CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2286G and Intel Core i3-13100E are two very different processors that happen to land near each other in average benchmark scores. The Xeon E-2286G is a 6-core, 12-thread Coffee Lake part from 2019, built for workstations and servers. The Core i3-13100E is a 4-core, 8-thread Raptor Lake chip from 2023, aimed at desktop builds. Despite their generational gap, the head-to-head data shows a split verdict that depends entirely on which benchmark you trust. The Xeon wins six of the eight direct comparisons, but the i3 wins the two Geekbench tests by a wide margin, and those wins drag the overall average in its favor. This is not a case of a clear knockout; it is a case of picking the right tool for the right workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E-2286G takes a clean sweep of all six Cinebench tests, but the margins are razor-thin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 1198 against the i3's 1180, a 1.5% lead. The single-core R15 test shows the same story: 168 versus 166, a 1.2% edge. Moving to R20, the Xeon posts 4993 multicore and 704 single-core, beating the i3's 4918 and 694 by 1.5% and 1.4% respectively. The R23 results follow the pattern exactly: 11889 versus 11710 in multicore and 1678 versus 1653 in single-core, both 1.5% leads for the Xeon. These are not decisive victories. The Xeon's higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus the i3's 4.40 GHz likely helps, but the i3's newer architecture closes most of the gap. If you are buying purely on Cinebench numbers, the Xeon is technically faster, but the difference is within run-to-run variance on most systems.

The Geekbench tests flip the script entirely. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-13100E scores 7025 against the Xeon's 6651, a 5.3% win for the i3. The single-core test is a blowout: 2001 versus 1598, a 20.1% advantage for the i3. This is where the generational leap becomes obvious. The i3's Raptor Lake architecture delivers dramatically better per-core performance in this workload, and even with two fewer cores, it manages to outscore the Xeon in multicore Geekbench. The Xeon's 6 cores and 12 threads are not enough to overcome the i3's superior IPC in this test. The data shows that Geekbench rewards the newer core design far more than Cinebench does.

Looking at the overall averages, the i3 edges ahead. The i3's average benchmark score is 3668, while the Xeon sits at 3610. The i3 also holds a 56th percentile ranking against all CPUs, one point higher than the Xeon's 55th. The nearest rival data confirms these are closely matched parts. The Xeon's closest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 (3613, delta -0.1%) and the Intel Xeon E-2276G (3614, delta -0.1%), both essentially identical in average score. The i3's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7251 (3671, delta -0.1%) and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X (3673, delta -0.1%), again within a rounding error. Neither chip is dramatically faster than its peer group; they are both mid-pack performers in their respective generations.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E-2286G wins every Cinebench test, which makes it the safer choice for rendering workloads that rely on those benchmarks. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the Xeon leads in both single-core and multicore, with leads between 1.2% and 1.5%. If your software scales across cores and uses Cinebench-like rendering paths, the Xeon's extra two cores and four threads give it a consistent, if small, edge. The Xeon also has a higher boost clock (4.90 GHz) and a larger L3 cache per core (12 MB shared across 6 cores versus 12 MB shared across 4 cores), which helps in sustained multi-threaded loads. For a workstation running long render jobs, the Xeon is the more predictable winner.

