Intel Core i7-8850H vs Intel Xeon E-2244G Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits this contest along clear lines. The Intel Core i7-8850H takes the majority of the wins, seven out of eight head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Xeon E-2244G claims only a single victory. That lone win, however, is not a trivial one: it occurs in Geekbench single-core, where the Xeon posts a score of 1408 against the Core i7’s 1300, a delta of 7.7 percent in favor of the Xeon. This is the largest percentage gap in either direction across the entire test set.

The Core i7-8850H, by contrast, wins every Cinebench test and the Geekbench multi-core test. Its advantages range from a modest 1.1 percent in Geekbench multi-core to a consistent 4.3 to 4.8 percent in the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 workloads. The pattern is telling: the Core i7 wins by nearly identical margins in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests, which suggests its advantage is structural rather than workload-specific. The Xeon’s Geekbench single-core win stands apart because Geekbench’s scoring methodology appears to favor the Xeon’s higher boost clock, while Cinebench’s rendering workload responds more to the Core i7’s additional cores and threads.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward. For rendering, 3D modeling, or any Cinebench-style multi-threaded workload, the Core i7-8850H is the stronger part. For single-threaded Geekbench tasks, which often correlate with everyday application responsiveness, the Xeon E-2244G has the edge. The Xeon also brings ECC memory support, which the Core i7 lacks, making it the more appropriate choice for data integrity-sensitive environments despite its lower raw benchmark scores.

The Verdict

The database shows a clear overall winner in raw performance: the Intel Core i7-8850H. It wins seven of eight head-to-head tests, including all three Cinebench versions in both single-core and multi-core modes. Its average benchmark score of 2604 versus the Xeon’s 2527 places it ahead by roughly 3 percent, and both parts sit at the 49th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same tier in the broader performance distribution.

The Core i7-8850H’s six cores and twelve threads give it a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads that the Xeon’s four cores and eight threads cannot overcome, despite the Xeon’s higher base clock of 3.80 GHz versus 2.70 GHz and higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.30 GHz. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8511 for the Core i7 against 8126 for the Xeon illustrates this: the Core i7 is 4.7 percent ahead, a consistent margin repeated across R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests.

The verdict depends on context. If the priority is maximum benchmark throughput, the Core i7-8850H is the pick. If the priority is ECC memory support, the Xeon E-2244G is the only choice between these two, since the Core i7 does not support ECC. The Xeon also wins the single Geekbench single-core test, which may matter for users whose workloads are dominated by lightly threaded Geekbench-style tasks. But for the majority of computing scenarios, the Core i7-8850H’s consistent wins across the Cinebench suite and Geekbench multi-core make it the stronger processor.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test opens the comparison with the Core i7-8850H scoring 857 against the Xeon’s 818, a 4.8 percent advantage. The single-core R15 test follows the same pattern: 120 versus 115, a 4.3 percent lead for the Core i7. These margins are small but consistent, and they establish the baseline for the rest of the Cinebench suite.

Cinebench R20 shows the Core i7-8850H at 3574 multi-core and 504 single-core, while the Xeon E-2244G scores 3412 and 481 respectively. The multi-core delta is 4.7 percent, and the single-core delta is 4.8 percent. The near-identical percentages in both modes suggest that the Core i7’s extra two cores and four threads do not fully explain its lead; the single-core advantage indicates that per-core efficiency also favors the Core i7 in Cinebench’s rendering engine.

Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern almost exactly. The Core i7-8850H scores 8511 multi-core and 1201 single-core, versus the Xeon’s 8126 and 1147. Both deltas sit at 4.7 percent. This consistency across three Cinebench generations is remarkable: the same relative gap persists regardless of the rendering engine’s version, which speaks to a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a benchmark-specific quirk.

Geekbench multi-core narrows the gap considerably. The Core i7-8850H scores 4765, and the Xeon E-2244G scores 4712, a delta of only 1.1 percent. This is the Core i7’s smallest win, and it suggests that Geekbench’s multi-core workload does not scale as strongly with the Core i7’s additional cores. The Xeon’s higher clock speeds partially compensate for its core deficit in this test.

