CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2224G and Intel Core i5-8500T are both 14 nm Coffee Lake parts on the Intel Socket 1151 platform, yet they target different segments. The Xeon is a server/workstation chip with a 71 W TDP, while the i5-8500T is a desktop processor with a 35 W TDP. Benchmark results show a split decision: the i5-8500T wins six of eight head-to-head tests, but the Xeon E-2224G takes a decisive victory in Geekbench single-core performance. Both processors sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, differing by only 0.3%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a clear pattern across the Cinebench suite: the Intel Core i5-8500T consistently outperforms the Xeon E-2224G, though by a narrow margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-8500T scores 662 against 644, a 2.7% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same shape, with the i5-8500T at 93 versus 90, a 3.2% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-8500T posts 2759 multi-core against 2687, and 389 single-core against 379; both deltas sit at 2.6%. The Cinebench R23 results repeat this exact 2.6% gap in both tests: 6571 versus 6398 multi-core, and 927 versus 903 single-core. Across all six Cinebench variants, the i5-8500T wins without exception, but the largest margin is only 3.2%, indicating that the Xeon’s higher clock speeds do not translate into a categorical defeat.

The Geekbench tests tell a different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the Xeon E-2224G edges out the i5-8500T by a hair: 4299 versus 4293, a 0.1% delta. That is effectively a tie, but the single-core Geekbench result is the most lopsided metric in this comparison. The Xeon E-2224G scores 1535, while the i5-8500T manages only 1187. That is a 29.3% advantage for the Xeon, a massive gap that dwarfs any of the i5-8500T’s Cinebench wins. This single result flips the narrative: in a workload that relies heavily on single-threaded performance, the Xeon E-2224G is far ahead, despite losing every Cinebench single-core test by roughly 3%.

Overall, the i5-8500T claims six wins and the Xeon E-2224G takes two. However, the magnitude of the Xeon’s Geekbench single-core victory is disproportionate to the i5-8500T’s cumulative Cinebench margins. The average benchmark score for the Xeon is 2117, and for the i5-8500T it is 2110, a 0.3% difference that places them as near-neighbors in the database. Interestingly, the Xeon’s nearest rival list shows a 0.3% delta to the i5-8500T, while the i5-8500T’s list shows a -0.3% delta to the Xeon, confirming they are statistical peers in aggregate performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-8500T wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests. The Intel Xeon E-2224G wins only 2, both in Geekbench.

Q: How large is the Xeon E-2224G’s Geekbench single-core advantage?

A: The Xeon E-2224G scores 1535 in Geekbench single-core, compared to 1187 for the i5-8500T. This represents a 29.3% lead, the largest delta in any benchmark category between these two CPUs.

Q: Are the two processors close in overall performance?

A: Yes. The Xeon E-2224G has an average benchmark score of 2117, and the i5-8500T has an average of 2110. The difference is 0.3%, and both sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What are the Cinebench R23 multi-core scores?

A: The i5-8500T scores 6571 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Xeon E-2224G scores 6398. The i5-8500T leads by 2.6% in this test.

Q: Does the Xeon E-2224G win any multi-core test?

A: Yes, in Geekbench multi-core the Xeon E-2224G scores 4299 versus 4293 for the i5-8500T, a 0.1% margin. This is the only multi-core test the Xeon wins, and the margin is negligible.

Q: How do the single-core Cinebench scores compare?

A: The i5-8500T leads in every Cinebench single-core test. In R15 it scores 93 versus 90, in R20 it scores 389 versus 379, and in R23 it scores 927 versus 903. All deltas are between 2.6% and 3.2% in favor of the i5-8500T.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node and use the Coffee Lake architecture, but they diverge in core configuration and feature set. The Xeon E-2224G is a 4-core, 4-thread part with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The i5-8500T is a 6-core, 6-thread part with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Xeon’s higher clocks are offset by the i5-8500T’s two additional physical cores, which explains the i5-8500T’s consistent, if modest, Cinebench victories.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. Both share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache is larger on the i5-8500T: 9 MB shared, versus 8 MB shared on the Xeon. The Xeon’s die size is listed at 126 mm², while the i5-8500T’s die size is not provided. Memory support is identical on paper: both support DDR4 over a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The critical architectural split is ECC memory support, the Xeon E-2224G supports ECC memory, while the i5-8500T does not. This is a defining feature for the Xeon’s server/workstation positioning.

Integrated graphics also differ. The Xeon E-2224G carries HD Graphics P630, while the i5-8500T uses UHD 630. Both are Intel integrated solutions, but the naming suggests different feature tiers. PCIe connectivity is the same: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either part. The Xeon is part of the Xeon E-2200 series, codenamed Coffee Lake-S WS, while the i5-8500T belongs to the Core i5 lineup with the Coffee Lake codename.

The market segments are explicit: the Xeon is targeted at server/workstation use, while the i5-8500T is a desktop part. This explains the ECC support on the Xeon and the lower 35 W TDP on the i5-8500T, which is a power-efficient desktop option. The process node, foundry (Intel), and memory bus are identical, making the core count, clock speeds, and ECC capability the primary architectural differentiators.

The Verdict

The data points to a split recommendation based on workload priorities. If the task is single-threaded performance, the Intel Xeon E-2224G is the clear choice. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1535 is 29.3% higher than the i5-8500T’s 1187, an overwhelming margin that no other test in this comparison approaches. This suggests that applications which are latency-sensitive or rely on a single dominant thread will see a substantial benefit from the Xeon, despite its lower core count.

For multi-threaded workloads, the Intel Core i5-8500T is the safer pick. It wins every Cinebench multi-core test, from R15 (662 versus 644) to R23 (6571 versus 6398), with margins ranging from 2.6% to 2.7%. The i5-8500T’s two extra cores provide a consistent edge in rendering and compute tasks that scale across threads. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 4293 is statistically tied with the Xeon’s 4299, so the i5-8500T does not lose any meaningful ground in that test.

The average benchmark scores tell the aggregate story: the Xeon E-2224G at 2117 and the i5-8500T at 2110 are within 0.3% of each other, and both rank at the 46th percentile. Neither processor is a dramatic winner overall. The selection should hinge on whether the workload favors the Xeon’s higher clock speeds and ECC support, or the i5-8500T’s additional cores and lower TDP. The Xeon is an end-of-life server/workstation part with a launch MSRP of $213, while the i5-8500T is also end-of-life but carries no listed launch MSRP. For a system requiring ECC memory, the Xeon is mandatory. For a power-sensitive desktop build, the i5-8500T’s 35 W TDP versus the Xeon’s 71 W TDP is a decisive factor.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The Xeon E-2224G has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-8500T has 6 cores and 6 threads. Base clocks are 3.50 GHz for the Xeon and 2.10 GHz for the i5-8500T. Boost clocks are 4.70 GHz for the Xeon and 3.50 GHz for the i5-8500T. The TDP is 71 W for the Xeon and 35 W for the i5-8500T. L3 cache is 8 MB shared on the Xeon and 9 MB shared on the i5-8500T. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the i5-8500T does not. Integrated graphics are HD Graphics P630 on the Xeon and UHD 630 on the i5-8500T. The market segment is Server/Workstation for the Xeon and Desktop for the i5-8500T. Release dates differ, with the Xeon launching in 2019-05-28 and the i5-8500T launching in 2018-04-01. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $213; the i5-8500T has none listed. Both share the same socket, process node, memory support, memory bus, memory bandwidth, and PCIe configuration.