Please help me decide between Core i7 and Xeon

[classic35mm]

I'm considering a Lenovo ThinkStation P300 Tower Workstation (Windows 7 Pro), which I will use for normal office use, HD video streaming, and some (parallel) scientific simulations using Matlab, Mathematica, Fortran, and C/C++. I don't need ECC memory, and I don't plan to ever use more than 32 GB of memory in the system. I will be getting a discrete graphics card with my system, so I don't need a processor with integrated graphics.

I want a processor with 4 cores / 8 threads. I'm very much on the fence as to whether to go with Core i7 or Xeon. Here are three particular such processors I'm considering (one Core i7, two different Xeons):

(1) Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3
8 MB cache
4 cores / 8 threads
3.5 GHz base frequency
3.9 GHz max frequency
80 W TDP
32 GB max memory
Includes Turbo Boost and Hyperthreading

(2) Intel Core i7-4790 [add $70 USD to (1)]
8 MB cache
4 cores / 8 threads
3.6 GHz base frequency
4.0 GHz max frequency
84 W TDP
32 GB max memory
Includes Turbo Boost and Hyperthreading
Includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4600)

(3) Intel Xeon E3-1271 v3 [add $80 USD to (1)]
8 MB cache
4 cores / 8 threads
3.6 GHz base frequency
4.0 GHz max frequency
80 W TDP
32 GB max memory
Includes Turbo Boost and Hyperthreading

Please help me decide between Core i7 and Xeon.

Here is a detailed side-by-side comparison.

If I go with the Core i7-4790, will I be missing anything that a Xeon provides (assuming that I don't need ECC memory)?

Does the Xeon (3) with the same clock speed as the Core i7 (2) offer me anything more (except support for ECC memory, which I will never use)? Can I expect the Core i7 (2) to offer better single thread performance? Can I expect the Xeon (3) to offer better multi-thread performance?

Can I expect the Xeon to be more reliable or have a longer lifespan?

I don't have the time or know-how to build my own system, even though that would give me more options and would probably be cheaper. So I am stuck with the processor options that Lenovo is offering me (listed here). Lenovo is offering several Xeon E3 processors, whereas i7-4790 is the only Core i7 they are offering with this particular system.

Thanks so much for your time and advice.

 

[daveybrat]

Go with Option 1. You don't need to pay $70-$80 more for integrated graphics and 100MHz more in clock speeds. Use that extra money to buy a better video card and/or an SSD drive.

 

[freeskier93]

I would go Xeon (first option). I just finished a build with an E3 1231 V3 for gaming and engineering. Any reason you don't want to build your own? Looking at the Lenovo prices you'd save a shit ton building yourself.

 

[rchunter]

I'd go with either of the xeons. Doesn't really matter. They are essentially the same chip just one is clocked 100mhz higher.

 

[zir_blazer]

What, no Xeon E3-1246V3? I would pick it as a bread and butter option, since it should be 20 or 30 U$D more expensive than the 1241V3 yet cheaper than the Ci7 4790. Even if you don't need IGP, I would say that it is worth it if you ever do.

I don't know why you claim you don't need ECC. It adds for stability during long periods of load. If you are doing simulation or anything else, it may come handy. Think of it as a prevention measure. Also, the Unbuffered+ECC DDR3 modules than LGA 1150 uses shouldn't be significantly more expensive than common Unbuffered non-ECC.

 

[rchunter]

What, no Xeon E3-1246V3? I would pick it as a bread and butter option, since it should be 20 or 30 U$D more expensive than the 1241V3 yet cheaper than the Ci7 4790. Even if you don't need IGP, I would say that it is worth it if you ever do.

lol, I have that exact model. I got a good deal on it so I thought what the hell... Might as well get one with the integrated graphics. Even if i'm not planning on using it right away at least I have that option down the road.
The chip doesn't ever draw any more wattage unless IGP is actually used.
I also agree with you about the unbuffered ecc. I'd spend the money and get the ecc if it was me.

 

[nenforcer]

I would say that if you had any intention of running any virtual machines you would want one of the Xeon's but since it's the non-K 4790 I believe they have equivelent virtualization features (Vt-D) (Vt-x).

Also the consumer 4790 is going to have Intel QuickSync support for video transcoding on the GPU - I'm not sure if the Xeon's will have this enabled if they lack the GPU.

 

[freeskier93]

I would say that if you had any intention of running any virtual machines you would want one of the Xeon's but since it's the non-K 4790 I believe they have equivelent virtualization features (Vt-D) (Vt-x).

Also the consumer 4790 is going to have Intel QuickSync support for video transcoding on the GPU - I'm not sure if the Xeon's will have this enabled if they lack the GPU.

QuickSync requires integrated GPU, but frankly if you're doing dedicated transcoding you're better off with software transcoding for better quality, which a 4C/8T Xeon would have no issue with.