CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-10870H
Xeon E-2146G
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i7-10870H vs Intel Xeon E-2146G
The Intel Core i7-10870H and Intel Xeon E-2146G occupy different corners of the Intel ecosystem, yet their benchmark profiles put them in a similar performance class. The data reveals a fascinating split: the mobile Core part dominates multi-threaded workloads through sheer core count, while the workstation Xeon strikes back in single-threaded efficiency. Their average benchmark scores sit nearly level, with the Core i7-10870H at 3446 and the Xeon E-2146G at 3410, a gap of roughly 1%. Both processors land in the 54th percentile of all CPUs, indicating that despite their differing designs, they appeal to the same performance tier.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The most striking result in the head-to-head comparison is the Geekbench multi-core test. The Intel Core i7-10870H scores 7357 against the Xeon E-2146G’s 6283, a decisive 17.1% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire matchup and directly reflects the Core chip’s 8 cores and 16 threads versus the Xeon’s 6 cores and 12 threads. The Cinebench suite tells a more compressed story. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the Core i7-10870H wins both single-core and multi-core runs by a consistent 5.7% margin. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core scores 11852 against 11214 for the Xeon. In single-core R23, the lead narrows to 1673 versus 1583, still a win but a smaller one.
The Xeon E-2146G’s only victory comes in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1540 against the Core i7-10870H’s 1443, a 6.3% reversal. This is an interesting outlier because in every Cinebench single-core test, the Core i7-10870H actually wins by that same 5.7% margin. The discrepancy suggests that Geekbench’s workload favors the Xeon’s higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus the Core’s 2.20 GHz, even though the Core can boost to 5.00 GHz. The data implies that sustained single-threaded performance under Geekbench’s specific instructions favors the Xeon, while Cinebench’s rendering tasks reward the Core’s turbo behavior.
Looking at the aggregate win count, the Core i7-10870H takes 7 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks. The only loss is that Geekbench single-core test. The average scores tell a similar tale: the Core’s avgBenchmarkScore of 3446 edges out the Xeon’s 3410. The Xeon’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E-2236 with an identical average score of 3410, while the Core i7-10870H sits alongside the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS at 3447 and 3446 respectively. These are close margins, but the Core’s multi-core dominance is the headline.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core i7-10870H is the clear winner for multi-threaded productivity. Its 17.1% lead in Geekbench multi-core and consistent 5.7% edge across all Cinebench multi-core tests point to a processor built for parallel workloads. Rendering, video encoding, and software compilation would all favor the Core’s 8 cores over the Xeon’s 6. The data also shows the Core wins all three Cinebench single-core tests, meaning even in lightly threaded rendering tasks, it holds the advantage. For mobile workstations or high-performance laptops, this is the stronger all-around chip.
The Intel Xeon E-2146G wins in one specific area: Geekbench single-core performance. The 6.3% margin there is meaningful for applications that rely on per-thread speed and cannot scale across cores. Legacy software, certain database queries, or lightly threaded engineering tools might benefit from the Xeon’s 3.50 GHz base clock. The Xeon also carries ECC memory support, which the Core lacks, making it the data-integrity choice for server or workstation environments where a memory error is unacceptable. The Xeon’s market segment is Server/Workstation, and its production status is End-of-life, whereas the Core i7-10870H is Active and mobile-focused.
For users prioritizing raw throughput, the Core i7-10870H is the pick. For those needing ECC and a specific single-threaded edge under Geekbench, the Xeon E-2146G has its niche. The benchmark data does not show the Xeon winning any multi-core test, so its appeal rests entirely on that one single-core victory and its platform features.
Architecture Differences
Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but they come from different architectural families. The Core i7-10870H uses Comet Lake, specifically the Comet Lake-H codename, while the Xeon E-2146G is Coffee Lake, under the Coffee Lake-S WS codename. The Core i7-10870H is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1440 socket, whereas the Xeon E-2146G is a desktop workstation chip on Intel Socket 1151. This fundamental platform split explains their different power envelopes: the Core runs at 45 W TDP, the Xeon at 80 W TDP.
