CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-5960X
Xeon E-2186G
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core i7-5960X vs Intel Xeon E-2186G
The Intel Xeon E-2186G and Intel Core i7-5960X are two end-of-life processors from different eras, targeting different segments of the market. The data shows a clear split in their capabilities: the Xeon E-2186G, a 6-core Coffee Lake part, dominates in single-core performance, while the 8-core Haswell-E i7-5960X wins in every multi-core benchmark. The overall benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the Xeon averaging 3462 and the i7-5960X averaging 3442, placing both at the 54th percentile of all CPUs. This near-parity in average score, however, masks the fundamentally different performance profiles that make each processor suitable for distinct workloads. The choice between them hinges entirely on whether the workload prioritizes single-threaded speed or raw multi-threaded throughput.
The Verdict
The data dictates a straightforward verdict based on workload type. For any application that is heavily dependent on single-threaded performance, the Intel Xeon E-2186G is the clear winner. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1550 is a staggering 53.5% higher than the i7-5960X’s 1010. This advantage is consistent across all Cinebench iterations, where the Xeon trails by only 0.6% in single-core tests, a margin that is effectively a tie. If the primary tasks involve legacy software, lightly-threaded applications, or anything where a single core’s speed is the bottleneck, the Xeon E-2186G is the superior choice.
Conversely, for multi-threaded workloads that can utilize more than six cores, the Intel Core i7-5960X is the definitive pick. It wins all seven multi-core benchmark comparisons, including a 4% lead in Geekbench multicore (6461 vs. 6204). While its leads in the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests are slim (0.6%), they are consistent. The i7-5960X’s additional two cores and four threads provide a tangible, if modest, advantage in heavily parallelized rendering and compute tasks. For users whose primary workload is video rendering, 3D simulation, or other multi-threaded tasks, the i7-5960X is the more capable processor.
Where Each One Wins
The benchmark results paint a clear picture of the use-case split. The Xeon E-2186G’s wins are singular but decisive. Its only victory is in Geekbench single-core, where it outperforms the i7-5960X by a massive 53.5%. This suggests it is better suited for tasks like office productivity, web browsing, and software development, where high clock speeds on a single core matter more than the total core count. The Xeon also benefits from its integrated HD Graphics P630 and ECC memory support, features absent on the i7-5960X, making it a more self-contained and reliable option for a workstation that doesn't require a discrete GPU and needs error correction for critical data.
The i7-5960X, on the other hand, wins everywhere else. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide a clear advantage in multi-threaded scenarios. While its Cinebench multicore wins are narrow (0.6% each), its Geekbench multicore win is more substantial at 4%. This points to its strength in content creation, such as video encoding or 3D rendering, where every additional core contributes to reducing render times. Furthermore, the i7-5960X’s quad-channel memory bus, offering a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s compared to the Xeon’s dual-channel 42.7 GB/s, gives it a significant advantage in memory-intensive workloads that are sensitive to data throughput. Its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes also provide far more expansion capability than the Xeon’s 16 lanes.
Architecture Differences
The two processors represent fundamentally different architectural approaches from Intel. The Xeon E-2186G is built on the Coffee Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node and has a die size of 154 mm². It features 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. It has a shared 12 MB L3 cache and a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus. It is a mainstream part designed for the Intel Socket 1151 platform and includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics P630) and ECC memory support.
In contrast, the Core i7-5960X is a high-end desktop (HEDT) part based on the older Haswell architecture, manufactured on a 22 nm process with a much larger die size of 356 mm² and a transistor count of 2,600 million. It offers 8 cores and 16 threads, but with lower clocks of 3.00 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. Its L3 cache is larger at 20 MB shared, and it supports a quad-channel DDR4 memory bus, which gives it the higher memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. It uses the Intel Socket 2011-3 and has a much higher TDP of 140 W compared to the Xeon’s 95 W. The i7-5960X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes offer greater connectivity for multiple GPUs or other expansion cards. The Xeon E-2186G has a locked multiplier and only 16 PCIe lanes.
FAQ
Q: Based on the benchmark data, which processor is faster in multi-core performance?
A: The Intel Core i7-5960X is faster in multi-core performance. It wins all four multi-core benchmarks (Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and Geekbench) with margins ranging from 0.6% to 4%.
Q: The Xeon E-2186G has a big win in one benchmark. Which one is it?
A: The Xeon E-2186G wins decisively in Geekbench single-core with a score of 1550, which is 53.5% higher than the Core i7-5960X’s score of 1010.
Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?
A: The overall average benchmark scores are very close. The Xeon E-2186G has an average score of 3462, while the Core i7-5960X has an average score of 3442. Both processors are in the 54th percentile of all CPUs.
Q: What are the main differences in memory support?
A: The Core i7-5960X supports a quad-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Xeon E-2186G supports a dual-channel bus with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. Only the Xeon supports ECC memory.
Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?
A: The Intel Core i7-5960X has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, whereas the Intel Xeon E-2186G has only 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.
Q: Both processors are end-of-life. What is the difference in their cache sizes?
A: The Xeon E-2186G has a shared 12 MB L3 cache, while the Core i7-5960X has a larger shared 20 MB L3 cache.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The head-to-head results show a consistent pattern. The Intel Core i7-5960X wins seven of the eight benchmark comparisons, but the magnitude of its victories varies significantly. In all three Cinebench multicore tests, the i7-5960X wins by a narrow margin of 0.6%. For instance, in Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 1165 against the Xeon’s 1158. This trend continues in Cinebench R20 (4857 vs. 4826) and R23 (11565 vs. 11492). The i7-5960X also wins the single-core Cinebench tests by the same slim 0.6% margin, scoring 164 vs. 163 in R15 and 1632 vs. 1622 in R23.
The most significant victory for the i7-5960X comes in Geekbench multicore, where it scores 6461, a 4% advantage over the Xeon’s 6204. This larger delta suggests that the i7-5960X’s two extra cores provide a more noticeable benefit in the Geekbench workload than in the Cinebench tests.
The single, and most dramatic, victory for the Xeon E-2186G is in Geekbench single-core. Here, the Xeon scores 1550, which is a 53.5% improvement over the i7-5960X’s 1010. This is by far the largest performance gap in any benchmark between the two processors. It highlights the Xeon’s massive advantage in single-threaded performance, a result of its significantly higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz compared to the i7-5960X’s 3.50 GHz. In summary, the i7-5960X is the consistent, albeit modest, winner in multi-threaded tasks, while the Xeon E-2186G is the clear champion in single-threaded workloads.