CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2144G and Intel Core i5-1155G7 are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies: a server/workstation chip built on the mature 14 nm Coffee Lake node versus a mobile part on the newer 10 nm Tiger Lake architecture. The benchmark data reveals a surprisingly close overall contest, with the mobile chip taking seven of eight head-to-head wins, though the desktop Xeon secures one decisive victory. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the Xeon E-2144G at 2514 and the Core i5-1155G7 at 2496, a difference of less than one percent. Both processors sit at the 49th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the middle of the performance pack, but the distribution of their wins tells a more nuanced story.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the data is the Geekbench multicore test, where the Intel Xeon E-2144G wins decisively with a score of 4875 against the Core i5-1155G7's 4246. That is a 14.8% advantage for the Xeon, the largest margin in either direction across the entire benchmark suite. This is a substantial gap, suggesting that the Xeon's older architecture and higher 71W TDP provide a meaningful edge in certain multi-threaded workloads that stress memory bandwidth or sustained throughput. The Xeon also has a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz compared to the i5's 2.50 GHz, which likely contributes to this victory in a test that may not scale perfectly with boost clocks.

However, the Core i5-1155G7 wins every other benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, though by much narrower margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5 scores 822 against the Xeon's 797, a 3% difference. The R20 multicore test shows a similar pattern: 3425 for the i5 versus 3322 for the Xeon, again a 3% edge. The R23 multicore results continue this trend, with the i5 at 8155 and the Xeon at 7910, maintaining that consistent 3% lead. These Cinebench results indicate that the Tiger Lake architecture's efficiency and IPC improvements allow the mobile chip to outperform the workstation processor in rendering workloads despite its lower power envelope.

Single-core tests follow the same pattern, though with slightly varying margins. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5 leads 115 to 112, a 2.6% advantage. The R20 single-core test shows the i5 at 483 versus 468 for the Xeon, a 3.1% margin. The R23 single-core results have the i5 at 1151 against 1116, a 3% lead. Geekbench single-core shows the i5 ahead at 1574 versus 1508, a 4.2% margin, which is the largest single-core difference in the i5's favor. The consistency of these single-core wins, all in the 2.6% to 4.2% range, points to the 10 nm Willow Cove cores having a clear IPC advantage over the older Coffee Lake design, even when the Xeon boosts to the same 4.50 GHz maximum clock speed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2144G has an average benchmark score of 2514, while the Intel Core i5-1155G7 has an average of 2496. This puts the Xeon slightly ahead by about 0.7%.

Q: How do the two processors compare in their nearest rival groups?

A: The Xeon E-2144G's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 (2511, 0.1% slower), the Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 (2507, 0.3% slower), and the Intel Xeon E-2244G (2527, 0.5% faster). The Core i5-1155G7's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-9500T (2493, 0.1% slower), the Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 (2507, 0.4% faster), and notably the Intel Xeon E-2144G itself (2514, 0.7% faster).

Q: What is the biggest performance difference between the two chips?

A: The largest margin is in Geekbench multicore, where the Xeon E-2144G scores 4875 versus 4246 for the Core i5-1155G7, a 14.8% advantage for the Xeon. All other benchmarks are decided by margins of 4.2% or less.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E-2144G supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-1155G7 does not have ECC support enabled.

Q: What are the process node differences between the two?

A: The Xeon E-2144G is built on Intel's 14 nm process, while the Core i5-1155G7 uses the newer 10 nm process. The die sizes also differ, with the Xeon at 126 mm² and the i5 at 144 mm².

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2144G has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, which is significantly higher than the Core i5-1155G7's 2.50 GHz base clock. Both have the same 4.50 GHz boost clock.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations with distinct design goals. The Intel Xeon E-2144G uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS codename, and is part of the Xeon E-2100 series. It is built on Intel's 14 nm process node with a die size of 126 mm². The Core i5-1155G7, by contrast, uses the Tiger Lake architecture with the Tiger Lake-U codename, built on the 10 nm process with a larger die size of 144 mm². This process shrink is central to the i5's efficiency advantage, allowing it to deliver competitive performance at a much lower TDP of 28W versus the Xeon's 71W.

Cache configurations also differ notably between the two. The Xeon E-2144G has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The Core i5-1155G7 has larger caches, with 80 KB of L1 per core and a substantial 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both share 8 MB of L3 cache. The i5's larger L1 and L2 caches, combined with the Willow Cove core design, help explain its consistent single-core benchmark wins despite the Xeon's higher base clock.

