Core i7-11700 vs Xeon Gold 5315Y

Intel

Core i7-11700

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2021
Core family
·······
VS
Intel

Xeon Gold 5315Y

8 Cores16 Thrd140 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2021
Similar parts
·······

Core i7-11700 vs Xeon Gold 5315Y Performance Spectrum

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i7-11700 vs Xeon Gold 5315Y FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-11700 vs Xeon Gold 5315Y: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-11700

2021

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +4.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
  • Draws 65W instead of 140W, a 75W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 750, while Xeon Gold 5315Y needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $323 MSRP, while Xeon Gold 5315Y mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Xeon Gold 5315Y

2021

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-11700 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • Lower PassMark (20,477 vs 20,625).
    • Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
    • 115.4% higher power demand at 140W vs 65W.
    • No integrated graphics, while Core i7-11700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Core i7-11700 better than Xeon Gold 5315Y?
    Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon Gold 5315Y makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-11700 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
    Which one is better for gaming?
    If gaming is the priority, Core i7-11700 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.5% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-11700 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Core i7-11700 is the better buy right now. Core i7-11700 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $323 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (63.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Core i7-11700 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB), more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    Core i7-11700 vs Xeon Gold 5315Y Technical Specifications

    Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

    Intel

    Core i7-11700

    The Core i7-11700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 20,625 points. Launch price was $299.

    Intel

    Xeon Gold 5315Y

    The Xeon Gold 5315Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Ice Lake-SP (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA4189. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 20,477 points. Launch price was $800.

    Processing Power

    Both the Core i7-11700 and Xeon Gold 5315Y share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-11700 versus 3.6 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5315Y — a 30.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-11700 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i7-11700 uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5315Y uses Ice Lake-SP (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11700 scores 20,625 against the Xeon Gold 5315Y's 20,477 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-11700. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-11700 vs 12 MB (total) on the Xeon Gold 5315Y.

    FeatureCore i7-11700Xeon Gold 5315Y
    Cores / Threads
    8 / 16
    8 / 16
    Boost Clock
    4.9 GHz+36%
    3.6 GHz
    Base Clock
    2.5 GHz
    3.2 GHz+28%
    L3 Cache
    16 MB (total)+33%
    12 MB (total)
    L2 Cache
    256K (per core)+25500%
    1 MB (per core)
    Process
    14 nm
    10 nm-29%
    Architecture
    Rocket Lake (2021)
    Ice Lake-SP (2021)
    PassMark
    20,625
    20,477
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Core i7-11700 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Xeon Gold 5315Y uses LGA4189 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureCore i7-11700Xeon Gold 5315Y
    Socket
    LGA1200
    LGA4189
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 4.0
    PCIe 4.0
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR4-3200
    Max RAM Capacity
    128 GB
    RAM Channels
    2
    ECC Support
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    20
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-11700) / not specified (Xeon Gold 5315Y). The Core i7-11700 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 750), while the Xeon Gold 5315Y requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-11700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-11700 rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

    FeatureCore i7-11700Xeon Gold 5315Y
    Integrated GPU
    Yes
    IGPU Model
    UHD Graphics 750
    Unlocked
    No
    AVX-512
    Yes
    Virtualization
    VT-x, VT-d
    Target Use
    Gaming