Intel Core i7-9750HF vs Intel Xeon W-2125 Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2125 and Intel Core i7-9750HF are both end-of-life Intel parts built on a 14 nm process, but they target completely different platforms. The Xeon W-2125 is a quad-core workstation processor for Socket 2066, while the Core i7-9750HF is a six-core mobile chip for BGA 1440 laptops. Benchmark data shows a clear split: the mobile chip wins seven of eight head-to-head tests, but the desktop Xeon takes a decisive victory in Geekbench multi-core, making the choice highly workload-dependent.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-9750HF is the overall performance leader in this comparison, winning seven of the eight recorded benchmarks. Its advantage is consistent across the Cinebench suite, where it edges out the Xeon W-2125 in every single-core and multi-core test. The margins are narrow but uniform, ranging from a 2.4% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core to a 2.8% lead in both Cinebench R20 and R23 multi-core. This suggests the 9750HF’s two additional cores and larger 12 MB shared L3 cache translate into a measurable, if modest, throughput advantage for rendering workloads. In Geekbench single-core, the 9750HF also wins, posting a 1365 score against the Xeon’s 1323, a 3.1% margin.

The Intel Xeon W-2125 has exactly one win, but it is a significant one. In Geekbench multi-core, the Xeon scores 4988 versus the 9750HF’s 4844, a 3% advantage. This is notable because Geekbench multi-core often reflects memory bandwidth and memory subsystem efficiency, and the Xeon’s quad-channel DDR4 setup with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth is a major architectural advantage over the dual-channel 42.7 GB/s of the mobile chip. If a workload is heavily dependent on memory throughput rather than raw core count, the Xeon W-2125 is the better choice despite having fewer cores and threads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and serve different physical platforms. The Xeon W-2125 is based on the Skylake architecture and belongs to the Skylake-W family, while the 9750HF uses the Coffee Lake architecture and is part of the Coffee Lake-HR generation. Both are manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process, but the die sizes tell different stories: the Xeon has a much larger 484 mm² die, whereas the 9750HF is a considerably smaller 149 mm² chip.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. The Xeon W-2125 offers 4 cores and 8 threads, while the 9750HF provides 6 cores and 12 threads. The 9750HF also has a larger L3 cache at 12 MB shared, compared to the Xeon’s 8.25 MB shared. L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core, but L2 cache differs: the Xeon has 1 MB per core, while the 9750HF has 256 KB per core. This means the Xeon has a large per-core L2 allocation, which can benefit latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks, while the 9750HF compensates with more cores and more L3.

Memory support is where the platforms diverge most sharply. The Xeon W-2125 supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s and includes ECC memory support. The 9750HF is limited to dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes from the CPU, while the 9750HF lists only "Gen 3" without specifying lane count. The Xeon is a server/workstation part, while the 9750HF is a mobile processor, and this is reflected in their sockets (Socket 2066 for the Xeon, BGA 1440 for the 9750HF) and TDPs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a near-uniform pattern of the 9750HF outperforming the Xeon W-2125. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 9750HF scores 876 against the Xeon’s 852, a 2.7% margin. The single-core R15 test is closer: 123 versus 120, a 2.4% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the 9750HF wins multi-core with 3652 points versus 3551 (2.8% ahead) and single-core with 515 versus 501 (2.7% ahead). The latest Cinebench R23 test repeats this pattern: the 9750HF scores 8696 in multi-core, beating the Xeon’s 8455 by 2.8%, and 1227 in single-core, beating the Xeon’s 1193 by 2.8%.

Geekbench results are more interesting. In single-core, the 9750HF wins with 1365 points against the Xeon’s 1323, a 3.1% difference. But in multi-core, the Xeon W-2125 flips the script. It scores 4988 versus the 9750HF’s 4844, a 3% victory. This is the largest single benchmark margin in either direction and suggests that the Xeon’s higher base clock of 4.00 GHz (versus 2.60 GHz) and quad-channel memory provide a specific advantage in Geekbench’s multi-threaded memory-intensive tests. The average benchmark scores reflect this split: the 9750HF has an average of 2662, while the Xeon sits at 2623, a 1.5% overall gap.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: Both processors have the same maximum boost clock of 4.50 GHz, though the Xeon W-2125 has a much higher base clock of 4.00 GHz compared to the 9750HF’s 2.60 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W-2125 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon W-2125 supports ECC memory, whereas the Intel Core i7-9750HF does not. This is a key differentiator for workstation reliability use cases.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does each processor provide?

A: The Xeon W-2125 offers 85.3 GB/s via quad-channel DDR4 memory, while the 9750HF provides 42.7 GB/s via dual-channel DDR4. This is a major architectural difference that explains the Xeon’s Geekbench multi-core win.

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-9750HF has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Xeon W-2125 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The 9750HF also has a larger L3 cache at 12 MB shared versus 8.25 MB shared.

Q: What are the release dates for these processors?

A: The Xeon W-2125 was released on 2017-08-28, while the 9750HF was released later on 2019-04-22. Both are now end-of-life products.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Xeon W-2125 has an average benchmark score of 2623, sitting near the Intel Core i7-1195G7 (2638, -0.6%) and Intel Core i9-8950HK (2641, -0.7%). The 9750HF’s average score is 2662, close to the Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 (2664, -0.1%) and Intel Core i7-9700T (2668, -0.2%).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Xeon W-2125 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the 9750HF has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are significantly different: the Xeon runs at 4.00 GHz, while the 9750HF runs at 2.60 GHz; both boost to 4.50 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator, with the Xeon drawing 120 W compared to the 9750HF’s 45 W, reflecting the desktop versus mobile design. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 2066, while the 9750HF uses Intel BGA 1440.

Cache configuration differs in L2 and L3: the Xeon has 1 MB of L2 per core and 8.25 MB of shared L3, while the 9750HF has 256 KB of L2 per core and 12 MB of shared L3. Both share 64 KB of L1 per core. Memory support also diverges: the Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth and ECC, while the 9750HF supports dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s and no ECC. PCIe connectivity is listed as Gen 3 with 48 lanes for the Xeon, while the 9750HF only lists "Gen 3" without a lane count. The Xeon has a die size of 484 mm², while the 9750HF is 149 mm². The Xeon was released on 2017-08-28 with a launch MSRP of $444, while the 9750HF was released on 2019-04-22 with no launch MSRP listed. Both are end-of-life, have no integrated graphics, and are not multiplier-unlocked. The Xeon’s part number is SR3LM, and the 9750HF’s is SRG1T.