Core counts diverge significantly. The Core i7-10870H packs 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Xeon E-2146G has 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache hierarchies scale accordingly. Both share 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the Core’s L3 cache is 16 MB shared versus the Xeon’s 12 MB shared. Clock speeds favor the Xeon at base: 3.50 GHz versus 2.20 GHz. However, the Core’s boost clock of 5.00 GHz exceeds the Xeon’s 4.50 GHz. This explains why the Core can win Cinebench single-core tests despite a much lower base clock.
Memory support is otherwise identical in type, both DDR4, but the Xeon adds ECC memory support and has a specified memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s with dual-channel bus. The Core i7-10870H lists no memory bandwidth or bus details in the data. Integrated graphics differ: the Core uses UHD Graphics, the Xeon uses HD Graphics P630. The Xeon also has a known die size of 154 mm², while the Core’s die size is not listed. The Core i7-10870H was released on 2020-09-16, while the Xeon E-2146G launched earlier on 2018-07-11. The Xeon’s launch MSRP is $317, a detail noted once here.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?
A: The Intel Core i7-10870H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2146G has 6 cores and 12 threads.
Q: What is the biggest performance gap in the head-to-head benchmarks?
A: The largest delta is in Geekbench multi-core, where the Core i7-10870H scores 7357 against the Xeon’s 6283, a 17.1% lead.
Q: Does the Xeon E-2146G win any benchmark?
A: Yes, it wins Geekbench single-core with 1540 versus 1443 for the Core i7-10870H, a 6.3% advantage.
Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?
A: The Intel Xeon E-2146G supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-10870H does not.
Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?
A: The Core i7-10870H has an average benchmark score of 3446, and the Xeon E-2146G has 3410. Both sit in the 54th percentile of all CPUs.
Q: What are the TDPs of each processor?
A: The Core i7-10870H has a TDP of 45 W, and the Xeon E-2146G has a TDP of 80 W.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ across nearly every field except for process node, L1/L2 cache per core, memory type, PCIe lanes, and unlocked multiplier status. The Core i7-10870H uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the Xeon E-2146G uses Intel Socket 1151. The Core has 8 cores and 16 threads; the Xeon has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz for the Core and 3.50 GHz for the Xeon. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz and 4.50 GHz, respectively.
L3 cache differs, with the Core at 16 MB shared and the Xeon at 12 MB shared. TDP is 45 W for the Core versus 80 W for the Xeon. The Core is from the Comet Lake architecture with codename Comet Lake-H, while the Xeon is Coffee Lake with codename Coffee Lake-S WS. The Core’s market segment is Mobile; the Xeon’s is Server/Workstation. Production status shows the Core as Active and the Xeon as End-of-life. Release dates are 2020-09-16 for the Core and 2018-07-11 for the Xeon. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $317; the Core has no listed launch MSRP. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the Core does not. Memory bandwidth is specified only for the Xeon at 42.7 GB/s. Die size is 154 mm² for the Xeon, not listed for the Core. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics on the Core and HD Graphics P630 on the Xeon. The Core’s part number is SRK3Y; the Xeon’s is SR3WT.
The Verdict
The benchmark data points to a clear choice for multi-threaded workloads: the Intel Core i7-10870H. Its 17.1% Geekbench multi-core lead and consistent 5.7% edge across all Cinebench tests make it the stronger processor for rendering, encoding, and parallel computing. The 8-core design, 16 MB L3 cache, and 5.00 GHz boost clock give it a structural advantage that the Xeon’s higher base clock cannot overcome in most tests. For mobile users or anyone running a laptop, this is the only viable option anyway, as the Xeon is a socketed desktop part.
The Intel Xeon E-2146G is the pick for a narrow set of scenarios. Its Geekbench single-core win at 1540 versus 1443 indicates it handles certain single-threaded tasks better. More importantly, its ECC memory support makes it the correct choice for data-sensitive server or workstation applications where a flipped bit is unacceptable. The Xeon’s 80 W TDP and Socket 1151 platform target a different use case than the Core’s 45 W mobile design. Users building a reliable workstation with ECC RAM and needing decent single-core performance should look at the Xeon. The Core i7-10870H is for raw performance and portability. The data does not support the Xeon for multi-core scenarios, where it trails in every test.