Intel Core i5-7400T vs Intel Xeon W-2104 Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2104 and Intel Core i5-7400T are both 4-core, 4-thread processors, but they target fundamentally different market segments. The Xeon W-2104 is a Skylake-W workstation part with a 120 W TDP and quad-channel memory support, while the i5-7400T is a 35 W Kaby Lake desktop chip with dual-channel memory. Benchmark data shows the Xeon W-2104 wins every single head-to-head test, but the average scores of the two are nearly identical (1350 vs. 1348), placing both at the 36th percentile among all CPUs. This near-parity in average score masks a consistent, if modest, performance edge for the Xeon in every measured Cinebench workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon W-2104 wins in every benchmark category recorded. In the six head-to-head Cinebench tests, it takes all six victories, with deltas ranging from 16.9% to 17.9%. The largest margins appear in single-core tests: 17.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core (66 vs. 56) and 17.3% in R23 single-core (659 vs. 562). Multi-core deltas are nearly as large, with a 17.2% advantage in both R15 (470 vs. 401) and R20 (1960 vs. 1672). The smallest win is 16.9% in R20 single-core (276 vs. 236). This means the Xeon W-2104 is consistently about 17% faster across the board, whether the workload is lightly threaded or fully loaded.

The i5-7400T’s only recorded advantage is in efficiency and platform characteristics, not raw compute. It has a 35 W TDP versus the Xeon’s 120 W, and it includes integrated HD 630 graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely. The i5-7400T also supports dual-channel memory, which is adequate for its intended desktop role, whereas the Xeon’s quad-channel support is aimed at memory-bandwidth-hungry workstation tasks. For users who need integrated graphics or minimal power draw, the i5-7400T is the only option between the two, but for pure CPU performance, the Xeon W-2104 wins every measured test.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process, but they come from different architectural generations and platforms. The Xeon W-2104 uses the Skylake-W architecture (codename Skylake-W) and is part of the Xeon W generation, released on 2017-08-28. The i5-7400T uses Kaby Lake (codename Kaby Lake) and belongs to the Core i5 generation, released earlier on 2017-01-02. Despite the newer consumer architecture, the i5-7400T cannot overcome the Xeon’s higher base clock and more robust platform.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The Xeon W-2104 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and no boost clock listed, meaning it runs at a fixed 3.20 GHz under all conditions. The i5-7400T has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, so it can reach 3.00 GHz under load but starts from a much lower idle point. This 0.80 GHz base clock gap explains the consistent performance advantage of the Xeon, especially in single-threaded tests where sustained frequency matters most.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Xeon W-2104 has 1 MB L2 cache per core and 8.25 MB shared L3 cache, while the i5-7400T has 256 KB L2 per core and 6 MB shared L3. Both have 64 KB L1 per core. The Xeon’s larger L2 and L3 caches give it a memory-latency advantage in addition to its clock advantage. Platform features differ even more: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2066 with 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) and quad-channel DDR4 memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-7400T uses Intel Socket 1151 with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes and dual-channel DDR4 at 38.4 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory; the i5-7400T does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six recorded head-to-head benchmarks show a remarkably consistent pattern: the Xeon W-2104 leads by roughly 17% in every test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 470 against the i5-7400T’s 401, a 17.2% delta. The single-core R15 result is 66 vs. 56, a 17.9% gap — the largest margin of any test. Moving to R20, the multi-core scores are 1960 vs. 1672 (17.2% delta), and single-core is 276 vs. 236 (16.9% delta). The R23 results mirror R15: multi-core 4669 vs. 3981 (17.3% delta) and single-core 659 vs. 562 (17.3% delta). Across all six tests, the average delta is approximately 17.3%, indicating a uniform performance advantage rather than a workload-specific one.

The i5-7400T has additional Geekbench scores not present for the Xeon: 2864 multi-core and 1014 single-core. These are not directly comparable because the Xeon lacks Geekbench results in the data, but they provide context for the i5-7400T’s absolute performance level. In the nearestRivals data, the Xeon W-2104 has an average benchmark score of 1350, while the i5-7400T has 1348, a delta of 0.1%. This 2-point difference is negligible, meaning the two CPUs sit at essentially the same overall performance tier despite the i5-7400T losing every individual Cinebench test. The explanation is that the Geekbench scores for the i5-7400T (2864 multi, 1014 single) pull its average up, while the Xeon’s average is based solely on its six Cinebench scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2104 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 66 vs. 56 in R15 (17.9% delta), 276 vs. 236 in R20 (16.9% delta), and 659 vs. 562 in R23 (17.3% delta).

Q: Does the i5-7400T have any performance advantage over the Xeon W-2104?

A: No. In the six head-to-head benchmarks, the i5-7400T wins zero tests. The Xeon W-2104 leads by 16.9% to 17.9% in every Cinebench workload, both single-core and multi-core.

Q: Why are the average benchmark scores so close if the Xeon wins every test?

A: The Xeon W-2104 has an average score of 1350 based on six Cinebench tests, while the i5-7400T has an average of 1348 based on six Cinebench tests plus two Geekbench tests (2864 multi-core, 1014 single-core). The i5-7400T’s Geekbench scores raise its average, offsetting its Cinebench losses.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences between these two CPUs?

A: The Xeon W-2104 supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the i5-7400T supports dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i5-7400T does not.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The i5-7400T includes HD 630 integrated graphics, while the Xeon W-2104 has no integrated graphics listed. The Xeon requires a discrete GPU for display output.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The Xeon W-2104 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz, while the i5-7400T has a base clock of 2.40 GHz. The i5-7400T does have a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, but the Xeon has no boost clock listed, meaning it runs at a constant 3.20 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon W-2104 | Intel Core i5-7400T |

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

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None listed | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 120 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Skylake-W | Kaby Lake |

| Generation | Xeon W (Skylake-W) | Core i5 (Kaby Lake) |

| Die Size | 484 mm² | Not listed |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8.25 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 3, 48 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | HD 630 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2017-08-28 | 2017-01-02 |

| Launch MSRP | $255 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SR3LH | SR332 |

The Xeon W-2104 has a launch MSRP of $255; the i5-7400T has no launch MSRP listed. The Xeon also has a 484 mm² die size, while the i5-7400T’s die size is not recorded. Both use a 14 nm process, have 4 cores and 4 threads, and support DDR4 memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon W-2104 is marked as end-of-life, while the i5-7400T remains active, which may matter for long-term availability but does not affect the measured performance data.