Intel Core i3-1125G4 vs Intel Xeon E-2226GE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, victory for the Intel Xeon E-2226GE across every recorded rendering test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 824 against the Core i3-1125G4's 792, a 3.9% deficit for the mobile chip. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 116 versus 111, a 4.3% gap. These margins are small enough that in practical use, the difference would be perceptible only in sustained workloads, not in casual interaction.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon E-2226GE again leads in multi-core with 3434 points versus 3301, and in single-core with 484 versus 465. Both results show a 3.9% delta in favor of the Xeon. The same 3.9% delta appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon records 8177 and the Core i3 records 7860, and in R23 single-core, where the Xeon posts 1154 against 1109. The consistency of this 3.9% margin across R20 and R23, both multi-core and single-core, suggests a stable performance relationship determined by clock speed and architecture rather than workload-specific scaling.

It is notably the Core i3-1125G4 does not appear in the head-to-head Geekbench comparisons, though its own benchmark record shows a multi-core score of 4509 and a single-core score of 1461. The Xeon E-2226GE has no Geekbench entry in the database, so the comparison there is incomplete. However, the Cinebench suite, which is present for both, paints a uniform picture: the Xeon wins every test by roughly 4%.

The average benchmark score places the Core i3-1125G4 at 2451, slightly above the Xeon E-2226GE's 2365. This is a curious inversion. The average score is calculated across a broader benchmark set, including Geekbench, which likely favors the Core i3's higher single-core Geekbench result. The Xeon's average is dragged down by its absence of Geekbench data or by the weighting of other tests. Both processors sit at the 48th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same midpoint of overall performance distribution despite their different strengths.

The nearest rivals for the Core i3-1125G4 include the Intel Core i5-8600 at 2454 (a 0.1% deficit), the Intel Xeon D-1541 at 2447 (a 0.1% lead), and the Intel Core i5-10500 at 2446 (a 0.2% lead). For the Xeon E-2226GE, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X at 2361 (a 0.2% lead), the Intel Xeon E-2234 at 2374 (a 0.4% deficit), and the Intel Core i5-9600 at 2354 (a 0.5% lead). These rivalries show that both chips are clustered tightly with mid-range desktop and server parts from the same era.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Core i3-1125G4 is built on Tiger Lake, specifically the Tiger Lake-U mobile platform, with a 10 nm process node. The Intel Xeon E-2226GE uses Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS workstation variant, on a 14 nm node. This process difference is significant: the newer 10 nm node allows the Core i3 to achieve its performance at a dramatically lower thermal design power of 15 watts, while the Xeon's 14 nm node requires 80 watts. The die size also differs, with the Core i3 at 144 mm² and the Xeon at 154 mm².

Core and thread counts favor the Xeon in raw core quantity but favor the Core i3 in threading. The Xeon E-2226GE has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The Core i3-1125G4 has 4 cores and 8 threads, enabling simultaneous multi-threading. In multi-threaded applications, the Xeon's two extra physical cores offset the Core i3's hyper-threading advantage, which explains the narrow 3.9% Xeon lead in multi-core Cinebench tests. The Core i3's base clock is 2000 MHz with a boost of 3.70 GHz, while the Xeon runs at a base of 3.40 GHz and boosts to 4.60 GHz. The Xeon's higher clocks, especially the 4.60 GHz boost, drive its single-core wins.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Core i3 has 80 KB of L1 per core and a large 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a larger 12 MB of shared L3. The Core i3's bigger per-core L2 is a hallmark of the Willow Cove core design, while the Xeon's larger L3 benefits workloads that access a shared pool of data across six cores.

Memory support also separates the two. The Core i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X in dual-channel mode, while the Xeon supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, with a rated memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Core i3's memory bandwidth is not listed in the database. ECC memory is a key differentiator: the Xeon E-2226GE supports ECC, the Core i3 does not. PCIe generation and lanes also differ: the Core i3 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well, with the Core i3 featuring Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4 and the Xeon featuring UHD Graphics P630.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2226GE wins every single-core Cinebench test. In R15 it scores 116 versus 111, in R20 it scores 484 versus 465, and in R23 it scores 1154 versus 1109. The margin is consistently 3.9% except in R15, where it is 4.3%.

Q: Does the Core i3-1125G4's hyper-threading close the gap in multi-core tests?

A: No. Despite having 8 threads against the Xeon's 6, the Core i3 still trails in every multi-core Cinebench test. The Xeon leads by 3.9% in R15 (824 versus 792), R20 (3434 versus 3301), and R23 (8177 versus 7860).

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E-2226GE supports ECC memory. The Core i3-1125G4 does not list ECC support in the database.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings?

