CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-11850HE
Xeon E-2378G
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i7-11850HE vs Intel Xeon E-2378G
The Intel Xeon E-2378G and Intel Core i7-11850HE are both 8-core, 16-thread Intel processors from the same era, yet they target entirely different sockets and market segments. The Xeon E-2378G is a Rocket Lake-E part built for Socket 1200 server and workstation platforms, while the i7-11850HE is a Tiger Lake-H mobile chip soldered to BGA 1787. The benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, victory for the Xeon in every Cinebench test, with the largest margin being a 3.3% lead in multi-core workloads. This performance edge comes with a significant power penalty, as the Xeon carries an 80W TDP versus the mobile chip’s 35W TDP, and a higher launch MSRP of $494 versus $400 for the Core i7.
FAQ
Q: Which processor is faster in single-core Cinebench tests?
A: The Intel Xeon E-2378G wins all single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 255 in R15, 1065 in R20, and 2537 in R23, compared to the i7-11850HE’s 247, 1031, and 2456 respectively. The delta is consistently 3.2-3.3% in favor of the Xeon.
Q: What is the performance gap in multi-core workloads?
A: The Xeon E-2378G leads the i7-11850HE by 3.3% in every multi-core Cinebench test. Specific scores are 1811 vs 1753 in R15, 7549 vs 7308 in R20, and 17974 vs 17402 in R23.
Q: Do these processors support the same memory features?
A: No. Both support DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with identical 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, but the Xeon E-2378G supports ECC memory while the Core i7-11850HE does not.
Q: How do their integrated graphics differ?
A: The Xeon E-2378G uses UHD Graphics P750, while the i7-11850HE uses UHD Graphics (Xe-LP). Both are integrated solutions, but the Xeon’s is marketed for server/workstation use.
Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each chip?
A: The Xeon E-2378G has an average benchmark score of 5199, while the i7-11850HE scores 5095. Both place in the 60th percentile of all CPUs.
Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?
A: The Intel Xeon E-2378G has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, whereas the Intel Core i7-11850HE has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.
Where Each One Wins
The Xeon E-2378G wins in every head-to-head benchmark recorded, making it the clear choice for raw compute performance. Its advantage is uniform across all six Cinebench tests, with a consistent 3.3% lead in both single-core and multi-core workloads. This makes it the better option for sustained heavy compute tasks like rendering or scientific simulations, where every percentage point of throughput matters. The Xeon also wins in features critical for server reliability, offering ECC memory support that the i7 lacks, and it pairs with Socket 1200 workstation boards that typically provide more robust power delivery and expansion options.
The i7-11850HE does not win any benchmark comparison, but its design philosophy is different. With a 35W TDP versus the Xeon’s 80W, it is engineered for mobile or embedded systems where power efficiency is paramount. The data shows its performance deficit is small, just over 3%, while consuming less than half the power envelope. For compact, battery-powered or thermally constrained designs, the i7 is the only viable choice despite losing every benchmark. Its smaller 190 mm² die size also suggests a more integrated solution for space-limited boards. The i7 also supports Geekbench tests (8576 multi-core, 1984 single-core), for which no Xeon comparison data exists, indicating its suitability for general-purpose mobile workloads.
Architecture Differences
The two processors are built on fundamentally different Intel architectures. The Xeon E-2378G uses Rocket Lake-E, a server variant of the Rocket Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process with a die size of 276 mm². The i7-11850HE uses Tiger Lake-H, a mobile high-performance variant, built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a smaller 190 mm² die. This node difference is a key factor in the i7’s superior power efficiency, allowing it to achieve comparable performance at a much lower TDP.
Cache configurations also diverge significantly. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Xeon uses 512 KB of L2 per core while the i7 uses 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is larger on the i7 at 24 MB shared, compared to the Xeon’s 16 MB shared. This suggests the i7’s architecture relies more heavily on cache to compensate for its lower clock speeds. The i7 also has a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz versus the Xeon’s 2.80 GHz, but both boost to high frequencies, with the Xeon reaching 5.10 GHz and the i7 hitting 4.70 GHz.
Socket and market positioning further separate them. The Xeon is a Socket 1200 part for server and workstation platforms, while the i7 is a BGA 1787 soldered mobile part. The Xeon is part of the Xeon E-2300 series, whereas the i7 belongs to the Core 11th Gen family. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes and have locked multipliers, but the Xeon’s market segment includes ECC verification and validation for professional workloads.
Specification Differences
The most obvious specification gap is TDP: the Xeon E-2378G is rated at 80W, while the i7-11850HE is rated at 35W. This is a 45W difference that reflects their intended environments, a desktop workstation versus a mobile platform. Clock speeds differ as well, with the Xeon’s base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost of 5.10 GHz exceeding the i7’s 2.10 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost.
Cache structures are not identical. The Xeon has 512 KB of L2 per core and 16 MB of shared L3, while the i7 has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3. The i7 also has a smaller die at 190 mm² versus the Xeon’s 276 mm².
Memory support differs on the ECC front: the Xeon supports ECC memory, the i7 does not. Both support DDR4 dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The integrated graphics are different models, UHD Graphics P750 on the Xeon and UHD Graphics (Xe-LP) on the i7. The launch MSRP is $494 for the Xeon and $400 for the i7. Release dates are close, with the Xeon launching on September 7, 2021, and the i7 on August 2, 2021.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E-2378G across all six Cinebench tests. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 255 against the i7’s 247, a 3.2% delta. The same pattern holds in R15 multi-core, with the Xeon at 1811 and the i7 at 1753, a 3.3% lead.
Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon again wins single-core with 1065 versus 1031, and multi-core with 7549 versus 7308, both showing a 3.3% advantage. In Cinebench R23, the most demanding test, the Xeon posts 2537 in single-core and 17974 in multi-core, against the i7’s 2456 and 17402, respectively. The delta remains exactly 3.3% in both cases.
Notably, the i7-11850HE has additional Geekbench scores, 8576 multi-core and 1984 single-core, that are not available for the Xeon, so no direct comparison can be made there. The average benchmark scores tell a similar story: the Xeon averages 5199, while the i7 averages 5095, a difference of about 2%. Both processors sit at the 60th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are closely matched in overall performance rankings.
The Xeon’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-13400T (avg 5210, -0.2% delta), Core i9-10850K (avg 5240, -0.8%), Core i7-11700B (avg 5241, -0.8%), and Core i5-14401E (avg 5253, -1%). The i7’s nearest rivals are the AMD EPYC 7262 (avg 5109, -0.3%), Intel Xeon W-2155 (avg 5072, +0.5%), Core i9-7900X (avg 5120, -0.5%), and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5750GE (avg 5070, +0.5%). These comparisons show both chips are competitively positioned within a few percentage points of their closest alternatives.