Intel Core i7-9850HL vs Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9850HL and the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 are both end-of-life Intel processors, but they represent vastly different design philosophies and eras. The i7-9850HL is a low-power mobile part built on a newer process, while the Xeon E3-1231 v3 is a higher-TDP server/workstation chip from an older generation. Benchmark data shows a clear, consistent performance advantage for the mobile chip across every tested workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-9850HL wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3. The victories are not narrow; they are uniform and decisive across both multi-core and single-core tests.

In multi-core workloads, the i7-9850HL's advantage is consistent at exactly 12.5% across all three Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-9850HL scores 676 versus the Xeon's 601. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7-9850HL posts 2819 against the Xeon's 2506, and in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the scores are 6712 and 5967, respectively. The consistency of the 12.5% delta suggests a structural advantage—likely the additional two cores—rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, though with a slightly larger margin in one test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-9850HL leads by 13.1%, scoring 95 versus the Xeon's 84. The other single-core tests show the same 12.5% delta as the multi-core tests: Cinebench R20 single-core sees 397 versus 353, and Cinebench R23 single-core sees 947 versus 842. The Xeon's best single-core result is 947 in R23, which is still 105 points behind the i7-9850HL's 947 score. This indicates that the i7-9850HL's newer architecture and higher boost clock deliver a meaningful per-thread performance uplift, not just a core-count advantage.

The overall benchmark picture reinforces this. The i7-9850HL has an average benchmark score of 1941, which places it in the 44th percentile of all CPUs. The Xeon E3-1231 v3 has an average score of 1925, placing it in the 43rd percentile. While the percentile difference is small, the head-to-head deltas are substantial. The i7-9850HL's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-7820HQ (average score 1940, a 0.1% delta) and the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 (average score 1945, a -0.2% delta). The Xeon E3-1231 v3's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-10305T (average score 1922, a 0.2% delta) and the AMD Opteron 6348 (average score 1930, a -0.2% delta). These rival comparisons show that while both CPUs are in a similar performance band overall, the i7-9850HL is consistently ahead of its direct competitor in this matchup.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The Intel Core i7-9850HL uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR codename, and is fabricated on a 14 nm process node. Its die size is 149 mm². In contrast, the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 uses the Haswell architecture, with the codename Haswell-WS, and is built on a larger 22 nm process node. Its die size is 160 mm², and it contains 1,400 million transistors, a figure not listed for the i7-9850HL.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1231 v3 has 4 cores and 8 threads. This two-core and four-thread advantage is the primary driver of the multi-core performance gap. Cache hierarchies are similar in structure but differ in capacity: both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache is 9 MB on the i7-9850HL versus 8 MB on the Xeon.

Clock speeds tell a story of different design targets. The i7-9850HL has a base clock of 1900.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Xeon E3-1231 v3 has a much higher base clock of 3.40 GHz but a lower boost clock of 3.80 GHz. This means the Xeon starts at a higher frequency but cannot reach the same peak as the i7-9850HL. The i7-9850HL's lower base clock is a trade-off for its dramatically lower TDP of 25 watts, compared to the Xeon's 80 watts.

Memory support is another major divergence. The i7-9850HL supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a theoretical bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon E3-1231 v3 supports DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, but with a lower bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i7-9850HL does not support ECC memory, while the Xeon E3-1231 v3 does. The i7-9850HL features integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 630, whereas the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

The market segments are polar opposites. The i7-9850HL is a mobile processor using the Intel BGA 1440 socket, designed for laptops and other portable devices. The Xeon E3-1231 v3 is a server/workstation processor using the Intel Socket 1150, intended for desktop-class professional systems. Both have locked multipliers and are end-of-life, but the Xeon has a known release date of May 2014 and a listed part number of SR1R5, while the i7-9850HL's part number is SRFEH.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7-9850HL therefore offers two additional cores and four additional threads.

Q: How does the power consumption differ between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has a TDP of 25 watts, while the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 has a TDP of 80 watts. The i7-9850HL is rated for significantly lower power draw, reflecting its mobile design.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i7-9850HL does not support ECC memory, but the Xeon does.

Q: What is the performance difference in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL leads in all single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 95 versus the Xeon's 84, a 13.1% advantage. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 397 versus 353, and in Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 947 versus 842, both showing a 12.5% delta.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-9850HL includes UHD Graphics 630. The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: What are the production statuses of these CPUs?

A: Both the Intel Core i7-9850HL and the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 are listed as end-of-life. The Xeon's release date is May 2014, while the i7-9850HL's release date is not provided.

Specification Differences

The following table highlights the key specifications where the two processors differ:

| Specification | Intel Core i7-9850HL | Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1900.00 MHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 25 W | 80 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Haswell |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-HR | Haswell-WS |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 149 mm² | 160 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 9 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | false | true |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | null |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | Not listed | 2014-05-10 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $250 |

| Part Number | SRFEH | SR1R5 |

The Verdict

The data directs a clear choice. The Intel Core i7-9850HL is the superior processor in every benchmark category measured. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with a consistent 12.5% lead in most tests and a 13.1% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core. Its 6-core, 12-thread configuration outperforms the Xeon's 4-core, 8-thread setup in all multi-core workloads, and its higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz ensures a single-core advantage as well.

The i7-9850HL is also the more efficient platform. Its 25-watt TDP is less than a third of the Xeon's 80-watt TDP, making it a far better choice for power-constrained or mobile environments. The support for DDR4 memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the Xeon's DDR3 at 25.6 GB/s, further modernizes the platform. The inclusion of UHD Graphics 630 means the i7-9850HL can run a display without a discrete GPU, which the Xeon cannot do.

The Xeon E3-1231 v3 retains one clear advantage: ECC memory support. For applications requiring error-correcting memory for data integrity, the Xeon is the only option among these two. Its higher base clock of 3.40 GHz is also notable, but it does not translate into a performance win in any test. Its launch MSRP was $250, but this is a historical figure with no bearing on current performance comparisons.

Therefore, the Intel Core i7-9850HL is the appropriate choice for users prioritizing raw performance, power efficiency, and modern memory support. The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 is only relevant for niche scenarios where ECC memory is a hard requirement, and where the older DDR3 platform is acceptable. For all other purposes, the benchmark results are unequivocal: the i7-9850HL is the stronger processor.