A: The Core i3-1125G4 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Xeon E-2226GE has a TDP of 80 watts. This reflects the mobile versus workstation design targets.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Xeon E-2226GE boosts to 4.60 GHz, while the Core i3-1125G4 boosts to 3.70 GHz. The Xeon also has a higher base clock at 3.40 GHz versus 2.00 GHz.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: Both are marked as end-of-life in the database. The Core i3-1125G4 was released on 2021-03-30, and the Xeon E-2226GE was released on 2019-06-10.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 4 (Core i3) versus 6 (Xeon)
• Threads: 8 (Core i3) versus 6 (Xeon)
• Base Clock: 2000 MHz (Core i3) versus 3400 MHz (Xeon)
• Boost Clock: 3.70 GHz (Core i3) versus 4.60 GHz (Xeon)
• TDP: 15 W (Core i3) versus 80 W (Xeon)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1449 (Core i3) versus Intel Socket 1151 (Xeon)
• Architecture: Tiger Lake (Core i3) versus Coffee Lake (Xeon)
• Process Node: 10 nm (Core i3) versus 14 nm (Xeon)
• Die Size: 144 mm² (Core i3) versus 154 mm² (Xeon)
• L1 Cache: 80 KB per core (Core i3) versus 64 KB per core (Xeon)
• L2 Cache: 1.25 MB per core (Core i3) versus 256 KB per core (Xeon)
• L3 Cache: 8 MB shared (Core i3) versus 12 MB shared (Xeon)
• Memory Support: DDR4 and LPDDR4X (Core i3) versus DDR4 only (Xeon)
• Memory Bandwidth: not listed (Core i3) versus 42.7 GB/s (Xeon)
• ECC Memory: false (Core i3) versus true (Xeon)
• PCIe: Gen 4, 16 lanes (Core i3) versus Gen 3, 16 lanes (Xeon)
• Integrated Graphics: Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4 (Core i3) versus UHD Graphics P630 (Xeon)
• Market Segment: Mobile (Core i3) versus Server/Workstation (Xeon)
• Release Date: 2021-03-30 (Core i3) versus 2019-06-10 (Xeon)
• Launch MSRP: $281 (Core i3) versus $286 (Xeon)

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E-2226GE wins in every Cinebench benchmark recorded in the database, both single-core and multi-core. Its higher base and boost clocks, 3.40 GHz and 4.60 GHz respectively, give it a clear advantage in tasks that respond to raw clock speed. The 3.9% lead in R20 and R23, and the 4.3% lead in R15 single-core, are small but consistent. The Xeon also wins on ECC memory support, which is a requirement for many server and workstation reliability scenarios. Its larger 12 MB shared L3 cache and six physical cores make it the better choice for lightly threaded server workloads that need stable, validated memory.

The Core i3-1125G4 wins on efficiency and platform flexibility. Its 15 watt TDP is a fraction of the Xeon's 80 watts, making it suitable for thin-and-light mobile systems. The 10 nm process node delivers competitive performance at that power envelope. The Core i3 also supports LPDDR4X memory, which is common in mobile designs, and PCIe Gen 4, which is a newer standard than the Xeon's PCIe Gen 3. Its larger per-core L2 cache (1.25 MB per core versus 256 KB) may benefit workloads with high per-core locality. The Core i3's average benchmark score of 2451 is also higher than the Xeon's 2365, driven largely by its Geekbench scores of 4509 multi-core and 1461 single-core, which have no direct Xeon counterpart in the database.

Neither processor wins on price meaningfully. The launch MSRP is $281 for the Core i3 and $286 for the Xeon, a difference of only $5. Both sit at the 48th percentile among all CPUs, so neither offers a statistical overall performance advantage.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward choice based on platform. For a mobile system, the Intel Core i3-1125G4 is the only viable option of the two, given its BGA 1449 socket, 15 watt TDP, and LPDDR4X support. It delivers 89% of the Xeon's multi-core Cinebench R23 score (7860 versus 8177) while consuming far less power. Its Geekbench scores, 4509 multi-core and 1461 single-core, indicate solid general-purpose performance for a laptop processor.

For a server or workstation, the Intel Xeon E-2226GE is the clear pick. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, supports ECC memory, and uses a standard Socket 1151 platform. Its 80 watt TDP is acceptable for desktop and rack-mounted systems. The 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth and 12 MB shared L3 cache are meaningful for server workloads that rely on memory throughput and shared data sets.

The choice is not about raw performance, as the margins are narrow. It is about the intended environment. The Core i3-1125G4 is a mobile processor with a modern 10 nm node and PCIe Gen 4. The Xeon E-2226GE is a workstation processor with ECC, six cores, and higher clocks. Users who need ECC or a socketed server platform should choose the Xeon. Users who need low power and mobile compatibility should choose the Core i3. The benchmark deltas, consistently around 4% in the Xeon's favor, are too small to override these platform-level considerations.