Intel Core i7-8705G vs Intel Xeon E-2124G Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-8705G has 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2124G has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2124G boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-8705G boosts to 4.10 GHz.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E-2124G supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-8705G does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-8705G is a Mobile segment chip, while the Intel Xeon E-2124G is a Server/Workstation segment chip.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2124G has Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only), whereas the Intel Core i7-8705G has Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-8705G has an average benchmark score of 2058, and the Intel Xeon E-2124G has an average benchmark score of 2034. The Core i7-8705G sits at the 46th percentile, and the Xeon at the 45th percentile.

Q: What are their respective release dates?

A: The Intel Core i7-8705G was released on 2018-01-06, and the Intel Xeon E-2124G was released on 2018-07-11.

The Verdict

The benchmark data offers a clear split between these two Intel chips, and the choice depends on the workload. The Intel Core i7-8705G wins six of the eight head-to-head tests, all of them in the Cinebench suite. Its multi-threaded advantage is consistent across every Cinebench version, with deltas between 6.0% and 6.2%. The i7-8705G also leads in Cinebench single-core tests, with deltas of 5.8% and 6.1%. For renderers and workloads that use Cinebench-style multi-threaded scaling, the i7-8705G is the stronger pick.

The Intel Xeon E-2124G, by contrast, wins both Geekbench tests. Its Geekbench single-core score is 1438 versus 1277, a delta of -11.2% when viewed from the i7-8705G side, meaning the Xeon is ahead by roughly 11%. The Geekbench multi-core result also favors the Xeon, 4263 versus 3968, a delta of -6.9%. This points toward the Xeon being the better option for Geekbench-style integer and floating-point workloads, especially those that favor higher clock speeds and lower thread counts.

The Xeon also brings platform features that the mobile i7 lacks: ECC memory support, 16 PCIe lanes versus 8, and a Server/Workstation market segment. The i7-8705G is a Mobile part on the Intel BGA 2270 socket, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151. The Xeon has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz versus 3.10 GHz and a higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 4.10 GHz. Its TDP is 71 watts versus 65 watts. The Xeon also has a launch MSRP of $218.

For users who prioritize Cinebench rendering performance and multi-threaded throughput in a mobile form factor, the Intel Core i7-8705G is the data-backed winner. For users who need ECC memory, more PCIe lanes, and stronger Geekbench scores in a server or workstation build, the Intel Xeon E-2124G is the correct selection. The overall average benchmark scores are close, 2058 versus 2034, but the workload mix determines which chip delivers better results.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results are uniformly in favor of the Intel Core i7-8705G. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-8705G scores 651 against the Xeon's 613, a 6.2% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-8705G scores 91 against 86, a 5.8% lead. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20: multi-core is 2714 versus 2558, a 6.1% delta, and single-core is 383 versus 361, also a 6.1% delta. Cinebench R23 shows the same story, with multi-core at 6464 versus 6092, a 6.1% delta, and single-core at 912 versus 860, a 6.0% delta. The consistency of these margins, all within a narrow 5.8% to 6.2% band, suggests that the i7-8705G's extra threads (8 versus 4) and its architecture deliver a steady advantage across Cinebench versions rather than a workload-specific fluke.

The Geekbench results flip the outcome. The Intel Xeon E-2124G wins Geekbench multi-core with a score of 4263 versus the i7-8705G's 3968, a delta of -6.9% from the i7's perspective. The single-core gap is larger: the Xeon scores 1438 against 1277, a delta of -11.2%. This is the biggest margin in the entire head-to-head set. Notably, the Xeon's victory in Geekbench multi-core comes despite having half the threads of the i7-8705G. The Xeon's higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz and higher base clock of 3.40 GHz likely explain this result, although the database only records the scores, not the causal mechanism. What the data shows is a clear divergence: Cinebench workloads favor the i7-8705G, while Geekbench workloads favor the Xeon.

The wins tally is 6 for the Intel Core i7-8705G and 2 for the Intel Xeon E-2124G. The average benchmark scores reflect this closeness, with the i7 at 2058 and the Xeon at 2034. The percentile rankings are similarly close, 46 versus 45. The nearest rivals for the i7-8705G include the Intel Core i3-10105T at an identical average score of 2058, the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G at 2059 with a -0.1% delta, the AMD Ryzen 3 3100 at 2055 with a 0.2% delta, and the Intel Xeon E3-1585 v5 at 2067 with a -0.4% delta. For the Xeon E-2124G, the nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U at 2035 with a 0% delta, the Intel Core i7-3960X at 2037 with a -0.1% delta, the Intel Core i7-5775R at 2031 with a 0.1% delta, and the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 at 2030 with a 0.2% delta. These rival deltas are tiny, indicating both chips sit in a crowded performance band, but the head-to-head results show that within this band, the i7-8705G and Xeon E-2124G trade blows depending on the benchmark family.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several core specifications. The Intel Core i7-8705G has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2124G has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks differ: 3.10 GHz for the i7-8705G versus 3.40 GHz for the Xeon. Boost clocks also differ: 4.10 GHz for the i7-8705G versus 4.50 GHz for the Xeon. TDP ratings are 65 watts for the i7-8705G and 71 watts for the Xeon.

