Intel Core i7-9750HF vs Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear, if unusual, outcome. The Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3, a server part from 2015, wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons against the Intel Core i7-9750HF, a mobile processor from 2019. The margins are consistent and narrow, ranging from 2.9% to 3.3% across the board. The database shows the Xeon taking the multi-core tests with 901, 3757, and 8946 points in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 respectively, against the i7's 876, 3652, and 8696 points. The Xeon also edges out the i7 in every single-core test, with scores of 127, 530, and 1263 versus 123, 515, and 1227.

The verdict depends entirely on the buyer's platform. The Xeon E5-4620 v3 is the pick for a multi-socket or legacy workstation build on Intel Socket 2011-3, especially where ECC memory and quad-channel bandwidth are required. The i7-9750HF is the pick for a mobile platform, given its BGA 1440 socket and 45 W TDP, which the Xeon's 105 W TDP cannot match. The data suggests that the older, higher-core-count server chip retains a slight performance lead in synthetic rendering workloads, but the newer mobile chip is the only one of the two that fits a laptop. The Xeon's average benchmark score sits at 2587, while the i7's is higher at 2662, indicating that the i7 performs better across a broader benchmark suite, despite losing every Cinebench test recorded here. The percentile rankings support this: the Xeon is at the 49th percentile of all CPUs, the i7 at the 50th.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is defined by the benchmark results and platform specifications, not by raw score alone. The Xeon E5-4620 v3 wins every Cinebench test in the head-to-head table, making it the stronger choice for purely CPU-bound multi-threaded rendering tasks in that specific benchmark. Its 10 cores and 20 threads provide the structural advantage, allowing it to outpace the i7's 6 cores and 12 threads in all three Cinebench versions. The single-core wins are smaller, with deltas of 3.3% in R15 and 2.9% in R20 and R23, but they are still consistent wins for the Xeon.

The i7-9750HF wins in the context of platform efficiency and portability. Its 45 W TDP, dual-channel memory bus, and BGA 1440 socket make it the only viable option for a laptop or compact mobile system. The Xeon's 105 W TDP, quad-channel memory bus, and Socket 2011-3 requirement place it squarely in server or workstation territory. The i7 also has a higher average benchmark score of 2662 compared to the Xeon's 2587, which suggests it performs better in workloads outside the Cinebench suite, such as the Geekbench tests recorded for the i7 (4844 multi-core, 1365 single-core). The data does not list Geekbench results for the Xeon, so a direct comparison there is not possible, but the average score implies the i7 has a broader strength profile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and design philosophies. The Xeon E5-4620 v3 uses the Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-EP codename, built on a 22 nm process node. It packs 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The i7-9750HF uses the Coffee Lake architecture, with the Coffee Lake-HR codename, on a 14 nm process node, with a much smaller die size of 149 mm². The transistor count for the i7 is not recorded in the database.

Core and cache configurations differ sharply. The Xeon has 10 cores and 20 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 25 MB L3 cache. The i7 has 6 cores and 12 threads, with the same per-core L1 and L2 sizes (64 KB and 256 KB), but only 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Clock speeds tell a different story: the Xeon has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 2.60 GHz, while the i7 has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The i7's much higher boost clock does not translate into a win in the recorded Cinebench tests, which is a notable finding.

Memory and expansion features also diverge. The Xeon supports DDR4 memory with a quad-channel bus and 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, and it supports ECC memory. The i7 also supports DDR4 but uses a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth, and it does not support ECC. The Xeon provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 provides PCIe Gen 3 with no lane count specified. The Xeon's market segment is listed as Server/Workstation, the i7's as Mobile. The Xeon was released in 2015, the i7 in 2019. Neither chip has integrated graphics, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

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 i7-9750HF has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Xeon E5-4620 v3 beat the i7-9750HF in every Cinebench test?

A: Yes, the head-to-head data shows the Xeon winning all six tests: Cinebench R15 multi-core (901 vs 876), R15 single-core (127 vs 123), R20 multi-core (3757 vs 3652), R20 single-core (530 vs 515), R23 multi-core (8946 vs 8696), and R23 single-core (1263 vs 1227).

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-9750HF does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Xeon E5-4620 v3 has a TDP of 105 W, while the i7-9750HF has a TDP of 45 W.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-9750HF has a higher average benchmark score of 2662, compared to the Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3's 2587.

Q: What sockets do these processors use?

A: The Xeon E5-4620 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3, while the i7-9750HF uses Intel BGA 1440.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent. The Xeon E5-4620 v3 wins every comparison, and the margins are nearly uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 901 against the i7's 876, a 2.9% lead. In R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 127 against 123, a 3.3% lead, which is the largest delta in the entire set. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20: multi-core 3757 vs 3652 (2.9%), single-core 530 vs 515 (2.9%). Cinebench R23 follows the same script: multi-core 8946 vs 8696 (2.9%), single-core 1263 vs 1227 (2.9%).

The consistency of the 2.9% delta across five of the six tests is striking. It suggests that the Xeon's advantage is not workload-dependent within the Cinebench suite; it is a steady, proportional lead. The single-core R15 test is the outlier at 3.3%, which is curious given the i7's much higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus the Xeon's 2.60 GHz. The data implies that the Xeon's older Haswell architecture, despite its lower clock speed, still manages to outperform the newer Coffee Lake part in these specific workloads.

The bigger question is why the i7's average benchmark score is higher (2662 vs 2587) despite losing all six Cinebench tests. The answer lies in the Geekbench results recorded for the i7, which are absent for the Xeon. The i7 scores 4844 in Geekbench multi-core and 1365 in single-core. These additional data points pull the i7's average up. The Xeon's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon E-2174G (avg score 2588, 0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE (2596, -0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS (2573, 0.5%), and the Intel Core i7-8850H (2604, -0.7%). The i7-9750HF's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 (2664, -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-9700T (2668, -0.2%), the Intel Core i5-9500F (2670, -0.3%), and the Intel Core i7-7740X (2648, 0.5%). These rival comparisons show that both chips sit in a crowded mid-pack, but the i7 sits slightly higher overall.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows a clear divide between the two processors across every major category.

Cores and Threads: The Xeon E5-4620 v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads. The i7-9750HF has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Clock Speeds: The Xeon has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 2.60 GHz. The i7 has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz.

TDP: The Xeon is rated at 105 W. The i7 is rated at 45 W.

Socket: The Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The i7 uses Intel BGA 1440.

Architecture and Process Node: The Xeon is Haswell (Haswell-EP) on a 22 nm process. The i7 is Coffee Lake (Coffee Lake-HR) on a 14 nm process.

Die Size and Transistors: The Xeon has a die size of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. The i7 has a die size of 149 mm²; its transistor count is not recorded.

Cache: Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The Xeon has 25 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Memory: Both support DDR4. The Xeon uses a quad-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC. The i7 uses a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth and does not support ECC.

PCIe: The Xeon provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only). The i7 provides PCIe Gen 3 with no lane count specified.

Market Segment and Release Date: The Xeon is a Server/Workstation part released in 2015. The i7 is a Mobile part released in 2019.

Integrated Graphics and Multiplier: Neither processor has integrated graphics. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Production Status and Launch MSRP: Both are end-of-life. The Xeon has a recorded launch MSRP of $1668. The i7's launch MSRP is not recorded.