Intel Core i5-1250P vs Intel Xeon E-2288G Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1250P and Intel Xeon E-2288G represent two distinct Intel design philosophies: one is a mobile Alder Lake processor built for efficiency, the other a Coffee Lake server/workstation chip aimed at sustained throughput. The recorded benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the i5-1250P winning all six head-to-head Cinebench tests despite the Xeon's higher clock speeds and server-oriented feature set.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-1250P has 12 cores, while the Intel Xeon E-2288G has 8 cores. Both processors support 16 threads.

Q: What are the base and boost clock speeds?

A: The i5-1250P has a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 4.4 GHz. The Xeon E-2288G runs at a base clock of 3.7 GHz and boosts to 5.0 GHz.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E-2288G supports ECC memory. The i5-1250P does not support ECC.

Q: What process nodes are used?

A: The i5-1250P is built on Intel's 10 nm process, while the Xeon E-2288G uses the older 14 nm process.

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The i5-1250P scores 2203 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to 2091 for the Xeon E-2288G, a 5.4% advantage.

Q: What market segments do these processors target?

A: The i5-1250P is classified as a mobile processor, while the Xeon E-2288G is a server/workstation part.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different architectural generations. The i5-1250P uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, while the Xeon E-2288G is based on Coffee Lake on a 14 nm node. This generational gap shows up in core counts: the i5-1250P packs 12 cores, the Xeon has 8. Both support 16 threads, but the i5 achieves this with a hybrid core arrangement typical of Alder Lake, whereas the Xeon relies on a more conventional 8-core, 16-thread design.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The i5-1250P has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The Xeon E-2288G has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a larger 16 MB shared L3. The Xeon's larger L3 pool reflects its server heritage, but the i5's newer architecture compensates with higher per-core efficiency.

Memory support is another split. The i5-1250P supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Xeon E-2288G is limited to DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Xeon has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, a figure not listed for the i5. ECC memory is exclusive to the Xeon, a key feature for workstation reliability. The i5 integrates Iris Xe 80EU graphics, while the Xeon uses HD Graphics P630. The i5 uses a BGA 1744 socket and is marked as active production, while the Xeon uses Socket 1151 and is end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data is unambiguous: the i5-1250P wins all six recorded Cinebench tests. In multi-core workloads, the i5's 12 cores give it a consistent edge. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5 scores 15610 versus 14817 for the Xeon, a 5.4% lead. The same margin appears in R20 multi-core (6556 vs 6223) and R15 multi-core (1573 vs 1493). This suggests the i5's newer architecture and higher core count translate directly into better threaded performance.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. The i5-1250P leads in Cinebench R15 single-core (222 vs 210, a 5.7% gap), R20 single-core (925 vs 878, 5.4%), and R23 single-core (2203 vs 2091, 5.4%). Even though the Xeon has a higher boost clock of 5.0 GHz versus 4.4 GHz, the i5's Alder Lake cores deliver better instructions per clock.

The Xeon E-2288G does have recorded Geekbench scores (7639 multi-core, 1632 single-core), but no comparable i5 data exists in the database, so a direct comparison is not possible. The Xeon's strengths lie in its server features: ECC memory support, a larger 16 MB L3 cache, and a higher base clock of 3.7 GHz. For workloads that require error-correcting memory or sustained all-core operation in a workstation chassis, the Xeon remains relevant. However, the benchmark results indicate that for raw Cinebench performance, the i5-1250P is the faster chip.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-1250P | Intel Xeon E-2288G |

|---------------|---------------------|---------------------|

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 1700 MHz | 3.7 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 5.0 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 217 mm² | 180 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 80EU | HD Graphics P630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2022-02-22 | 2019-05-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $539 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers six Cinebench tests, and the i5-1250P wins every one. The margins are consistent, hovering around 5.4% for most tests, with a slightly larger 5.7% gap in Cinebench R15 single-core.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-1250P scores 1573 against 1493 for the Xeon, a 5.4% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows 222 versus 210, a 5.7% lead. Moving to R20, the i5 posts 6556 multi-core and 925 single-core, while the Xeon manages 6223 and 878 respectively, both 5.4% gaps. The R23 results mirror this: 15610 vs 14817 in multi-core and 2203 vs 2091 in single-core, again 5.4% differences.

These numbers tell a clear story. The i5-1250P's 12-core design and newer 10 nm process overcome the Xeon's higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache. The Xeon's 5.0 GHz boost clock does not translate into a win in any recorded test. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the i5-1250P averages 4515 across all tests, while the Xeon averages 4373. Both processors sit at the 58th percentile among all CPUs, but the i5's average score is higher.

The Xeon E-2288G does have additional Geekbench results in the database (7639 multi-core, 1632 single-core), but without matching i5 data, those cannot be compared directly. For the tests that do overlap, the i5-1250P is consistently ahead, making it the stronger performer in the Cinebench suite. The Xeon's remaining appeal lies in its ECC support and workstation positioning, not in raw benchmark wins.