Intel Core i7-4860HQ vs Intel Xeon E-2224 Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Xeon E-2224 and the Intel Core i7-4860HQ both sit at the 41st percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they offer broadly similar overall performance tiers despite very different design goals. However, the data shows a clear winner for raw compute throughput: the Xeon E-2224 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with margins ranging from 14.7% to 15.3%.

The Xeon E-2224 is the pick for anyone running single-thread-sensitive workloads or multi-core rendering tasks on a desktop or workstation platform. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6093 versus 5297 for the i7-4860HQ, a 15% advantage, makes it the stronger choice for content creation, compilation, and server-style workloads. The i7-4860HQ, meanwhile, is a mobile part with a lower TDP of 47 watts versus 71 watts, so it belongs in laptops or compact systems where power draw matters more than peak performance.

For users who already own a Socket 1151 platform, the Xeon E-2224 is the obvious upgrade path. For those on a BGA 1364 mobile platform, the i7-4860HQ remains serviceable but the benchmark data shows it is consistently behind in every measured test. The i7-4860HQ does support eight threads through Hyper-Threading, which helps it close some of the gap in multi-threaded tests, but it still trails the Xeon by 15% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (614 versus 533). If you need ECC memory support, the Xeon E-2224 is the only one of the two that offers it. If you need integrated graphics, both have options, but the i7-4860HQ's Iris Pro 5200 is a different class of iGPU.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and target different market segments. The Xeon E-2224 is a Coffee Lake-S WS part built on Intel's 14 nm process, released in May 2019. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and is classified as a Server/Workstation product. The i7-4860HQ is a Haswell part from the Crystalwell family, built on Intel's 22 nm process and released in January 2014. It uses the Intel BGA 1364 socket and is a Mobile product.

Both chips have four physical cores, but the i7-4860HQ doubles the thread count to eight through Hyper-Threading, while the Xeon E-2224 runs four threads. The Xeon E-2224 compensates with much higher clock speeds: a 3.40 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost, versus the i7-4860HQ's 2.40 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. This clock advantage is the primary reason the Xeon wins every single-core benchmark by roughly 15%.

Cache configurations differ as well. The Xeon E-2224 has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-4860HQ has the same per-core L1 and L2, but only 6 MB of shared L3. The i7-4860HQ uses a larger die at 264 mm² versus 126 mm² for the Xeon, and it packs 1,400 million transistors, though the Xeon's transistor count is not recorded in the database. The process node advantage (14 nm versus 22 nm) explains why the newer Xeon achieves higher clocks while maintaining a modest TDP increase.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The Xeon E-2224 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i7-4860HQ uses older DDR3 with dual-channel configuration and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, making it suitable for workstation reliability, while the i7-4860HQ does not. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ significantly. The Xeon E-2224 includes UHD Graphics P630, while the i7-4860HQ includes Intel HD 5200 (Iris Pro). Neither is a gaming-class GPU, but the i7-4860HQ's Iris Pro was notable for its embedded eDRAM in its generation. The Xeon's integrated graphics are more of a basic display output solution for server boards.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E-2224 wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, and the margins are remarkably consistent across all six tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 614 versus 533 for the i7-4860HQ, a 15.2% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 86 versus 75, a 14.7% lead. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20: multi-core shows 2559 versus 2224 (15.1% ahead), and single-core shows 361 versus 313 (15.3% ahead). Cinebench R23 continues the trend with multi-core at 6093 versus 5297 (15% ahead) and single-core at 860 versus 747 (15.1% ahead).

The consistency of these deltas is notable. Across all six tests, the Xeon's advantage never dips below 14.7% and never exceeds 15.3%. This suggests the performance gap is driven by clock speed and memory bandwidth rather than workload-specific architectural strengths. The i7-4860HQ's extra threads do help in multi-threaded tests, but not enough to overcome the Xeon's higher clocks and newer memory subsystem.

The i7-4860HQ does have additional Geekbench results in the database (multi-core 3527, single-core 1045), but the Xeon E-2224 has no Geekbench scores recorded, so no direct comparison is possible for that suite. The database only includes Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 for both parts, and the Xeon wins all of them.

The average benchmark score for the Xeon E-2224 is 1762, while the i7-4860HQ averages 1720. This places the Xeon within 0.2% of the Intel Core i5-5675C and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3. The i7-4860HQ, meanwhile, sits 0.1% behind the AMD Athlon Gold PRO 3150GE and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-4910MQ. Both CPUs are in the 41st percentile overall, meaning they are squarely mid-pack in the database's full CPU ranking.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has faster single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2224 wins every single-core benchmark by about 15%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 860 versus 747 for the i7-4860HQ. In R15, the margin is 86 versus 75, and in R20 it is 361 versus 313.

Q: Does the i7-4860HQ's 8-thread count help in multi-threaded workloads?

A: Yes, but not enough to beat the Xeon. Despite having twice the threads, the i7-4860HQ trails by 15% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (533 versus 614) and by 15% in R23 (5297 versus 6093). The Xeon's higher clock speeds and newer memory architecture outweigh the thread advantage.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E-2224 supports ECC memory. The i7-4860HQ does not list ECC support in the database. This makes the Xeon the appropriate choice for reliability-sensitive server or workstation builds.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs use?

A: The Xeon E-2224 uses DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i7-4860HQ uses DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Are these CPUs still in production?

A: Both are marked as end-of-life in the database. The Xeon E-2224 was released on May 28, 2019, and the i7-4860HQ was released on January 31, 2014.

Q: Which CPU has a higher TDP?

A: The Xeon E-2224 has a TDP of 71 watts, while the i7-4860HQ has a TDP of 47 watts. The i7-4860HQ is designed for mobile platforms where lower power draw is a priority.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E-2224 wins in every benchmark category recorded in the database, so the use-case split is defined by platform and workload priorities rather than raw performance dominance. The Xeon's wins are most pronounced in single-threaded tests, where its 4.60 GHz boost clock and 14 nm process give it a 14.7% to 15.3% edge across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. This makes it the better choice for software that relies on single-core performance, such as older applications, many database workloads, and lightly threaded productivity tools. Its 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth and DDR4 support also favor memory-intensive tasks like large spreadsheets, virtualization, and workstation-class rendering.

The i7-4860HQ's only advantages are its lower TDP of 47 watts and its mobile BGA 1364 socket. It is the right choice for a laptop or an all-in-one system where the 71-watt Xeon cannot be accommodated. Its eight threads provide some multi-threading capability, but the data shows it still loses to the Xeon in multi-core tests by 15%. The i7-4860HQ's integrated Iris Pro 5200 graphics may be more capable than the Xeon's UHD Graphics P630 for light media work, though the database does not include iGPU benchmarks. For users who need ECC memory, the Xeon E-2224 is the only option. For users who need a low-power mobile processor, the i7-4860HQ is the only option that fits that form factor.

In summary, the Xeon E-2224 is the superior processor in every measured benchmark, and its platform advantages (DDR4, ECC, newer socket) reinforce that position. The i7-4860HQ is a competent mobile part that remains usable, but it is a generation behind in process technology, memory support, and clock speed. The database's record shows six wins for the Xeon and zero for the i7-4860HQ, and the consistency of the 15% margins leaves little room for interpretation.