Intel Core i7-9850HL vs Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably one-sided. The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 wins all six recorded Cinebench comparisons, though the margins are consistently narrow. Across the entire head-to-head set, the Xeon leads by margins ranging from 1.0% to 1.7%, never exceeding a two-point gap in single-core tests or a 110-point gap in multi-core runs.

Starting with multi-core performance, the Xeon E3-1245 v5 posts 687 in Cinebench R15 multicore against 676 for the Core i7-9850HL, a 1.6% advantage. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Xeon scores 2865 versus 2819, again a 1.6% lead. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Xeon reaches 6822 while the i7-9850HL manages 6712, a 1.6% gap. These results are consistent across all three generations of the Cinebench suite, suggesting a stable performance relationship rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

Single-core results tell a similar story with slightly smaller gaps. The Xeon leads 96 to 95 in Cinebench R15 singlecore, a 1.0% margin. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, the Xeon scores 404 against 397, a 1.7% difference. The R23 singlecore test shows 963 versus 947, also a 1.7% lead. Notably, the single-core margins are not identical across tests, with the newer R20 and R23 suites showing slightly larger gaps than R15.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall trend. The Xeon E3-1245 v5 carries an average benchmark score of 1973, while the Core i7-9850HL sits at 1941. That is a difference of 32 points, or roughly 1.6%, which aligns closely with the individual Cinebench deltas. Both processors land at the 44th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy essentially the same performance tier despite their architectural differences.

The nearest rival data for each processor reinforces this picture. The i7-9850HL sits within 0.4% of the Intel Core i7-7820HQ, the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5, the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5, and the Intel Core i5-1035G7. The Xeon E3-1245 v5 is similarly clustered near the Intel Core i7-10810U, the Intel Core i5-7600K, the AMD Ryzen 3 2300X, and the Intel Core i3-N305. In both cases, the closest rivals are within a fraction of a percent, which indicates that neither chip has a decisive edge over its direct competition. The Xeon's small but consistent lead over the i7-9850HL is therefore not a reflection of dominance, but rather a steady, repeatable advantage.

What is notable is that the Xeon achieves these wins with fewer cores and threads. The Xeon packs 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-9850HL offers 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite a 50% core disadvantage and a 50% thread disadvantage, the Xeon still outperforms the i7 in every recorded test. This confirms the Xeon's higher clock speeds and architecture efficiency, though the margin remains small enough that real-world differences would be difficult to perceive outside of sustained rendering workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E3-1245 v5 wins every benchmark category in the database, so the use-case split is straightforward: it is the better performer in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. However, the magnitude of those wins matters for practical recommendations.

For multi-core rendering, the Xeon's advantage is real but modest. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Xeon finishes 110 points ahead. That is a 1.6% improvement, which would translate to roughly one extra frame in a long render or a fraction of a second in a batch export. For professionals running continuous multi-hour renders, the Xeon would finish slightly sooner, but the difference is unlikely to justify any major workflow changes.

For single-threaded tasks, the Xeon's lead is even smaller in absolute terms. The largest single-core gap is 16 points in Cinebench R23, a 1.7% difference. In everyday applications that rely on single-core performance, such as spreadsheet operations, web browsing, or light scripting, the two processors would feel indistinguishable. The recorded data shows no scenario where the i7-9850HL pulls ahead, so there is no benchmark-supported case for choosing it on raw performance grounds.

Where the i7-9850HL does have a structural advantage is in power consumption and platform characteristics. The i7-9850HL carries a 25 W TDP, while the Xeon E3-1245 v5 is rated at 80 W. That is a threefold difference in thermal design power. For mobile or compact systems where cooling and battery life are priorities, the i7-9850HL is the only sensible choice despite its slightly lower scores. The Xeon's 80 W TDP demands a more substantial cooling solution and a larger power delivery system, which is consistent with its server and workstation market segment.

The i7-9850HL also supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 but tops out at 34.1 GB/s. Again, the i7 has the higher bandwidth figure, but the Xeon's support for DDR3 gives it flexibility in older or cost-constrained platforms. The Xeon counters with ECC memory support, which the i7 lacks. For error-sensitive workloads such as financial modeling, scientific computing, or long-running server processes, ECC is a meaningful feature that no amount of raw benchmark performance can replace.

In terms of integrated graphics, the i7-9850HL includes UHD Graphics 630, while the Xeon has HD Graphics P530. Neither is designed for gaming, but the i7's newer graphics generation may offer better media acceleration. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so any conclusion here must remain qualitative.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The Intel Core i7-9850HL is built on Coffee Lake-HR, part of the Coffee Lake family, and is classified as a mobile processor. The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 is a Skylake-DT part, belonging to the Skylake generation, and is aimed at servers and workstations. Both are manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process, so the underlying transistor technology is the same, but the chip designs diverge significantly.

The core counts differ substantially. The i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1245 v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i7 therefore has 50% more cores and 50% more threads. Despite this, the Xeon wins all benchmarks, which points to the importance of clock speed and per-core efficiency. The i7-9850HL has a base clock of 1900 MHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Xeon has a much higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The Xeon's base clock is nearly double the i7's, which gives it a massive advantage in sustained workloads that do not trigger boost behavior. The i7's boost clock is slightly higher, at 4.10 GHz versus 3.90 GHz, but that advantage only applies when a single or few cores are active and thermal headroom is available.

