CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1160G7 and Intel Xeon E-2224G are both end-of-life quad-core processors, but they target completely different market segments: one is a 15-watt mobile chip built for thin laptops, the other a 71-watt server/workstation part for socketed desktops. Despite their divergent designs, their average benchmark scores are remarkably close, the i7-1160G7 averages 2124 while the Xeon E-2224G averages 2117, a mere 0.3% difference. The data shows a cleaner story in the head-to-head Cinebench tests, however, where the mobile chip wins every single round by nearly 15%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive result in the comparison is the Cinebench R23 multicore test, where the Core i7-1160G7 scores 7343 against the Xeon E-2224G's 6398. That is a 14.8% advantage for the mobile part, a substantial margin given that the Xeon runs at a 71W TDP and boosts to 4.70 GHz. The single-core R23 result follows the same pattern: 1036 for the i7-1160G7 versus 903 for the Xeon, a 14.7% lead. The pattern repeats across every Cinebench version tested, the i7-1160G7 wins R15 multicore 740 to 644 (14.9% ahead), R15 single-core 104 to 90 (15.6% ahead), R20 multicore 3084 to 2687 (14.8% ahead), and R20 single-core 435 to 379 (14.8% ahead).

The single-core margins are particularly telling. The Xeon E-2224G has a higher boost clock (4.70 GHz versus 4.40 GHz) and a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 1.20 GHz), yet it still trails the i7-1160G7 by roughly 15% in every single-threaded test. This indicates the Tiger Lake architecture's per-core efficiency more than compensates for the Xeon's raw clock-speed advantage. The i7-1160G7's 12 MB of shared L3 cache versus the Xeon's 8 MB likely contributes to this, allowing more data to stay close to the cores.

Interestingly, the Xeon E-2224G has no wins at all in the provided head-to-head data, 6 wins go to the i7-1160G7, 0 to the Xeon. The closest the Xeon comes is through its Geekbench results, which are not included in the head-to-head table. In Geekbench, the Xeon scores 4299 multicore and 1535 single-core, but without a corresponding i7-1160G7 result, those numbers cannot be directly compared. The average benchmark score of 2124 for the i7-1160G7 versus 2117 for the Xeon puts both chips in the 46th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they sit at essentially the same overall performance tier despite the Xeon's larger power envelope.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-1160G7 wins in every measured Cinebench workload, making it the clear choice for CPU-bound rendering and multithreaded compute tasks. Its R23 multicore score of 7343 and R20 multicore score of 3084 show that four cores with eight threads outperform four cores with four threads in heavily threaded workloads. The Xeon E-2224G, with only 4 threads, cannot match the i7's thread count, and the data reflects that limitation across all multicore tests.

The Xeon E-2224G's strengths are not visible in the Cinebench results but lie in its platform features. It supports ECC memory, which the i7-1160G7 does not, making it the only option here for error-correcting memory in a workstation or server context. It also uses DDR4 memory with a higher bandwidth rating of 42.7 GB/s versus the i7-1160G7's 34.1 GB/s for LPDDR4X. The Xeon's PCIe implementation is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-1160G7 offers Gen 4 but only 4 lanes, a significant difference for expansion cards or NVMe storage arrays.

The power draw is a major differentiator. The i7-1160G7 is rated at 15W TDP, making it suitable for fanless or passively cooled mobile designs, whereas the Xeon E-2224G needs 71W and a proper socketed cooler. The i7-1160G7 also features Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, a far more capable integrated GPU than the Xeon's HD Graphics P630, which is a basic display-only solution. For workloads that rely on the integrated GPU, the i7-1160G7 is the only real option.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data alone, the Intel Core i7-1160G7 is the superior processor. It beats the Xeon E-2224G by 14.7% to 15.6% across every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core, while consuming a fraction of the power. Anyone choosing between these two for general compute, rendering, compilation, or everyday multitasking, should pick the i7-1160G7 without hesitation. The Xeon's only advantages are its ECC memory support, higher memory bandwidth, and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, none of which appear in the benchmark scores.