Memory support and I/O capabilities also diverge. The Xeon E-2144G supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for workstation and server reliability. The Core i5-1155G7 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory in dual-channel configuration, with no ECC support and no memory bandwidth figure listed. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5 offers Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), giving the mobile chip access to newer, faster I/O standards.

The integrated graphics solutions are also from different eras. The Xeon E-2144G includes HD Graphics P630, while the Core i5-1155G7 features Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 80 execution units. The i5's integrated graphics is significantly more capable on paper, reflecting its mobile and consumer-oriented design. Additionally, the Xeon is a server/workstation part that is now end-of-life, while the i5 is an active mobile processor. The Xeon was released in July 2018 with a launch MSRP of $272, while the i5 came later in May 2021 with a launch MSRP of $309.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical at 4 cores and 8 threads, but nearly every other specification differs. The Xeon E-2144G has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Core i5-1155G7 runs at 2.50 GHz; both boost to 4.50 GHz. The Xeon has a TDP of 71W, compared to the i5's 28W, reflecting the desktop versus mobile design split. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i5 uses the BGA 1449 socket, which is soldered to the motherboard.

The process node difference is significant, with the Xeon at 14 nm and the i5 at 10 nm. Die sizes are 126 mm² for the Xeon and 144 mm² for the i5. Cache hierarchies differ as described above, with the i5 having larger L1 (80 KB vs 64 KB per core) and L2 (1.25 MB vs 256 KB per core) caches, while both have 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support shows the Xeon limited to DDR4 while the i5 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X. ECC memory is supported on the Xeon but not on the i5. The Xeon has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while no figure is listed for the i5. PCIe generations differ, with the Xeon at Gen 3 and the i5 at Gen 4, both with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics are HD Graphics P630 for the Xeon versus Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 80EU for the i5. The production status also differs, with the Xeon end-of-life and the i5 active. The part numbers are SR3WM for the Xeon and SRKSF for the i5.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1155G7 wins in the vast majority of benchmark scenarios, taking seven of the eight head-to-head tests. Its wins span both single-core and multi-core workloads in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, as well as Geekbench single-core. This indicates that the i5 is the stronger choice for most general-purpose computing tasks, including rendering, content creation, and everyday productivity. The consistent 3% margins in Cinebench tests suggest a reliable performance advantage in CPU-bound workloads that benefit from the newer Willow Cove architecture and larger caches. Its 28W TDP also makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, where power efficiency is paramount.

The Intel Xeon E-2144G wins only in Geekbench multicore, but it wins big, with a 14.8% margin. This single result suggests the Xeon excels in specific multi-threaded scenarios that Geekbench measures, potentially those that rely on sustained high clock speeds or memory bandwidth rather than raw IPC. The Xeon's 3.60 GHz base clock is 44% higher than the i5's 2.50 GHz base clock, which likely helps in workloads that run at base clocks for extended periods. The Xeon also offers ECC memory support, making it the appropriate choice for server and workstation environments where data integrity is critical. Its 71W TDP and Socket 1151 compatibility indicate it is designed for desktop systems with robust cooling solutions.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear performance picture: the Intel Core i5-1155G7 is the better processor for most users, winning seven of eight benchmarks with margins ranging from 2.6% to 4.2% in its victories. Its only loss is a significant one in Geekbench multicore, but the overall pattern of wins across Cinebench and Geekbench single-core makes it the stronger all-around performer. The i5's active production status, newer 10 nm architecture, larger L1 and L2 caches, and Gen 4 PCIe support all point to a more modern and versatile chip. Its 28W TDP also makes it dramatically more power-efficient than the Xeon's 71W TDP.

The Intel Xeon E-2144G, despite its age and end-of-life status, remains relevant for specific use cases. Its Geekbench multicore victory by 14.8% is the single largest performance gap in the comparison, indicating that it holds an advantage in certain multi-threaded applications. The Xeon's ECC memory support is a critical feature for workstation reliability, and its higher base clock of 3.60 GHz provides sustained performance in scenarios where boost clocks cannot be maintained. For users building a server or workstation that requires ECC memory and can tolerate higher power consumption, the Xeon E-2144G is the logical choice. For virtually everyone else, the Core i5-1155G7 offers superior performance across the board, making it the recommended processor for general computing, mobile systems, and efficiency-focused builds.