Intel Core i7-6800K vs Intel Xeon E-2186M Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two six-core, twelve-thread processors along predictable lines. The Intel Xeon E-2186M wins seven of the eight recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i7-6800K takes a single but significant victory. The Xeon’s dominance is concentrated in Cinebench workloads, where it wins every multi-core and single-core test by a narrow but consistent margin. The i7-6800K’s lone win comes in Geekbench multi-core, where it posts a 5688 score against the Xeon’s 5306, a 6.7% advantage that flips the expected order.

For threaded rendering tasks as measured by Cinebench, the Xeon E-2186M is the stronger part. Its wins range from 4.7% to 5% across all six Cinebench tests, whether the workload is single-core or multi-core. The consistency of those margins suggests the Xeon’s higher boost clock, 4.80 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, carries it through both lightly threaded and fully loaded scenarios. The i7-6800K cannot match that frequency headroom despite its higher 3.40 GHz base clock.

The Geekbench multi-core result tells a different story. There, the i7-6800K leads by 6.7%, a gap that likely reflects its quad-channel memory interface and higher memory bandwidth, 76.8 GB/s versus the Xeon’s dual-channel 42.7 GB/s. Memory-bound workloads can shift the balance even when the core configuration is identical. The single-core Geekbench test, however, reverses the outcome: the Xeon scores 1434 against 1237, a 15.9% lead that is the largest margin in the entire comparison.

For a user choosing between these two, the decision hinges on workload type. The Xeon E-2186M is the pick for Cinebench-style rendering and single-threaded responsiveness. The i7-6800K is the pick for Geekbench multi-core scenarios where memory bandwidth matters more than clock speed. Both sit at the 51st percentile among all CPUs in the database, so neither is a standout in the broader market; they are mid-pack performers with different strengths.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process, but they come from different architectural families. The Xeon E-2186M uses Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-H variant, while the i7-6800K uses Broadwell-E. The Xeon belongs to the Xeon E-2100 series and targets the server and workstation segment. The i7-6800K is a desktop part from the Core i7 lineup. Both are end-of-life products, with the Xeon released in April 2018 and the i7 released in May 2016.

The core and thread counts are identical: 6 cores and 12 threads each. Cache configurations differ in L3 capacity. The Xeon has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7 has 15 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The larger L3 on the i7 does not translate into a consistent performance advantage in the recorded benchmarks, which suggests other factors dominate.

Clock speeds favor the Xeon in boost but the i7 in base. The Xeon runs at 2.90 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The i7 runs at 3.40 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. That 1.20 GHz boost advantage for the Xeon is the single biggest architectural difference that shows up in the results. The i7’s higher base clock helps in sustained all-core loads, but its boost ceiling is far lower.

Memory architecture is a major differentiator. The Xeon uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The i7 uses quad-channel DDR4 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, nearly double the Xeon’s throughput. The i7 also supports ECC memory? No, it does not. The Xeon supports ECC memory, while the i7 does not. That is a meaningful split for workstation buyers who need error correction.

The i7 has more PCIe lanes: 28 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU versus 16 Gen 3 lanes on the Xeon. The i7’s socket is Intel Socket 2011-3, while the Xeon uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile-style package. The i7 has an unlocked multiplier, the Xeon does not. The Xeon includes integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics P630, while the i7 has no integrated graphics at all. The i7’s die is larger at 246 mm² with 3,400 million transistors, compared to the Xeon’s 154 mm².

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test opens the comparison with the Xeon E-2186M scoring 961 against the i7-6800K’s 916, a 4.9% win. The single-core R15 result is closer: 135 versus 129, a 4.7% margin. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon scores 4007 against 3819, again 4.9% ahead. The R20 single-core test gives the Xeon 565 versus 538, a 5% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 9542 versus 9093, a 4.9% gap, and R23 single-core shows 1347 versus 1283, a 5% margin.

