CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-5775R
Xeon E-2124G
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i7-5775R vs Intel Xeon E-2124G
The Intel Xeon E-2124G and Intel Core i7-5775R present a fascinating generational clash. Both are 4-core Intel parts from the 14 nm era, yet they serve different masters: the Xeon is a workstation processor, while the i7 is a desktop part with a strong integrated GPU. The benchmark data reveals a clear split, the older i7-5775R dominates in Cinebench tests, while the newer Xeon E-2124G takes a decisive lead in Geekbench. This makes the choice between them entirely dependent on which workload family matters more.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The most striking pattern in the data is the complete reversal of fortunes between the Cinebench and Geekbench suites. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Core i7-5775R scores 641 against the Xeon E-2124G's 613, a 4.4% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar margin: 90 points for the i7 versus 86 for the Xeon, again a 4.4% delta. This consistency carries through the entire Cinebench line. In R20 multi-core, the i7-5775R posts 2671 versus 2558, a 4.2% lead; in R20 single-core, it wins 376 to 361, a 4% margin. The R23 results continue the trend: 6360 against 6092 in multi-core and 897 against 860 in single-core, both representing a 4.2% and 4.1% advantage respectively. Across all six Cinebench tests, the i7-5775R wins by a remarkably narrow band of 4.0% to 4.4%.
The Geekbench results flip this narrative entirely. In Geekbench multi-core, the Xeon E-2124G scores 4263, surpassing the i7-5775R's 3996 by 6.7%. The single-core Geekbench gap is even more pronounced: the Xeon's 1438 dwarfs the i7's 1218, a commanding 18.1% lead. This is the single largest delta between the two processors in any test. The Xeon's wins are fewer (2 versus 6) but they are far more decisive in percentage terms.
Looking at the overall average benchmark scores, the two are essentially tied. The Xeon E-2124G averages 2034, while the i7-5775R averages 2031, a negligible 0.1% difference. In the nearest rivals list, the Xeon is shown with a 0.1% delta against the i7, while the i7 is listed with a -0.1% delta against the Xeon. Both CPUs sit at the 45th percentile among all CPUs, confirming that their aggregate performance is nearly identical. The real story is not the average, but the distribution of wins across different workload types.
The Verdict
The data suggests two distinct buyer profiles. If your priority is Cinebench-class rendering workloads, the Intel Core i7-5775R is the stronger choice. It wins every single Cinebench iteration, R15, R20, and R23, in both single- and multi-threaded modes. The margins are consistent, hovering around 4% across the board. This is not a fluke or a single-test anomaly; it is a systematic advantage across three generations of the Cinebench benchmark.
Conversely, if your workload leans toward Geekbench-style integer and floating-point tasks, the Intel Xeon E-2124G is the clear winner. The 6.7% multi-core and 18.1% single-core advantages are substantial. The single-core Geekbench result is particularly telling, as it indicates a major architectural efficiency gain in the newer Coffee Lake design. For users running applications that scale with single-thread performance in Geekbench-like scenarios, the Xeon's lead is decisive.
The average benchmark scores indicate that neither processor is fundamentally superior. The Xeon E-2124G's average of 2034 is within 0.1% of the i7-5775R's 2031. Both are rated at the 45th percentile globally. The verdict is not about which is faster overall, but which is faster for your specific application. The i7-5775R wins the Cinebench-heavy workloads; the Xeon E-2124G wins the Geekbench-heavy workloads. There is no universal winner, only a workload-dependent one.
Architecture Differences
The two CPUs come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The Intel Xeon E-2124G is based on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS variant, part of the Xeon E-2100 series. It uses the Coffee Lake-S WS codename and falls under the Xeon E (Coffee Lake) generation. The Intel Core i7-5775R is based on the Broadwell architecture, using the Broadwell codename and belonging to the Core i7 (Broadwell) generation.
Both are manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process node, but the die sizes differ significantly. The Xeon E-2124G has a die size of 126 mm², while the i7-5775R's die is substantially larger at 182 mm². The larger Broadwell die is notable because it incorporates a more powerful integrated graphics solution, the Iris Pro Graphics 6200, compared to the Xeon's HD Graphics P630. The Xeon is a server/workstation part, while the i7 is explicitly a desktop part.
The Xeon E-2124G supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a maximum memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i7-5775R supports older DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, but with a lower bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The Xeon supports ECC memory, which is a critical feature for workstation reliability; the i7 does not support ECC. Both processors ship with PCIe Gen 3 and 16 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon's cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-5775R has the same per-core L1 and L2 sizes, but a smaller 6 MB of shared L3 cache.
Specification Differences
The core and thread counts differ. The Xeon E-2124G has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading. The i7-5775R has 4 cores and 8 threads, enabling simultaneous multithreading. Clock speeds also diverge: the Xeon has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The i7-5775R has a lower base clock of 3.30 GHz and a significantly lower boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Xeon's maximum boost is 0.70 GHz higher.
Thermal design power (TDP) differs as well. The Xeon E-2124G is rated at 71 W, while the i7-5775R is rated at 65 W, making the i7 the lower-power part despite its larger die. The sockets are incompatible: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7 uses Intel BGA 1364, which is a soldered, non-upgradeable socket. The Xeon was released on 2018-07-11, while the i7-5775R was released on 2015-05-14, making the Xeon roughly three years newer. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $218, while the i7's launch MSRP is $384. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers are SR3WL for the Xeon and SR2AL for the i7.
FAQ
Q: Which CPU has more threads?
A: The Intel Core i7-5775R has 8 threads from its 4 cores, while the Intel Xeon E-2124G has only 4 threads from its 4 cores.
Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?
A: The Intel Xeon E-2124G wins Geekbench single-core by 18.1%, posting a score of 1438 against the i7-5775R's 1218.
Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?
A: No. The Intel Xeon E-2124G supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-5775R does not.
Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?
A: The Intel Xeon E-2124G has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, which is 0.70 GHz higher than the Intel Core i7-5775R's 3.80 GHz boost.
Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?
A: The Intel Xeon E-2124G has an average benchmark score of 2034, while the Intel Core i7-5775R has an average of 2031, a difference of 0.1%.
Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?
A: The Intel Core i7-5775R wins with a score of 6360, beating the Intel Xeon E-2124G's 6092 by 4.2%.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Core i7-5775R is the definitive winner in Cinebench workloads. Across all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23 in both single- and multi-core), it maintains a lead of 4.0% to 4.4%. This consistent advantage suggests that the i7's 8 threads provide a tangible benefit in these rendering and 3D modeling tasks. The 6 MB of L3 cache, while smaller than the Xeon's 8 MB, does not appear to hinder its performance in this suite. For users running Cinebench or similar rendering applications, the i7-5775R is the superior choice based on the data.
The Intel Xeon E-2124G is the clear winner in Geekbench. Its multi-core score of 4263 is 6.7% higher than the i7's 3996, and its single-core score of 1438 is 18.1% higher. The Xeon's higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz and its newer Coffee Lake architecture likely contribute to this substantial single-core advantage. For workloads that resemble Geekbench's test patterns, such as general productivity, web browsing, and single-threaded applications, the Xeon E-2124G offers significantly better performance. Additionally, the Xeon's support for ECC memory and DDR4 modules makes it the appropriate choice for workstation environments where data integrity and newer memory technology are priorities. The i7-5775R, with its Iris Pro Graphics 6200, holds an advantage in integrated graphics capability, but that is not reflected in the CPU benchmark scores presented here.