Geekbench single-core is the Xeon’s sole victory, and it is decisive. The Xeon scores 1408 against the Core i7’s 1300, a 7.7 percent margin. This is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set, and it flips the expected hierarchy based on Cinebench results. The Xeon’s 4.80 GHz boost clock appears to be the primary driver, as Geekbench’s single-core test rewards raw frequency more than Cinebench does.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-8850H wins seven of eight head-to-head tests, losing only Geekbench single-core to the Intel Xeon E-2244G.

Q: How large is the Core i7-8850H’s lead in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Core i7-8850H scores 8511, while the Xeon E-2244G scores 8126, giving the Core i7 a 4.7 percent advantage.

Q: Does the Xeon E-2244G have any performance advantage?

A: Yes, in Geekbench single-core the Xeon scores 1408 versus the Core i7’s 1300, a 7.7 percent lead, which is the largest delta in either direction.

Q: What memory feature does the Xeon E-2244G support that the Core i7-8850H does not?

A: The Xeon E-2244G supports ECC memory, while the Core i7-8850H does not.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Core i7-8850H has an average benchmark score of 2604, and the Xeon E-2244G has 2527, a difference of roughly 3 percent.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Core i7-8850H has six cores and twelve threads, while the Xeon E-2244G has four cores and eight threads.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s Coffee Lake architecture and fabricated on the 14 nm process node, but they target different segments. The Core i7-8850H is a mobile part with the codename Coffee Lake-H, while the Xeon E-2244G is a server/workstation part with the codename Coffee Lake-S WS. This segmentation drives several key differences.

The Core i7-8850H has six cores and twelve threads, while the Xeon E-2244G has four cores and eight threads. The Core i7’s die size is 149 mm², whereas the Xeon’s is 126 mm². Both use 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache differs: the Core i7 has 12 MB, and the Xeon has 8 MB. This larger L3 cache gives the Core i7 more headroom for data reuse in multi-threaded workloads.

The memory controllers also differ. The Xeon E-2244G supports ECC memory, while the Core i7-8850H does not. The Xeon also has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and a dual-channel memory bus, whereas the Core i7’s memory bus and bandwidth are not recorded in the database. Both support DDR4 memory.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core i7-8850H includes UHD 630 graphics, while the Xeon E-2244G includes HD Graphics P630. The Xeon also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i7’s PCIe configuration is not recorded.

The socket situation is another major divergence. The Core i7-8850H uses Intel BGA 1440, which is a soldered mobile socket, while the Xeon E-2244G uses Intel Socket 1151, a desktop/server socket. This means the Core i7 is intended to be integrated into a laptop or mobile workstation, while the Xeon is designed for socketed server or workstation motherboards.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on several recorded specifications. The Core i7-8850H has six cores and twelve threads, while the Xeon E-2244G has four cores and eight threads. The Core i7’s base clock is 2.70 GHz, and its boost clock is 4.30 GHz. The Xeon’s base clock is 3.80 GHz, and its boost clock is 4.80 GHz, giving it a frequency advantage in both modes.

Thermal design power differs substantially: the Core i7-8850H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Xeon E-2244G has a TDP of 71 watts. The Core i7’s lower TDP reflects its mobile design, while the Xeon’s higher TDP allows for sustained performance in workstation environments.

The socket is another key difference. The Core i7 uses Intel BGA 1440, and the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151. The integrated graphics differ as noted: UHD 630 versus HD Graphics P630. The Xeon supports ECC memory, and the Core i7 does not. The Xeon has a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and a dual-channel memory bus, while the Core i7’s memory bus is not recorded.

The L3 cache differs: 12 MB shared for the Core i7 versus 8 MB shared for the Xeon. The die size also differs: 149 mm² for the Core i7 versus 126 mm² for the Xeon. The Xeon lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i7’s PCIe configuration is not recorded. The release dates differ as well: the Core i7 launched in April 2018, and the Xeon launched in May 2019. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $272, while the Core i7 has no recorded MSRP. Both parts are end-of-life and have locked multipliers.