Intel Core i7-9850HL vs Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database places these two Intel mobile processors very close together, but the Intel Core i7-9850HL is the clear winner in every recorded test. It takes all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with margins ranging from 1.5% to 2.2%. The Xeon E3-1575M v5 never takes a single win in the measured workloads. The average benchmark score reinforces this: the i7-9850HL sits at 1941, while the Xeon trails at 1910. That is a 31-point gap, or roughly 1.6% overall.

For users choosing between these two, the data points to the i7-9850HL for pure compute performance. It wins in both single-core and multi-core tests across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The margins are not huge, but they are consistent. The i7-9850HL also achieves a 44th percentile ranking among all CPUs, edging out the Xeon’s 43rd percentile. The Xeon is competitive, but it is not faster in any benchmark the database recorded.

The Xeon E3-1575M v5 does have some distinct attributes that might matter for specific workloads, even if they do not show up in Cinebench scores. It supports ECC memory, which the i7-9850HL does not. It also has a higher base clock, 3.00 GHz versus 1.90 GHz. However, the i7-9850HL counters with a higher boost clock, 4.10 GHz versus 3.90 GHz, and it draws less power, 25 W versus 45 W. For a mobile or embedded system where power efficiency matters, the i7-9850HL is the better fit. For a workstation requiring error-correcting memory, the Xeon is the only option here.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures. The Core i7-9850HL is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR variant, using a 14 nm process node. The Xeon E3-1575M v5 is Skylake, using the Skylake-H design, also on 14 nm. Both are fabricated by Intel, so the process node is identical, but the underlying microarchitecture differs by one generation.

Core counts diverge significantly. The i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads. That gives the i7 a 50% advantage in core count and a 50% advantage in thread count. The Xeon compensates with a higher base clock, 3.00 GHz versus 1.90 GHz, but the i7’s boost clock is higher, 4.10 GHz versus 3.90 GHz. The cache hierarchy also differs: both have 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, but the i7 has 9 MB shared L3 cache, while the Xeon has 8 MB shared L3.

The die sizes reflect the core count difference. The i7-9850HL has a die size of 149 mm², while the Xeon is larger at 171 mm². Interestingly, the Xeon has more transistors, 2,300 million, whereas the i7’s transistor count is not recorded in the database. The Xeon’s larger die and higher transistor count suggest a more complex design, possibly due to its integrated graphics and memory controller features.

Memory support differs in an important way. The i7-9850HL supports DDR4 only, with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. That is a notable gap: the i7 has roughly 25% more memory bandwidth. The Xeon does support ECC memory, which the i7 does not. The integrated graphics also differ: the i7 uses UHD Graphics 630, while the Xeon uses Iris Pro Graphics P580.

PCIe support is similar, both Gen 3, but the Xeon’s listing specifies 16 lanes for the CPU only. The i7’s PCIe lane count is not given in the database. Both use the same socket, Intel BGA 1440. The production status for both is end-of-life. The Xeon has a recorded release date of January 23, 2016, while the i7’s release date is not listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads. That is a 50% advantage for the i7 in both core and thread counts.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-9850HL does not support ECC memory. This is a key differentiator for systems that require error-correcting memory.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 has 34.1 GB/s. The i7 offers approximately 25% more bandwidth, both using a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What are the power requirements for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has a TDP of 25 W, while the Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 has a TDP of 45 W. The i7 is the lower-power part, which may be significant for thermal design in compact or mobile systems.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL wins all three single-core tests. It scores 95 in Cinebench R15 single-core, 397 in R20 single-core, and 947 in R23 single-core. The Xeon scores 93, 391, and 932 respectively in those same tests.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HL has an average benchmark score of 1941, ranking in the 44th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 has an average score of 1910, ranking in the 43rd percentile.

Specification Differences

The database records several fields where these two processors differ. The most striking is core count: the i7-9850HL has 6 cores and 12 threads, the Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ by over a gigahertz, with the Xeon at 3.00 GHz and the i7 at 1.90 GHz. Boost clocks reverse that: the i7 reaches 4.10 GHz, the Xeon reaches 3.90 GHz. TDP is another major split, 25 W for the i7 versus 45 W for the Xeon.