The sockets are different. The i7-8705G uses Intel BGA 2270, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151. The market segments are different as well: Mobile for the i7-8705G, Server/Workstation for the Xeon. Memory bandwidth differs, with the i7-8705G at 38.4 GB/s and the Xeon at 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory support is absent on the i7-8705G and present on the Xeon. PCIe lanes differ, with the i7-8705G offering Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) and the Xeon offering Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ: Intel HD Graphics 630 on the i7-8705G versus HD Graphics P630 on the Xeon.

The die sizes are nearly identical, 125 mm² for the i7-8705G and 126 mm² for the Xeon. Both use 14 nm process nodes from Intel. Cache configurations are identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates differ, with the i7-8705G coming out on 2018-01-06 and the Xeon on 2018-07-11. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $218; the i7-8705G has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-8705G is built on Kaby Lake architecture with the codename Kaby Lake G, while the Intel Xeon E-2124G is built on Coffee Lake architecture with the codename Coffee Lake-S WS. Both use the 14 nm process node from Intel, and the foundry is Intel for both. The generation labels are listed as Core i7 (Kaby Lake-G) for the i7-8705G and Xeon E (Coffee Lake, part of the Xeon E-2100 series) for the Xeon. The die sizes are almost the same, 125 mm² and 126 mm², respectively.

The core and thread counts are a major architectural difference. The i7-8705G has 8 threads with 4 cores, enabling simultaneous multi-threading. The Xeon has 4 threads with 4 cores, meaning it runs one thread per core. This is likely the primary driver behind the i7-8705G's Cinebench wins, where the extra threads scale multi-core performance upward. The Xeon compensates with higher clock speeds: 3.40 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost versus 3.10 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost. The Geekbench results suggest that the Xeon's clock advantage outweighs the i7-8705G's thread advantage in those tests.

Cache hierarchies are identical on both chips: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. No 3D V-Cache is present on either part. Memory support is also the same in type, DDR4 with dual-channel bus, though the Xeon has a higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s compared to 38.4 GB/s for the i7-8705G. PCIe capability differs, with the Xeon offering twice the lanes of the i7-8705G. The integrated graphics are different SKUs, with Intel HD Graphics 630 on the i7-8705G and HD Graphics P630 on the Xeon. ECC memory support is exclusive to the Xeon. The i7-8705G is a Mobile part, BGA 2270, while the Xeon is Socket 1151 in the Xeon E-2100 series.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8705G wins in Cinebench-dominated workloads across the board. It is ahead of the Xeon E-2124G by 6.2% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 5.8% in Cinebench R15 single-core, 6.1% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 6.1% in Cinebench R20 single-core, 6.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 6.0% in Cinebench R23 single-core. This makes the i7-8705G the better choice for rendering tasks that resemble Cinebench's workload, particularly those that can use its 8 threads. Its mobile form factor on Intel BGA 2270 also makes it suitable for compact systems where the Xeon's Socket 1151 desktop or workstation platform would not fit.

The Intel Xeon E-2124G wins in Geekbench-style workloads, as shown by its Geekbench multi-core score of 4263 and single-core score of 1438. The Xeon's Geekbench single-core margin is the largest difference in the entire comparison, a delta of -11.2% versus the i7-8705G. The Xeon is also the right pick for server or workstation builds that require ECC memory and more PCIe lanes, with Gen 3, 16 Lanes available. Its higher memory bandwidth of 40 GB/s class versus 38.4 GB/s, and its higher base clock of 3.40 GHz, position it for tasks where per-thread performance and platform reliability matter more than thread count.

The wins are split 6 for the i7-8705G and 6 for the i7-8705G in Cinebench, versus 2 for the Xeon in Geekbench. The i7-8705G's average benchmark score of 2058 and 46th percentile rank place it just ahead of the Xeon's 2034 and 45th percentile. The choice between them is not about overall superiority but about workload alignment. Renderers and multi-threaded Cinebench-style applications favor the i7-8705G. Geekbench-heavy testing and server/workstation use cases favor the Xeon E-2124G. The Xeon also carries a launch MSRP of $218, while the i7-8705G has no recorded launch MSRP.