Core i7-8557U vs Xeon Phi 7210

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 i7-8557U vs Xeon Phi 7210 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 i7-8557U vs Xeon Phi 7210: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-8557U

2019

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 1W instead of 215W, a 214W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon Phi 7210 across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon Phi 7210, which brings 64 cores / 256 threads.

Xeon Phi 7210

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.6% higher average FPS across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 256 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,306 vs 7,309).
❌Launch MSRP is still $1,881 MSRP, while Core i7-8557U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌21400% higher power demand at 215W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-8557U better than Xeon Phi 7210?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon Phi 7210 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-8557U is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-8557U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-8557U is still the faster CPU overall, but Xeon Phi 7210 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i7-8557U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $1,881 MSRP, and it still gives you 0% better PassMark. The compromise is that Xeon Phi 7210 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 7.6% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. Xeon Phi 7210 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (3.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-8557U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2016) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 64/256. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-8557U vs Xeon Phi 7210 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-8557U

The Core i7-8557U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,309 points. Launch price was $149.

Xeon Phi 7210

The Xeon Phi 7210 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Knights Landing (2016) architecture. It features 64 cores and 256 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 215 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 7,306 points. Launch price was $800.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-8557U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon Phi 7210 offers 64 cores / 256 threads — the Xeon Phi 7210 has 60 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-8557U versus 1.5 GHz on the Xeon Phi 7210 — a 100% clock advantage for the Core i7-8557U (base: 1.7 GHz vs 1.3 GHz). The Core i7-8557U uses the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Phi 7210 uses Knights Landing (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8557U scores 7,309 against the Xeon Phi 7210's 7,306 — a 0% lead for the Core i7-8557U. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i7-8557U vs 0 kB (total) on the Xeon Phi 7210.

Feature	Core i7-8557U	Xeon Phi 7210
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	64 / 256+1500%
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+200%	1.5 GHz
Base Clock	1.7 GHz+31%	1.3 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB	0 kB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+100%	512 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)	Knights Landing (2016)
PassMark	7,309	7,306

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-8557U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Phi 7210 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.