Cache sizes differ in L3 only. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core. The i7 has 9 MB shared L3, the Xeon has 8 MB shared L3. Memory support is broader on the Xeon, which accepts both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i7 only supports DDR4. Memory bandwidth favors the i7, 42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon.

Integrated graphics differ: the i7 has UHD Graphics 630, the Xeon has Iris Pro Graphics P580. The architecture is different, Coffee Lake versus Skylake, and the codenames differ accordingly, Coffee Lake-HR versus Skylake-H. The die size is larger on the Xeon, 171 mm² versus 149 mm², and the transistor count is recorded only for the Xeon, at 2,300 million. The Xeon’s market segment is listed as Server/Workstation, while the i7 is listed as Mobile. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $1207, which can be stated once as its launch MSRP. The i7 has no recorded launch MSRP.

The PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the Xeon’s listing specifies 16 lanes for the CPU only. The i7’s lane count is not given. Both use the same socket, Intel BGA 1440, and both are end-of-life. The part numbers differ, SRFEH for the i7 and SR2QV for the Xeon.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, and the Core i7-9850HL wins all of them. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 676 against the Xeon’s 665, a 1.7% lead. In R15 single-core, the i7 scores 95 against 93, a 2.2% lead, the largest margin of any test. In R20 multi-core, the i7 scores 2819 against 2774, a 1.6% lead. In R20 single-core, the i7 scores 397 against 391, a 1.5% lead. In R23 multi-core, the i7 scores 6712 against 6607, a 1.6% lead. In R23 single-core, the i7 scores 947 against 932, a 1.6% lead.

The average benchmark scores confirm the pattern, even though the rivals are different for each CPU. The i7-9850HL’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-7820HQ, which scores 1940 with a delta of 0.1%, and the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 at 1945 with a delta of -0.2%. The Xeon E3-1575M v5 has its own nearest rivals: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE scores 1910 with a delta of 0%, and the Intel Xeon E-2314 scores 1911 with a delta of -0.1%. This means the i7 sits in a slightly different competitive neighborhood, roughly 1.6% ahead of the Xeon on average.

The wins are consistent, but the margins are modest. The largest single-core lead, 2.2% in R15, is the only test where the gap exceeds 2%. The multi-core margins are all between 1.5% and 1.7%. This suggests that the i7’s core advantage, 6 versus 4, does not translate into a large scaling win in these workloads, likely because the Xeon’s higher base clock offsets some of the core deficit. The boost clock difference, 4.10 GHz versus 3.90 GHz, likely explains the single-core wins.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-9850HL wins in every benchmark category recorded. For multi-threaded workloads, it leads in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. The margins are small, 1.6% to 1.7%, but it is the faster part across the board. For single-threaded workloads, it also leads in all three versions of Cinebench single-core, with margins from 1.5% to 2.2%. This makes the i7 the better choice for rendering, content creation, or any task that scales with both cores and clock speed.

The Xeon E3-1575M v5 does not win any benchmark, but it has a distinct role. Its support for ECC memory makes it the only viable choice for systems that require error-correcting memory, such as certain workstation or server applications. Its broader memory support, DDR3 and DDR4, offers flexibility for legacy memory configurations. The Xeon also has a higher base clock, 3.00 GHz, which can help in sustained workloads that do not boost, though the database does not include a separate test for that scenario.

The power envelope is a clear differentiator. The i7-9850HL operates at 25 W TDP, the Xeon at 45 W. For mobile or embedded designs where thermal limits are tight, the i7 is the obvious pick. The Xeon’s higher TDP and larger die, 171 mm² versus 149 mm², suggest a more power-hungry part. The Xeon’s integrated graphics, Iris Pro Graphics P580, may offer different capabilities than the i7’s UHD Graphics 630, but the database does not include graphics benchmarks.

In summary, the data points to the i7-9850HL as the performance leader in every measured workload. The Xeon’s advantages are not in raw speed but in specific features: ECC memory, dual memory types, and a workstation-oriented market segment. A user with ECC requirements or legacy DDR3 modules would choose the Xeon. A user prioritizing compute performance, memory bandwidth, or power efficiency would choose the i7. The benchmark results are unambiguous: six wins for the i7, zero for the Xeon.