CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-4870HQ and the Intel Xeon E-2224 are both 4-core Intel processors, but they target entirely different segments: one is a mobile Haswell part from 2014, the other a workstation Coffee Lake chip from 2019. The benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the Xeon E-2224 winning all six head-to-head tests, yet both CPUs land at the 41st percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy a similar overall performance tier despite their generational gap.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E-2224 is the outright winner in every single benchmark category recorded. Across the entire suite of Cinebench tests, it posts a multi-core advantage that ranges from 11.9% to 12.1% and a single-core advantage from 11.6% to 12.2%. The most significant margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the Xeon E-2224 scores 361 versus the i7-4870HQ's 317, a 12.2% lead. In multi-core workloads, the Xeon E-2224's best showing is in Cinebench R23, where it hits 6093 compared to the i7-4870HQ's 5366, an 11.9% difference.

The Intel Core i7-4870HQ does not win any of the six head-to-head benchmarks. However, its competitive position is defined by its thread count advantage. With 8 threads against the Xeon E-2224's 4, the i7-4870HQ narrows the gap in multi-threaded tests relative to what its clock speeds might suggest. The data shows its closest multi-core result is in Cinebench R23, where the 12% deficit is smaller than the single-core gap in the same test. This suggests that Hyper-Threading partially compensates for the Xeon's higher clock speeds in parallel workloads.

For a use-case split, the Xeon E-2224 is the better choice for any workload that prioritizes raw single-threaded responsiveness, such as lightly threaded server tasks or workstation applications that rely on high clock speeds. The i7-4870HQ, despite losing every benchmark, remains relevant in scenarios where its 8 threads provide better multi-tasking headroom than a 4-thread processor, though the data shows this advantage is insufficient to overcome the Xeon's architectural and clock speed superiority.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are separated by five years of architecture evolution. The Intel Core i7-4870HQ uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, with a die size of 264 mm² and 1,400 million transistors. It is built on the Crystalwell codename and belongs to the Core i7 (Crystal Well) generation. The Intel Xeon E-2224, by contrast, uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, with a significantly smaller die size of 126 mm². This process shrink explains the Xeon's much denser design despite having the same core count.

Cache configurations differ in the L3 tier. Both processors share 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the i7-4870HQ has 6 MB of shared L3 cache while the Xeon E-2224 has 8 MB. This 2 MB difference in L3 cache contributes to the Xeon's superior performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support is a major architectural divergence. The i7-4870HQ supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Xeon E-2224 supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth. This represents a 66.8% increase in theoretical memory bandwidth for the Xeon. Additionally, the Xeon E-2224 supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server and workstation reliability, while the i7-4870HQ does not.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i7-4870HQ includes Intel HD 5200, while the Xeon E-2224 includes UHD Graphics P630. The socket types are incompatible: the i7-4870HQ uses Intel BGA 1364, a soldered mobile socket, while the Xeon E-2224 uses Intel Socket 1151, a desktop/server socket. Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2224 is faster in every single-core test. It scores 86 versus 76 in Cinebench R15 single-core, 361 versus 317 in R20, and 860 versus 757 in R23, representing advantages of 11.6%, 12.2%, and 12% respectively.

Q: Does the i7-4870HQ's 8 threads help it beat the Xeon E-2224 in multi-core tests?

A: No. The Xeon E-2224 wins all three multi-core tests despite having only 4 threads. The i7-4870HQ's 8 threads reduce the deficit to around 12% but cannot overcome the Xeon's higher clock speeds and newer architecture.

Q: What are the TDP differences between these two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i7-4870HQ has a TDP of 47 watts, while the Intel Xeon E-2224 has a TDP of 71 watts. The Xeon consumes more power, which is consistent with its higher base and boost clock speeds.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E-2224 supports ECC memory. The i7-4870HQ does not have ECC support, making the Xeon suitable for error-critical server and workstation environments.

Q: How do their memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Xeon E-2224 supports DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth, while the i7-4870HQ supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s. The Xeon offers approximately 66.8% more memory bandwidth.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between these two CPUs?

A: The i7-4870HQ has an average benchmark score of 1769, while the Xeon E-2224 has an average score of 1762. The i7 is actually 0.4% higher in this aggregate metric, despite losing all individual head-to-head tests.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-4870HQ | Intel Xeon E-2224 |

|---|---|---|

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 47 W | 71 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1364 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Crystalwell | Coffee Lake-S WS |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 264 mm² | 126 mm² |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not specified |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5200 | UHD Graphics P630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2014-06-30 | 2019-05-28 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $193 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E-2224 dominates every recorded benchmark, with the smallest margin being 11.6% and the largest 12.2%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 614 against the i7-4870HQ's 540, a 12.1% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows the Xeon at 86 versus 76, an 11.6% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 2559 for the Xeon versus 2253 for the i7-4870HQ, a 12% difference, while single-core is 361 versus 317, a 12.2% gap.

The most recent test, Cinebench R23, shows the Xeon E-2224 scoring 6093 in multi-core against 5366 for the i7-4870HQ, an 11.9% advantage. Single-core R23 results are 860 for the Xeon and 757 for the i7-4870HQ, a 12% difference. These consistent margins across all three Cinebench generations indicate that the Xeon's performance advantage is stable and not workload-specific.

The i7-4870HQ's closest performance comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the 11.9% deficit is slightly smaller than the 12.2% single-core R20 gap. This pattern suggests that the i7's 8 threads provide a marginal benefit in heavily parallel workloads, but the Xeon's 3.40 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost clocks, combined with its 8 MB L3 cache and DDR4 memory bandwidth, create an insurmountable lead. The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story: the i7-4870HQ averages 1769, while the Xeon averages 1762, putting the i7 0.4% ahead in this aggregate metric. This discrepancy arises because the average score includes Geekbench results for the i7-4870HQ, which are not available for the Xeon E-2224.