Cache configurations also differ. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache is where they diverge: the i7-9850HL has 9 MB of shared L3, while the Xeon has 8 MB. The i7's larger L3 cache partially compensates for its lower clock speeds, but not enough to overcome the Xeon's clock advantage in the recorded benchmarks.

The die size and transistor counts tell an interesting story. The i7-9850HL has a die size of 149 mm², while the Xeon E3-1245 v5 is smaller at 122 mm². The Xeon's transistor count is listed at 1,750 million, while the i7's transistor count is not recorded in the database. The larger die on the i7 is consistent with its additional cores and larger L3 cache.

Memory support differs as well. The i7-9850HL supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a lower maximum bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i7's higher bandwidth is notable, but the Xeon's ECC memory support is a critical differentiator for reliability-focused workloads. ECC is listed as false for the i7 and true for the Xeon.

The sockets are incompatible. The i7-9850HL uses Intel BGA 1440, a ball-grid array socket designed for mobile systems where the CPU is soldered directly to the motherboard. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, a land-grid array socket that allows for socketed installation and replacement. This means the two chips cannot be swapped into the same platform, and the choice of processor largely determines the motherboard and system form factor.

The i7-9850HL integrates UHD Graphics 630, while the Xeon includes HD Graphics P530. Both are integrated graphics solutions, but the i7's is from a newer generation. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either part.

The Xeon E3-1245 v5 has a release date of October 18, 2015, while the i7-9850HL's release date is not recorded in the database. Both are end-of-life products. The Xeon carries a part number of SR2LL, and the i7 is SRFEH.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 wins all multi-core benchmarks. It scores 687 in Cinebench R15 multicore versus 676 for the i7-9850HL, 2865 versus 2819 in R20 multicore, and 6822 versus 6712 in R23 multicore. The margin is consistently 1.6%.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The Xeon leads in every single-core test as well. It posts 96 versus 95 in R15, 404 versus 397 in R20, and 963 versus 947 in R23. The delta ranges from 1.0% to 1.7%.

Q: Does the i7-9850HL have more cores?

A: Yes, the i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Xeon E3-1245 v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite this, the Xeon wins all recorded benchmarks.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Xeon E3-1245 v5 supports ECC memory, while the i7-9850HL does not. This makes the Xeon the appropriate choice for error-sensitive server or workstation workloads.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The i7-9850HL supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No, both are end-of-life products. The Xeon E3-1245 v5 was released on October 18, 2015, and the i7-9850HL's release date is not recorded, but both are listed as end-of-life.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear, if narrow, winner. The Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 outperforms the Intel Core i7-9850HL in every single recorded test. Across six Cinebench runs spanning R15, R20, and R23, the Xeon holds a consistent 1.0% to 1.7% lead. For users who prioritize raw CPU performance, the Xeon is the better choice.

However, the context matters. The Xeon achieves this with 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Xeon's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 1.90 GHz is the primary driver of its advantage. The i7's higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz versus 3.90 GHz is not enough to reverse the trend.

The i7-9850HL has a dramatically lower TDP of 25 W versus 80 W. That makes it the only viable option for thin-and-light laptops, compact embedded systems, or any deployment where heat dissipation and power draw are constrained. The Xeon's 80 W TDP requires a substantial cooling solution and a power supply capable of handling the load, which is expected for a server and workstation part.

Memory support further separates the two. The i7-9850HL offers higher memory bandwidth at 42.7 GB/s, but only for DDR4. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, with a lower 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, but adds ECC memory support. For applications where data corruption is unacceptable, such as long-running financial calculations or database servers, ECC is a decisive feature.

The socket difference is fundamental. The i7-9850HL uses Intel BGA 1440, meaning it is soldered to the motherboard. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, which allows for socketed installation. This means the Xeon can be replaced or upgraded without replacing the entire motherboard, while the i7 is permanently attached.

In terms of average benchmark scores, the Xeon sits at 1973, the i7 at 1941, and both are at the 44th percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rivals for each are within 0.4%, so neither chip is a standout in its class. The Xeon is slightly stronger, but not by a margin that would be perceptible in most real-world tasks.

The recommendation depends entirely on platform. If the system is a mobile or low-power device, the i7-9850HL is the only choice, and its performance penalty is minor. If the system is a desktop workstation or server with adequate cooling, the Xeon E3-1245 v5 is the better performer, and it brings ECC memory support and socketed flexibility. For anyone who can choose between the two platforms, the recorded data favors the Xeon. For anyone constrained to a mobile form factor, the i7-9850HL delivers competitive performance at a fraction of the power draw.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-9850HL | Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1900 MHz | 3500 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4100 MHz | 3900 MHz |

| TDP | 25 W | 80 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Skylake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-HR | Skylake-DT |

| Generation | Core i7 (Coffee Lake-HR) | Xeon E3 (Skylake-DT) |

| Die Size | 149 mm² | 122 mm² |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,750 million |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | HD Graphics P530 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | Not recorded | 2015-10-18 |

| Part Number | SRFEH | SR2LL |

| Average Benchmark Score | 1941 | 1973 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 44 | 44 |