15 result is 133 versus 123, an 8.1 percent lead. The R20 multi-core test shows 3955 against 3652, again 8.3 percent, and R20 single-core shows 558 versus 515, also 8.3 percent.

Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: multi-core 9417 versus 8696, single-core 1329 versus 1227, both with an 8.3 percent delta. The consistency of the 8.3 percent figure across four tests suggests a stable performance ratio that is not workload-dependent within the Cinebench family. The single exception is R15 single-core at 8.1 percent, a slightly smaller margin.

The Core i7-9750HF does not win any head-to-head test in the database. Its only benchmark records outside the Cinebench suite are Geekbench multi-core at 4844 and single-core at 1365, which have no counterpart for the Xeon E5-2628L v3. The absence of a Geekbench entry for the Xeon means the database cannot confirm whether the Core i7 would lead in that test, but the recorded Cinebench results consistently favor the Xeon.

For users deciding between these two, the data points toward the Xeon for any Cinebench-style rendering workload. The 10-core, 20-thread configuration with 25 MB of L3 cache and quad-channel memory provides the structural basis for its lead. The Core i7's higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz does not translate into a single-core win, as the Xeon still edges it by 8.1 to 8.3 percent in every single-core test. The Core i7's lower TDP and smaller die size remain relevant for mobile integration, but the benchmark record shows no performance category where it overtakes the Xeon.