CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2226G and Intel Core i7-8700T are both 6-core Coffee Lake processors on the Intel Socket 1151 platform, but they target different market segments. The Xeon is a server/workstation part with a high clock speed and ECC memory support, while the Core i7 is a low-power desktop chip with hyper-threading. Benchmark data from Cinebench reveals a consistent performance gap, with the Xeon E-2226G winning all six head-to-head comparisons by a margin of roughly 8%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E-2226G outperforms the Intel Core i7-8700T in every recorded test. The largest single-core advantage appears in Cinebench R15, where the Xeon scores 133 versus the Core i7's 123, a delta of 8.1%. This pattern holds across the entire Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon leads 555 to 515, a 7.8% advantage, and in Cinebench R23 single-core, it leads 1322 to 1228, a 7.7% margin.

The multi-core results tell a similar story, though the percentage gaps are slightly narrower. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon E-2226G scores 944 against the Core i7-8700T's 876, a 7.8% difference. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the Xeon at 3934 versus 3653, a 7.7% lead. The longest test, Cinebench R23 multi-core, places the Xeon at 9368 and the Core i7 at 8698, again a 7.7% gap. Across all six benchmarks, the Xeon wins by between 7.7% and 8.1%.

This consistent delta is notable because the two CPUs have identical core counts and cache sizes. The Xeon's advantage stems from its higher clock speeds: a 3.40 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost, compared to the Core i7's 2.40 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. The Core i7 does have one architectural edge, 12 threads versus the Xeon's 6, but the thread advantage is insufficient to overcome the clock-speed deficit. The data shows that for this workload, raw frequency matters more than simultaneous multi-threading. The Core i7's 12 threads cannot compensate for a 0.7 GHz disadvantage in boost clock. Interestingly, the Core i7-8700T has an additional Geekbench result (5168 multi-core, 1343 single-core) that the Xeon lacks, so a direct comparison for that suite is not possible from the available data.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process node with a die size of 154 mm². They share the same Coffee Lake architecture, with the Xeon using the Coffee Lake-S WS codename and the Core i7 using the standard Coffee Lake codename. Each core has 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache, and both have 12 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support is identical on paper: DDR4, dual-channel, with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth.

The critical architectural divergence is in threading. The Xeon E-2226G has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. The Core i7-8700T has 6 cores and 12 threads, enabling two threads per core. This is a fundamental difference in how work is dispatched. The Xeon's 3.40 GHz base clock is a full 1.0 GHz higher than the Core i7's 2.40 GHz base clock, and the 4.70 GHz boost is 0.7 GHz higher. This explains why the Xeon wins single-core tests decisively.

The other major difference is ECC memory support. The Xeon E-2226G supports ECC memory, a feature critical for error correction in server and workstation environments. The Core i7-8700T does not. The integrated graphics also differ: the Xeon has HD Graphics P630, while the Core i7 has UHD Graphics 630. The market segments reflect this: the Xeon is classified as Server/Workstation, whereas the Core i7 is Desktop.

Power consumption diverges sharply. The Xeon E-2226G has a TDP of 80 watts, while the Core i7-8700T is rated at 35 watts. This is the "T" suffix in the Core i7's name, a low-power variant designed for thermal and energy efficiency. The Xeon's higher TDP enables its higher clock speeds, but it also means more heat output and potentially larger cooling requirements. Both processors are end-of-life products, with the Xeon released on 2019-05-28 and the Core i7 on 2018-04-01. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $255; the Core i7 has no listed launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2226G wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R15, it scores 133 versus 123 for the Core i7-8700T (8.1% faster). In Cinebench R20, it scores 555 versus 515 (7.8% faster). In Cinebench R23, it scores 1322 versus 1228 (7.7% faster).

Q: Does the Core i7-8700T's hyper-threading help it win multi-core tests?

A: No. Despite having 12 threads versus the Xeon's 6, the Core i7-8700T loses every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 9368 versus the Core i7's 8698, a 7.7% gap. The Xeon's higher clock speeds overcome the thread deficit.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: Yes, both use the Intel Socket 1151. They also share the same memory controller: DDR4, dual-channel, with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. However, the Xeon supports ECC memory while the Core i7 does not, which may require different motherboard support for that feature.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Xeon E-2226G has a TDP of 80 watts, while the Core i7-8700T has a TDP of 35 watts. The Core i7 is designed for lower power draw, which is typical for the "T" series desktop processors.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Xeon E-2226G has an average benchmark score of 2709, sitting within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U (2713) and Intel Xeon D-1577 (2715). The Core i7-8700T has an average score of 2701, within 0.1% of the Intel Core i7-1185G7E (2703) and Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 (2703). Both CPUs are at the 50th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Xeon E-2226G boosts to 4.70 GHz, whereas the Core i7-8700T boosts to 4.00 GHz. The Xeon also has a higher base clock: 3.40 GHz versus 2.40 GHz.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for performance-sensitive workloads: the Intel Xeon E-2226G. It wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with margins ranging from 7.7% to 8.1%. Its higher base and boost clocks, 3.40 GHz and 4.70 GHz, respectively, deliver tangible results in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. For users who need ECC memory support, the Xeon is the only option of the two, as the Core i7-8700T lacks this feature. The Xeon's server/workstation classification also aligns with its feature set.

The Intel Core i7-8700T is the better choice for power-constrained environments. Its 35-watt TDP is less than half the Xeon's 80-watt rating, making it suitable for compact or thermally limited systems. The 12 threads provide additional parallel capacity that could help in specific multi-threaded scenarios, although the Cinebench data shows the Xeon still wins those tests. The Core i7's UHD Graphics 630 may also be more suitable for desktop media use than the Xeon's HD Graphics P630, depending on driver support.

For a pure performance-per-watt analysis, the Core i7-8700T delivers 8698 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core at 35 watts, while the Xeon achieves 9368 points at 80 watts. The Xeon is 7.7% faster but uses 128% more power. This is the fundamental trade-off. The Xeon is the performance leader; the Core i7 is the efficiency leader. There is no winner across all metrics, the choice depends on whether the workload prioritizes raw speed or thermal/power limits. Both are end-of-life parts, so availability may be limited to the used market or existing stock.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2226G | Intel Core i7-8700T |

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

| Threads | 6 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 80 W | 35 W |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| ECC Memory | Supported | Not supported |

| Integrated Graphics | HD Graphics P630 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Release Date | 2019-05-28 | 2018-04-01 |

| Launch MSRP | $255 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SRF7F | SR3WX |

| Generation Label | Xeon E (Coffee Lake) | Core i7 (Coffee Lake) |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-S WS | Coffee Lake |