Intel Core i7-11375H vs Intel Xeon E-2278GEL Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous outcome: the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL wins all six head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core i7-11375H. The Xeon’s victory margins are remarkably consistent, ranging from 4.3% to 4.8% across both single-core and multi-core tests. The Core i7-11375H, despite its higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus the Xeon’s 3.90 GHz, cannot overcome the Xeon’s advantages in core count and cache size. The data shows the Xeon E-2278GEL as the faster processor in every measured workload, with the largest single win being a 4.8% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core. For users prioritizing raw performance in either single-threaded or multi-threaded tasks, the Xeon E-2278GEL is the clear choice. The Core i7-11375H, however, remains relevant for its mobile form factor, lower TDP of 28 watts versus 35 watts, and newer 10 nm process node. The verdict from the benchmarks is straightforward: the Xeon wins on performance, while the Core i7 offers a more power-efficient and portable package.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-11375H does not win any of the six head-to-head benchmark tests. The Xeon E-2278GEL wins all six, establishing dominance across both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Xeon’s wins are consistent: in Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1030 against 985; in R15 single-core, 145 against 138; in R20 multi-core, 4292 against 4105; in R20 single-core, 605 against 579; in R23 multi-core, 10220 against 9775; and in R23 single-core, 1442 against 1380. The deltaPct values are tightly clustered between -4.3% and -4.8%, indicating that the Xeon’s advantage is uniform rather than workload-specific. The Core i7’s only potential wins are qualitative: it supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Xeon uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Core i7 also has a faster memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s, and its Iris XE 96EU integrated graphics are likely more capable than the Xeon’s UHD Graphics P630, though no graphics benchmarks are provided. For compute tasks, the Xeon wins everywhere. For platform features like newer PCIe and higher memory bandwidth, the Core i7 has the edge.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The Core i7-11375H uses the Tiger Lake-H architecture on a 10 nm process node, while the Xeon E-2278GEL uses the Coffee Lake-S WS architecture on a 14 nm node. The Core i7 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Xeon doubles that with 8 cores and 16 threads. The Xeon compensates for its older node with more silicon: its die size is 180 mm² versus the Core i7’s 146.1 mm². Cache configurations differ significantly. The Core i7 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but its shared L3 cache is larger at 16 MB. The Xeon’s base clock is listed as 2000.00 MHz, which appears to be a reporting anomaly—its boost clock is 3.90 GHz. The Core i7 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost of 5.00 GHz. The Xeon supports ECC memory, a key workstation feature, while the Core i7 does not. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 1151, whereas the Core i7 uses the BGA 1449 socket, making the Core i7 a soldered mobile part. The Xeon’s market segment is Server/Workstation and it is marked as end-of-life, while the Core i7 is Active and targeted at Mobile. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration, but the Core i7’s memory bandwidth is higher at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. The Core i7 was released in January 2021 with a launch MSRP of $482, while the Xeon launched in June 2019 with a launch MSRP of $519.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GEL has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-11375H has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Xeon in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Xeon E-2278GEL scores 10220 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 4.4% ahead of the Core i7-11375H’s score of 9775.

Q: Does the Core i7 support ECC memory?

A: No, the Core i7-11375H does not support ECC memory. The Xeon E-2278GEL does support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in single-core Cinebench R20 scores?

A: The Xeon E-2278GEL scores 605 in Cinebench R20 single-core, which is 4.3% higher than the Core i7-11375H’s score of 579.

Q: Which processor has a smaller process node?

A: The Core i7-11375H uses a 10 nm process node, while the Xeon E-2278GEL uses a larger 14 nm node.

Q: Are both processors currently in production?

A: The Core i7-11375H is marked as Active, while the Xeon E-2278GEL is marked as End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is exhaustive, covering six Cinebench tests across three versions (R15, R20, R23), each with single-core and multi-core variants. The Xeon E-2278GEL wins every test, with the margin never straying far from 4.4%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1030 versus the Core i7’s 985, a 4.4% delta. The single-core R15 test shows a slightly larger gap: the Xeon’s 145 beats the Core i7’s 138 by 4.8%. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core test yields 4292 for the Xeon and 4105 for the Core i7, again a 4.4% difference. The R20 single-core test has the Xeon at 605 and the Core i7 at 579, a 4.3% delta. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the Xeon at 10220 and the Core i7 at 9775, maintaining the 4.4% pattern. Finally, R23 single-core has the Xeon at 1442 and the Core i7 at 1380, with a 4.3% delta. The consistency of these margins is striking—the Xeon’s advantage is nearly uniform across all tests, suggesting a fundamental architectural edge rather than workload-specific optimization. The largest win is the 4.8% in R15 single-core, while the smallest is 4.3% in both R20 single-core and R23 single-core. For multi-core workloads, the Xeon’s 8-core, 16-thread configuration provides a clear advantage over the Core i7’s 4-core, 8-thread setup. For single-core workloads, the Xeon’s lower boost clock of 3.90 GHz versus 5.00 GHz does not hurt it—the Xeon still outperforms the Core i7. The benchmark results indicate that the Xeon E-2278GEL is the superior processor in every measured metric, with the Core i7-11375H trailing by roughly 4-5% across the board. The Core i7’s faster clock speeds and newer architecture do not translate into benchmark wins, as the Xeon’s higher core count and larger 16 MB L3 cache prove decisive.