The pattern across all six Cinebench tests is striking. The Xeon wins every one, and the margins are tightly clustered between 4.7% and 5%. No test in that suite deviates from the trend. This is not a case of one workload favoring one chip; it is a consistent frequency-driven advantage across the entire Cinebench suite.

Geekbench breaks the pattern. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7-6800K scores 5688 against the Xeon’s 5306, winning by 6.7%. This is the only test where the i7 comes out ahead, and the margin is larger than any of the Xeon’s Cinebench wins. The result aligns with the memory bandwidth difference: quad-channel support gives the i7 a substantial throughput advantage that Geekbench’s multi-core workload appears to exploit.

Geekbench single-core reverses again. The Xeon scores 1434 against 1237, a 15.9% lead. This is the largest margin in the entire comparison, more than three times the size of the Xeon’s typical Cinebench win. The single-core results across both suites tell the same story: the Xeon’s 4.80 GHz boost clock dominates lightly threaded tasks. The i7’s 3.60 GHz ceiling simply cannot compete in that scenario.

The raw win count is 7 to 1 in favor of the Xeon. But the lone i7 win is in a benchmark that measures a different kind of performance, one tied to memory subsystem throughput rather than raw core speed. A buyer who cares about Geekbench multi-core specifically would reasonably prefer the i7. A buyer who cares about Cinebench or single-threaded performance would not.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2186M scores 9542, while the Intel Core i7-6800K scores 9093. The Xeon wins by 4.9%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-6800K win any benchmark?

A: Yes. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7-6800K scores 5688 against the Xeon E-2186M’s 5306, a 6.7% advantage. That is the i7’s only win in the eight recorded tests.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: Geekbench single-core shows the biggest difference. The Xeon E-2186M scores 1434, and the i7-6800K scores 1237, a 15.9% margin in the Xeon’s favor.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads. They also share the same L1 and L2 cache sizes, 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively, but the i7 has 15 MB of L3 cache versus the Xeon’s 12 MB.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2186M supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-6800K does not.

Q: How do their boost clocks compare?

A: The Xeon E-2186M boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the i7-6800K boosts to only 3.60 GHz. The Xeon’s base clock is lower, 2.90 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, but its boost advantage is substantial.

The Verdict

The data directs each processor to a distinct audience. The Intel Xeon E-2186M is the better choice for users who prioritize Cinebench rendering performance, single-threaded speed, and ECC memory support. It wins every Cinebench test by roughly 5% and the Geekbench single-core test by nearly 16%. Its 45 W TDP is far lower than the i7’s 140 W, which matters in compact or power-constrained systems. It also includes integrated graphics, the UHD Graphics P630, which the i7 lacks entirely.

The Intel Core i7-6800K is the better choice for users whose workloads resemble Geekbench multi-core, where its 6.7% lead reflects the benefit of quad-channel memory and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. It also offers more PCIe lanes, 28 versus 16, and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Its 15 MB L3 cache is larger, and its 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die represent a more substantial physical design.

Neither processor stands out in the broader market. Both sit at the 51st percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores, 2912 for the Xeon and 2838 for the i7, place them near a cluster of mid-range rivals. The Xeon’s nearest competitors, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600, Intel Core i5-1335UE, Intel Xeon E-2414, and AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C14, all score within 0.3% of the Xeon. The i7’s nearest rivals, the Intel Core i5-10600, Intel Xeon E-2126G, AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5450U, and Intel Xeon E-2324G, all score within 0.5% of the i7. The difference between the two chips is small in the context of the full CPU field.

The launch MSRP of the Xeon E-2186M is $623, and the i7-6800K launched at $434. The Xeon is a mobile-derived workstation part with a higher price and lower power draw. The i7 is a desktop enthusiast part with more memory bandwidth and expansion capability. The recorded benchmarks show the Xeon winning most tests, but the i7’s Geekbench multi-core victory is not an outlier; it is a signal that memory-bound workloads favor the older desktop chip. Choose the Xeon for frequency-sensitive tasks and ECC support. Choose the i7 for multi-core memory throughput and overclocking headroom.