The Xeon E-2224G makes sense only in a narrow context: a socketed workstation or server board that requires ECC memory and needs more PCIe lanes for add-in cards. If those requirements are absent, the i7-1160G7 delivers better performance in every tested workload. The i7-1160G7's 15W TDP versus the Xeon's 71W TDP also means it can be deployed in systems where cooling and power are constrained, with superior results. The data is unambiguous, 6 wins to 0, with margins around 15%, so the verdict favors the mobile chip for all compute-focused use cases.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core i7-1160G7 scores 7343 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 14.8% higher than the Intel Xeon E-2224G's 6398.

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

A: Yes, the Xeon E-2224G supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-1160G7 does not.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance between the two?

A: The i7-1160G7 leads in every single-core test: 104 vs 90 in Cinebench R15 (15.6% ahead), 435 vs 379 in R20 (14.8% ahead), and 1036 vs 903 in R23 (14.7% ahead).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-1160G7 has an average benchmark score of 2124, while the Xeon E-2224G averages 2117, a difference of 0.3% in favor of the i7.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-1160G7 has 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2224G has 4 threads. Both have 4 cores.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Xeon E-2224G supports DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-1160G7 supports LPDDR4X with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different architectural generations. The Intel Core i7-1160G7 is built on Tiger Lake (Tiger Lake-U) using a 10 nm process node with a die size of 144 mm², while the Intel Xeon E-2224G is Coffee Lake (Coffee Lake-S WS) on a 14 nm node with a 126 mm² die. The i7-1160G7 uses the Willow Cove core design, whereas the Xeon uses the older Coffee Lake architecture. This generational gap explains the performance differences: the newer 10 nm node and Willow Cove cores deliver higher instructions per clock, allowing the i7-1160G7 to beat the Xeon despite its lower clock speeds and 15W TDP.

Cache topology differs as well. The i7-1160G7 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, totaling 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon E-2224G has 64 KB of L1 per core and just 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. The i7-1160G7's larger L2 and L3 caches give it a substantial data locality advantage, which shows in the consistent 15% performance lead. The integrated graphics are also different: the i7-1160G7 features Iris Xe-LP Graphics G7 with 96 execution units, while the Xeon includes the much weaker HD Graphics P630.

The memory interfaces diverge sharply. The i7-1160G7 supports only LPDDR4X in dual-channel configuration with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon E-2224G uses DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe support is another split: the i7-1160G7 offers Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, while the Xeon offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. This makes the Xeon more suitable for storage or expansion-heavy workloads, despite its computing deficit.

Specification Differences

The most glaring difference is TDP: the i7-1160G7 draws 15W versus the Xeon E-2224G's 71W. Clock speeds also differ, the i7-1160G7 has a base clock of 1200 MHz and boost of 4400 MHz, while the Xeon runs at 3500 MHz base and 4700 MHz boost. The i7-1160G7 has 8 threads compared to the Xeon's 4, giving it a multithreading advantage that drives its multicore wins.

Sockets are incompatible: the i7-1160G7 uses Intel BGA 1598, a soldered mobile package, while the Xeon E-2224G uses Intel Socket 1151, a replaceable desktop/server socket. The i7-1160G7 supports LPDDR4X memory only, whereas the Xeon supports DDR4. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon. PCIe lanes differ significantly: 4 Gen 4 lanes on the i7-1160G7 versus 16 Gen 3 lanes on the Xeon. The integrated GPUs are different, Iris Xe-LP G7 96EU on the i7-1160G7 versus HD Graphics P630 on the Xeon. Memory bandwidth favors the Xeon at 42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. Process nodes differ (10 nm vs 14 nm), and die sizes differ (144 mm² vs 126 mm²). The launch MSRP for the i7-1160G7 was $426, while the Xeon E-2224G launched at $213. Both are end-of-life products, with the i7-1160G7 released in September 2020 and the Xeon in May 2019. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are Intel-manufactured with no vCache.