CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2286G and AMD EPYC 7251 occupy different corners of the server/workstation market, and the benchmark data shows a clear, consistent pattern: the EPYC 7251 wins every single head-to-head benchmark, while the Xeon E-2286G counters with a lower TDP, integrated graphics, and a much higher boost clock. The EPYC’s victory margin is narrow but perfectly uniform across all six Cinebench tests, making this less a question of raw capability and more a choice between platform features and efficiency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD EPYC 7251 is the winner in all six shared Cinebench tests, with a deltaPct that hovers tightly between -6.3% and -6.7% in the Xeon’s favor (meaning the Xeon trails by that percentage). In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 1279 against the Xeon’s 1198, a 6.3% deficit for Intel. The single-core R15 result is similar: EPYC at 180, Xeon at 168, a 6.7% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC posts 5331 multi-core versus 4993 for the Xeon (6.3% behind), and 752 single-core versus 704 (6.4% behind). The R23 results repeat the pattern exactly: EPYC 12694 multi-core, Xeon 11889 (6.3% behind); EPYC 1792 single-core, Xeon 1678 (6.4% behind).

The consistency of these deltas is telling. Whether the workload is lightly threaded or fully loaded, the EPYC 7251 holds a near-identical advantage. This suggests the EPYC’s margin comes from a fundamental architectural edge rather than a workload-specific quirk. The Xeon E-2286G’s higher clock speeds, 4.00 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost versus the EPYC’s 2.10 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost, are not enough to overcome the EPYC’s extra two cores and four threads. In the Geekbench tests, which are not part of the head-to-head set, the Xeon scores 6651 multi-core and 1598 single-core, placing its average benchmark score at 3610. The EPYC’s average is 3671, a small but real lead. The Xeon’s percentile rank is 55, while the EPYC sits at 56, meaning both are near the middle of all CPUs tested, but the EPYC edges slightly ahead in overall standing.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on the same 14 nm process node, but they come from different foundries and use fundamentally different designs. Intel’s Xeon E-2286G is a Coffee Lake-S WS part, a 6-core, 12-thread chip with a 4.00 GHz base clock and 4.90 GHz boost. It has a modest 12 MB of shared L3 cache, with 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The die size is 154 mm². AMD’s EPYC 7251 is a Zen-based Naples part, packing 8 cores and 16 threads at a much lower 2.10 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. Its cache hierarchy is larger: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The die is 213 mm², and AMD lists 4,800 million transistors.

Memory support is a major differentiator. Both support DDR4 and ECC, but the EPYC 7251 uses an eight-channel memory bus with a peak bandwidth of 153.6 GB/s, while the Xeon E-2286G is dual-channel at 42.7 GB/s. That is a 3.6x bandwidth advantage for AMD, which matters for memory-bound server workloads even if the Cinebench scores do not fully reflect it. The Xeon counters with integrated HD Graphics P630; the EPYC has no integrated graphics at all. PCIe support also differs: the Xeon offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the EPYC lists Gen 3 without a lane count in the data. The EPYC is socketed in AMD Socket SP3, the Xeon in Intel Socket 1151. The Xeon’s TDP is 95W, the EPYC’s is 120W, a 25W difference that favors Intel’s efficiency. The EPYC is multiplier-unlocked, the Xeon is not. Production status also diverges: the Xeon E-2286G is end-of-life, while the EPYC 7251 remains active.

The Verdict

From the data alone, the AMD EPYC 7251 is the better performer in every benchmark where both were tested. It wins all six Cinebench tests by roughly 6.3% to 6.7%, and its average benchmark score of 3671 tops the Xeon’s 3610 by about 1.7%. The EPYC also has a higher percentile rank (56 versus 55) and more cores, threads, cache, and memory bandwidth. If raw compute is the priority, the choice is unambiguous: the EPYC 7251.

The Xeon E-2286G is not without merit. It draws less power (95W versus 120W), has integrated graphics, and offers a much higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz, which could help in lightly threaded tasks that do not scale with core count, though the Cinebench single-core results show the EPYC still wins those. The Xeon also has a launch MSRP of $450; the EPYC has no listed launch MSRP. For a builder who needs a drop-in CPU with iGPU for diagnostics or display output, the Xeon is the practical pick. For a server node where memory bandwidth and core count drive performance, the EPYC is the data-supported winner.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2286G | AMD EPYC 7251 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 120 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-S WS | Naples |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not listed | 4,800 million |

| Die Size | 154 mm² | 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 32 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 153.6 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | HD Graphics P630 | None |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Launch MSRP | $450 | Not listed |

FAQ

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

A: The AMD EPYC 7251 wins every multi-core Cinebench test. In R23 multi-core, it scores 12694 versus the Xeon E-2286G’s 11889, a 6.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E-2286G win any benchmark?

A: No. In the six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the EPYC 7251 wins all of them. The Xeon’s best showing is a 6.3% deficit in multi-core tests and a 6.4% to 6.7% deficit in single-core tests.

Q: Which CPU has better memory bandwidth?

A: The EPYC 7251 has an eight-channel memory bus with 153.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon E-2286G has a dual-channel bus at 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Can the Xeon E-2286G be used without a dedicated graphics card?

A: Yes, it includes integrated HD Graphics P630. The EPYC 7251 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: Which CPU is more power-efficient?

A: The Xeon E-2286G has a 95W TDP, while the EPYC 7251 is rated at 120W. The Xeon draws 25W less.

Q: Are both CPUs still in production?

A: No. The Xeon E-2286G is end-of-life, while the EPYC 7251 is listed as active production.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 7251 is the clear winner in raw compute benchmarks. It takes all six Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 6.3% to 6.7%. Its 8 cores and 16 threads outperform the Xeon’s 6 cores and 12 threads in both multi-core and single-core Cinebench runs. The EPYC also dominates memory bandwidth with 153.6 GB/s and eight channels, making it the better fit for memory-intensive virtualization, database, or high-performance computing workloads. Its larger 32 MB L3 cache and 4,800 million transistors further support heavy parallel processing. The EPYC’s multiplier-unlocked status also offers overclocking potential, though the data does not quantify that benefit.

The Intel Xeon E-2286G wins on platform flexibility and efficiency. Its 95W TDP is 25W lower, which reduces cooling requirements and operating power in dense server chassis. The integrated HD Graphics P630 eliminates the need for a separate GPU in headless or diagnostic setups. The 4.90 GHz boost clock is the highest of the two, which could benefit legacy single-threaded applications, even though the EPYC still wins the single-core Cinebench tests. The Xeon’s 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are explicitly listed, whereas the EPYC’s lane count is not specified in the data, so the Xeon may be easier to spec for direct-attached storage or GPU cards. The Xeon’s launch MSRP of $450 provides a reference point, though the EPYC has no equivalent listing. For a builder prioritizing low power, integrated graphics, or a specific Socket 1151 platform, the Xeon E-2286G is the defensible choice. For anyone who needs maximum benchmark performance, the EPYC 7251 is the data-backed winner.