The i3-13100E wins decisively in Geekbench, both single-core and multicore. The 20.1% single-core lead (2001 versus 1598) is the largest margin in the entire comparison, and the 5.3% multicore lead (7025 versus 6651) shows that its 4 cores are highly efficient. This suggests the i3 is the better choice for applications that are latency-sensitive or that rely on single-threaded performance, such as everyday desktop tasks, light coding, or older software that does not scale well across cores. The i3 also has a lower TDP of 60 watts versus the Xeon's 95 watts, which means it will run cooler and draw less power in the same workload. For a compact desktop build or a system that prioritizes efficiency, the i3 is the obvious pick.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from completely different eras of Intel design. The Xeon E-2286G is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS variant, using Intel's 14 nm process. It has a die size of 154 mm² and uses the Intel Socket 1151. The i3-13100E is Raptor Lake, using Raptor Lake-S, on Intel's 10 nm process, with a slightly larger die at 163 mm² and a newer Intel Socket 1700. The process node difference is significant: 14 nm versus 10 nm means the i3 packs more transistors into a similar die area, which is why it achieves higher per-core performance despite lower clock speeds.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The i3 has 80 KB of L1 per core and a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, also with 12 MB of shared L3. The i3's larger L2 cache is a key architectural advantage, it allows the CPU to keep more frequently used data closer to the cores, reducing latency and improving single-threaded scores. Both support ECC memory, which is a point in favor of the i3 for reliability-focused builds, though it is more commonly associated with the Xeon's workstation market segment.

The memory support also differs. The Xeon only supports DDR4, with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i3 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the benchmark database does not list a specific bandwidth figure for the i3. PCIe connectivity is a major split: the Xeon offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i3 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. This means the i3 has access to much faster NVMe drives and modern GPUs that can use PCIe Gen 4 or Gen 5 bandwidth. Integrated graphics differ as well, the Xeon uses HD Graphics P630, while the i3 has UHD Graphics 730, which is a newer and generally more capable iGPU for media tasks.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is core count: the Xeon E-2286G has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-13100E has 4 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds favor the Xeon, with a 4.00 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost, versus the i3's 3.30 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. TDP is another clear split: the Xeon is rated at 95 watts, the i3 at 60 watts. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, the i3 uses Intel Socket 1700, so they are not physically interchangeable. The Xeon was released on 2019-05-28 and is end-of-life, while the i3 was released on 2023-01-03 and is still active. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $450; the i3 has a launch MSRP of $480. Both have locked multipliers, so overclocking is not an option for either. The Xeon's part number is SRF7C; the i3's is SRMFR.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2286G has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i3-13100E has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Is the i3-13100E faster in single-core Geekbench?

A: Yes, by a wide margin. The i3 scores 2001 in Geekbench single-core, while the Xeon scores 1598, a 20.1% difference.

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

A: Yes, it wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23 in both single and multicore), with leads ranging from 1.2% to 1.5%.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Xeon E-2286G and the i3-13100E list ECC memory as supported.

Q: Which CPU has a lower TDP?

A: The Intel Core i3-13100E has a TDP of 60 watts, compared to the Xeon E-2286G's 95 watts.

Q: What is the PCIe generation difference?

A: The Xeon E-2286G supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i3-13100E supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: pick the Xeon E-2286G if your workflow is built around Cinebench-style multi-threaded rendering and you need the extra cores. It wins every Cinebench test, and its higher boost clock and larger L3 cache per core make it a reliable choice for sustained compute tasks. The 6-core/12-thread configuration gives it a structural advantage in heavily threaded workloads, even if the margin over the i3 is only about 1.5%. It is also the cheaper part at launch, with an MSRP of $450 versus the i3's $480, though both are now in different market positions given the Xeon's end-of-life status.

Pick the i3-13100E if you care about single-threaded performance, modern platform features, or power efficiency. The 20.1% Geekbench single-core lead is enormous, and the 5.3% multicore Geekbench win shows that its 4 cores are more efficient than the Xeon's 6. The i3 supports DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5, giving it a much longer upgrade path and better support for current storage and GPU hardware. Its 60-watt TDP makes it far easier to cool in a small form factor build. The i3 also has a higher average benchmark score (3668 versus 3610) and a slightly better percentile ranking (56th versus 55th), so on raw aggregate data, it is the faster CPU overall. For a new build in 2024 or later, the i3 is the sensible choice. For a legacy workstation upgrade or a system that must run Cinebench-heavy tasks, the Xeon still holds its own, but it is hard to recommend a discontinued part when the newer i3 matches or beats it in most real-world scenarios.