CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-9400T and Intel Xeon E-2224G are both 14 nm Intel Socket 1151 parts built on the Coffee Lake architecture, but the benchmark data reveals a stark split in their strengths. Across the seven Cinebench tests, the Core i5-9400T wins every single one, with margins between 7.7% and 7.9%. The Xeon E-2224G, however, decisively wins both Geekbench tests, with a 7.7% lead in multi-core and a massive 25% lead in single-core. The data suggests the i5-9400T is the choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, while the Xeon E-2224G is the pick for latency-sensitive, single-threaded tasks and applications that leverage Geekbench-style performance. The Core i5-9400T also edges out the Xeon in overall average benchmark score, at 2136 versus 2117, and occupies a slightly higher percentile rank at 47 versus 46.

The Verdict

The benchmark data draws a clear line between these two processors. If your workload is dominated by Cinebench-style rendering, which stresses all cores equally over time, the Intel Core i5-9400T is the stronger choice. It wins the R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests by nearly 8% each time, a consistent margin that reflects its two additional physical cores. The i5-9400T also wins every single-core Cinebench test by the same 7.7-7.8% margin, meaning it is not just a multi-core specialist in this specific benchmark suite.

If your workload is better represented by Geekbench, the Intel Xeon E-2224G is the clear winner. Its single-core Geekbench score of 1535 is a full 25% higher than the i5-9400T's 1152, and its multi-core score of 4299 is 7.7% higher than the i5-9400T's 3969. This suggests the Xeon's higher clock speeds, a 3.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost compared to the i5's 1.80 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost, translate into a significant advantage in Geekbench's mixed workload. The data indicates the Xeon E-2224G is the pick for users prioritizing raw single-thread response and Geekbench-optimized applications, while the i5-9400T is the pick for consistent multi-threaded rendering throughput.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same 14 nm process node and Coffee Lake architecture family, but they target different market segments. The Core i5-9400T is a desktop part with 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Xeon E-2224G is a server/workstation part with 4 cores and 4 threads. The i5-9400T features a larger 9 MB shared L3 cache, whereas the Xeon E-2224G has 8 MB shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The Xeon E-2224G has a slightly larger die size at 126 mm², while the i5-9400T's die size is not specified in the data.

The most significant architectural divergence is in memory and graphics. The Xeon E-2224G supports ECC memory, while the Core i5-9400T does not. Both support DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses and identical 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth. The integrated graphics differ: the i5-9400T has UHD 630, while the Xeon E-2224G has HD Graphics P630. Both use the same Gen 3 PCIe interface with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon E-2224G is part of the Xeon E-2200 series and was released on 2019-05-28, roughly nine months after the i5-9400T's 2018-08-31 release. The i5-9400T belongs to the Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation, while the Xeon is from the Xeon E (Coffee Lake) generation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400T has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2224G has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Xeon E-2224G support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E-2224G supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-9400T does not.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2224G has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-9400T has a boost clock of 3.40 GHz.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400T has an average benchmark score of 2136, which is higher than the Intel Xeon E-2224G's average score of 2117.

Q: Which processor wins the Geekbench single-core test?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2224G wins the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 1535, which is 25% higher than the Intel Core i5-9400T's score of 1152.

Q: Are both processors end-of-life?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-9400T and the Intel Xeon E-2224G have a production status of "End-of-life."

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Core i5-9400T has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Xeon E-2224G has 4 cores and 4 threads. The base clock is 1.80 GHz for the i5-9400T versus 3.50 GHz for the Xeon E-2224G, and the boost clock is 3.40 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. The TDP is 35 watts for the i5-9400T and 71 watts for the Xeon E-2224G. The L3 cache is 9 MB shared on the i5-9400T and 8 MB shared on the Xeon E-2224G. The Xeon E-2224G supports ECC memory, while the i5-9400T does not. The integrated graphics are UHD 630 on the i5-9400T and HD Graphics P630 on the Xeon E-2224G. The market segment is Desktop for the i5-9400T and Server/Workstation for the Xeon E-2224G. The release date is 2018-08-31 for the i5-9400T and 2019-05-28 for the Xeon E-2224G. The die size is 126 mm² for the Xeon E-2224G, but not listed for the i5-9400T. The part numbers are SR3X8 for the i5-9400T and SRFAW for the Xeon E-2224G.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clear pattern: the Core i5-9400T dominates the Cinebench suite, while the Xeon E-2224G dominates Geekbench. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-9400T scores 695 against the Xeon's 644, a 7.9% win. The single-core R15 test shows a 7.8% win for the i5-9400T, with scores of 97 and 90 respectively. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-9400T wins multi-core with 2896 versus 2687 (7.8% delta) and single-core with 408 versus 379 (7.7% delta). The Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: the i5-9400T scores 6896 in multi-core against the Xeon's 6398, a 7.8% win, and 973 in single-core against 903, also a 7.8% win.

The Geekbench results flip the narrative decisively. In Geekbench multi-core, the Xeon E-2224G scores 4299 against the i5-9400T's 3969, a 7.7% win for the Xeon. The Geekbench single-core test is the largest margin in the entire comparison: the Xeon scores 1535, which is 25% higher than the i5-9400T's 1152. This single-core delta is more than three times larger than any Cinebench margin, indicating that the Xeon's higher clock speeds provide a disproportionate advantage in Geekbench's workload. Out of the eight head-to-head benchmarks, the i5-9400T wins six, while the Xeon E-2224G wins two.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-9400T wins in every Cinebench test, which includes both multi-core and single-core variants across R15, R20, and R23. This indicates a consistent advantage in rendering workloads that are sensitive to both multi-threaded throughput and single-threaded response, as measured by Cinebench. The i5-9400T's six cores and 6 threads, combined with its larger 9 MB L3 cache, appear to give it a structural edge in this benchmark suite. Its 35-watt TDP also suggests it can deliver this performance at a lower power envelope than the Xeon's 71-watt TDP, though the data does not include efficiency metrics.

The Intel Xeon E-2224G wins in Geekbench multi-core and single-core, with the single-core win being particularly pronounced at 25%. This makes the Xeon the clear choice for workloads that mimic Geekbench's test patterns, which often include mixed integer and floating-point operations, memory access patterns, and single-threaded algorithms. The Xeon's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.70 GHz are the likely drivers of this advantage, as the data shows no other architectural differences, both use the same 14 nm process, same socket, and same memory bandwidth. The Xeon's ECC memory support also makes it the only choice for systems requiring error-correcting memory, which is a critical feature for certain server and workstation environments. For users prioritizing Cinebench-style rendering, the i5-9400T is the winner; for users prioritizing Geekbench-style performance and ECC memory, the Xeon E-2224G is the winner.