Intel Core i3-1125G4 vs Intel Xeon E-2244G Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Xeon E-2244G and the Intel Core i3-1125G4 are both 4-core, 8-thread parts, but they serve entirely different worlds. The Xeon E-2244G is a workstation and server CPU built for sustained, multi-threaded workloads, while the Core i3-1125G4 is a mobile processor designed for a compact, low-power laptop environment. The data shows a clear winner for raw compute: the Xeon E-2244G takes 7 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks, with its largest victory being a 4.5% lead in Geekbench multicore. The Core i3-1125G4 has exactly one win, but it is a notable one: a 3.6% lead in Geekbench single-core, which indicates it has a slight edge in lightly-threaded, short-burst tasks.

If you are building a fixed workstation or a small server where power draw is not a primary constraint, the Xeon E-2244G is the obvious choice. Its 71W TDP versus the i3's 15W TDP tells you everything about intended use: the Xeon is meant to be fed power and pushed hard, while the i3 is meant to sip power inside a thin chassis. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which is a must-have for data integrity in a server environment. The i3-1125G4, on the other hand, is for a compact mobile system where single-thread responsiveness and low heat output matter more than peak multi-core throughput. Its 10 nm Tiger Lake architecture and faster single-core Geekbench score give it a slight advantage in everyday desktop-style tasks, but the Xeon is the stronger all-around performer in the recorded benchmarks.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E-2244G wins every Cinebench test, both multi-core and single-core, across R15, R20, and R23. The deltas are consistent, ranging from 3.3% to 3.6%, which suggests that the Xeon's higher base clock (3.80 GHz versus 2.00 GHz) and boost clock (4.80 GHz versus 3.70 GHz) give it a decisive edge in CPU-bound rendering and encoding workloads. In Geekbench multicore, the Xeon extends its lead to 4.5%, the largest margin in the comparison. That is the benchmark that matters for content creation, compilation, and any task that scales across all threads.

The Core i3-1125G4 wins only one test: Geekbench single-core, with a score of 1461 against the Xeon's 1408. That is a 3.6% swing in favor of the i3. This result indicates that the Tiger Lake architecture, with its newer IPC and larger per-core L2 cache (1.25 MB versus 256 KB), is more efficient on a per-clock basis. For a user who spends most of the time in a single-threaded application like a web browser or a light office suite, the i3 may feel snappier despite its lower clock speeds. But the data also shows that the Xeon still wins Cinebench single-core tests, so the i3's advantage is not universal; it appears specifically in the Geekbench workload.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs are built on different process nodes and microarchitectures. The Xeon E-2244G uses the Coffee Lake architecture on Intel's 14 nm process, with a die size of 126 mm². The Core i3-1125G4 uses the Tiger Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, with a larger die size of 144 mm². The smaller process node for the i3 gives it a transistor density advantage, which helps explain its lower TDP of 15W versus 71W for the Xeon.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The i3 has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, also with 8 MB of shared L3. The i3's much larger L2 cache (roughly five times per core) is a direct result of the newer architecture and contributes to its single-core Geekbench win. Both CPUs have 8 MB of L3, so the shared cache capacity is identical.

Memory support also splits them. The Xeon supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, plus ECC memory support. The i3 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, also dual-channel, but has no ECC support and no recorded memory bandwidth figure in the database. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i3 uses Intel BGA 1449, meaning the i3 is soldered to the board and is not upgradeable in a traditional socket sense. PCIe generation also differs: the Xeon is Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i3 is Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, so the i3 has a newer interconnect standard. The integrated graphics differ as well: the Xeon has HD Graphics P630, while the i3 has Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, which is the more capable iGPU for basic media tasks, though no benchmark data is provided to quantify that difference.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon E-2244G wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 8126 versus 7860 for the i3-1125G4, a 3.4% lead. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 4712 versus 4509, a 4.5% lead.

Q: Does the Core i3-1125G4 beat the Xeon in any benchmark?

A: Yes, in Geekbench single-core, the i3-1125G4 scores 1461 versus 1408 for the Xeon, which is a 3.6% advantage. That is the only head-to-head win for the i3 out of eight recorded tests.

Q: Can the Core i3-1125G4 be used in a server with ECC memory?

A: No. The i3-1125G4 does not support ECC memory, while the Xeon E-2244G does. For data-integrity-critical workloads, the Xeon is the correct choice.

Q: Which CPU consumes less power?

A: The Core i3-1125G4 has a TDP of 15W, while the Xeon E-2244G has a TDP of 71W. The i3 is designed for mobile systems where low power draw is essential.

Q: Are these CPUs the same generation?

A: No. The Xeon E-2244G is from the Xeon E-2200 series, based on Coffee Lake, released in 2019. The i3-1125G4 is from the Tiger Lake generation, released in 2021. The i3 uses a 10 nm process, while the Xeon uses 14 nm.

Q: Which CPU has better single-thread performance?

A: The data is mixed. The Xeon wins all three Cinebench single-core tests (R15, R20, R23) with margins of 3.4% to 3.6%, while the i3 wins Geekbench single-core by 3.6%. The Geekbench result favors the i3, but the Cinebench results favor the Xeon, so the answer depends on the workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Xeon E-2244G comes in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 4712 against the i3-1125G4's 4509, a 4.5% delta. That is the only benchmark where the margin exceeds 4%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 818 versus 792, a 3.3% lead; in R15 single-core, it scores 115 versus 111, a 3.6% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 3412 versus 3301, a 3.4% lead, and R20 single-core shows 481 versus 465, also 3.4%. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 8126 versus 7860, a 3.4% lead, and R23 single-core shows 1147 versus 1109, again 3.4%.

The single win for the i3-1125G4 is Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1461 against the Xeon's 1408, a 3.6% delta in favor of the i3. Notably, the Xeon's Cinebench single-core wins are all around 3.4% to 3.6%, while the i3's Geekbench single-core win is also 3.6%, so the two CPUs trade blows in single-threaded tests depending on the benchmark suite. The consistency of the Xeon's Cinebench margins (all between 3.3% and 3.6%) suggests a stable clock advantage, while the i3's Geekbench win points to a microarchitectural edge in that specific workload. Overall, the Xeon leads in 7 of 8 tests, and its average benchmark score of 2527 versus the i3's 2451 places it at the 49th percentile versus all CPUs, compared to the i3's 48th percentile.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The Xeon E-2244G has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the i3-1125G4 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz) and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The TDP is 71W for the Xeon and 15W for the i3. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i3 uses Intel BGA 1449. The process node is 14 nm for the Xeon and 10 nm for the i3, with die sizes of 126 mm² and 144 mm², respectively. The L1 cache is 64 KB per core for the Xeon and 80 KB per core for the i3; the L2 cache is 256 KB per core for the Xeon and 1.25 MB per core for the i3; both have 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 only for the Xeon, while the i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X. The Xeon has ECC memory support, the i3 does not. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the Xeon, while the i3 has Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics are HD Graphics P630 for the Xeon and Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4 for the i3. The Xeon was released in 2019, the i3 in 2021, and both are end-of-life. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $272, and the i3's launch MSRP is $281. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier.