CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-11320H
Xeon E-2126G
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i5-11320H vs Intel Xeon E-2126G
The Intel Core i5-11320H and Intel Xeon E-2126G are two very different Intel processors aimed at different markets, yet their benchmark averages land within 1.6% of each other. The Core i5-11320H is a mobile Tiger Lake part designed for laptops, while the Xeon E-2126G is a workstation/server chip from the Coffee Lake era. Despite the Xeon’s higher core count and larger L3 cache, the data shows the newer mobile chip wins seven of eight head-to-head tests, making this a fascinating comparison of architectural efficiency versus raw core allocation.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more physical cores?
A: The Intel Xeon E-2126G has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i5-11320H has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon has two additional physical cores, but the Core i5 uses Hyper-Threading to achieve more threads.
Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?
A: The Intel Core i5-11320H has an average benchmark score of 2888, while the Intel Xeon E-2126G scores 2842. That places the Core i5 roughly 1.6% higher on average, and both sit at the 51st percentile when compared to all CPUs.
Q: Which chip wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?
A: The Intel Core i5-11320H wins with a score of 9158, beating the Xeon E-2126G’s 8891 by exactly 3%. This is notable because the Xeon has 50% more physical cores.
Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?
A: No, only the Intel Xeon E-2126G supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-11320H does not, reflecting the Xeon’s workstation/server positioning.
Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?
A: The Intel Core i5-11320H provides 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth via dual-channel DDR4, while the Intel Xeon E-2126G offers 42.7 GB/s on the same dual-channel DDR4 bus. The Core i5 has a 20% bandwidth advantage.
Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Geekbench score?
A: The Intel Core i5-11320H scores 1592 in Geekbench single-core, beating the Xeon E-2126G’s 1565 by 1.7%. This is a closer margin than the Cinebench single-core tests suggest.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core i5-11320H is the dominant performer in almost every compute-heavy workload represented in the data. It wins all three Cinebench iterations in both single-core and multi-core tests, plus Geekbench single-core. Its strongest showing is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 9158 versus the Xeon’s 8891, a 3% advantage despite having fewer physical cores. The Core i5 also leads in Cinebench R20 multi-core with 3846 against 3734, and in R15 multi-core with 923 against 896. In single-core tests, the margins are consistent: 3% in R15, 3% in R20, and 3% in R23, showing a clear architectural efficiency edge.
The Intel Xeon E-2126G has exactly one win in the head-to-head data: Geekbench multi-core. It scores 5743 against the Core i5’s 5620, a 2.1% advantage. This is the only test where the Xeon’s two extra physical cores translate into a measurable win. The Xeon also holds advantages in platform-level features like ECC memory support and a larger 12 MB shared L3 cache, but those do not appear as benchmark wins. For users running Geekbench-style multi-threaded workloads that scale with core count, the Xeon is the better pick; for everything else in this comparison, the Core i5 wins.
Architecture Differences
The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial. The Intel Core i5-11320H is built on Tiger Lake-H, using a 10 nm process from Intel, while the Intel Xeon E-2126G uses Coffee Lake-S WS on a 14 nm process. This node advantage gives the Core i5 a significant efficiency lead, which is reflected in its 28W TDP versus the Xeon’s 80W TDP.
Cache layouts differ sharply. The Core i5 uses 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The Xeon uses 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has 50% more L3 cache, but the Core i5’s larger per-core L2 and newer architecture compensate in most tests.
Memory and PCIe support also diverge. The Core i5 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Xeon is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Core i5’s memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s versus the Xeon’s 42.7 GB/s. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Core i5 has Iris XE 96EU, while the Xeon has HD Graphics P630. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the Core i5 does not.
Specification Differences
The processors differ in nearly every key specification. The Core i5-11320H has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Xeon E-2126G has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 2.50 GHz for the Core i5 and 3.30 GHz for the Xeon, but both boost to 4.50 GHz. The TDP gap is massive: 28W for the Core i5 versus 80W for the Xeon.
Socket compatibility is entirely different. The Core i5 uses Intel BGA 1449, which is soldered to the motherboard, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard LGA socket. The Core i5 is a mobile part (market segment: Mobile), while the Xeon is classified as Server/Workstation. Production status also differs: the Core i5 is Active, while the Xeon is End-of-life.
The Core i5 has a die size of 146.1 mm² on a 10 nm node, while the Xeon has a 154 mm² die on 14 nm. The Core i5’s launch MSRP was $309, while the Xeon’s was $255. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Core i5 was released on 2021-06-20, while the Xeon launched on 2018-07-11. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the Core i5’s bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s versus the Xeon’s 42.7 GB/s.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The Cinebench R23 multi-core test is the most striking result. The Core i5-11320H scores 9158, while the Xeon E-2126G scores 8891, giving the Core i5 a 3% win. This is remarkable because the Xeon has 6 physical cores against the Core i5’s 4. The Core i5’s 10 nm architecture and higher memory bandwidth clearly offset the core deficit.
In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Core i5 wins 3846 to 3734, again by 3%. The pattern repeats in R15 multi-core: 923 to 896, a 3% margin. Single-core tests follow the same path. In R23 single-core, the Core i5 scores 1293 versus 1255, a 3% lead. R20 single-core shows 543 versus 527, also 3%. R15 single-core is 130 versus 126, a 3.2% margin, the largest single-core delta in the comparison.
Geekbench tells a different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the Xeon E-2126G finally wins, scoring 5743 against the Core i5’s 5620, a 2.1% advantage. This is the only test where the Xeon’s extra cores produce a victory. However, in Geekbench single-core, the Core i5 rebounds with 1592 versus 1565, a 1.7% win. The overall head-to-head count is 7 wins for the Core i5 and 1 win for the Xeon.
The Verdict
The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-11320H is the better processor for raw compute performance in this comparison, winning 7 of 8 benchmarks. Its consistent 3% lead across all Cinebench tests, in both single-core and multi-core, demonstrates that Tiger Lake’s 10 nm architecture and higher memory bandwidth overcome the Xeon’s 50% core-count advantage. The Core i5 also does this at a 28W TDP versus the Xeon’s 80W, making it dramatically more efficient.
The Intel Xeon E-2126G is not without merit. It wins Geekbench multi-core by 2.1%, showing that in certain multi-threaded workloads, its 6 physical cores provide a real benefit. It also offers ECC memory support, which is critical for error-sensitive server and workstation tasks. Its larger 12 MB L3 cache and lower launch MSRP of $255 versus $309 are additional data points in its favor, though the Core i5 is the newer and faster part.
Choose the Intel Core i5-11320H if you need the best compute performance in a mobile form factor, benefit from PCIe Gen 4 connectivity, or want higher memory bandwidth. Choose the Intel Xeon E-2126G if you require ECC memory support, need a socketed LGA 1151 chip for an existing workstation board, or run workloads that specifically favor Geekbench multi-core scaling and can tolerate a 14 nm design that is now end-of-life. For pure benchmark leadership, the Core i5 wins decisively.