CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2274G and Intel Core i7-8850H are both 14 nm Coffee Lake parts, but they target different worlds: one is a socketed server/workstation chip, the other a soldered mobile processor. Benchmark results show a clear split based on workload type. In Cinebench tests, the Core i7-8850H consistently edges out the Xeon, while in Geekbench, the Xeon E-2274G delivers decisive victories. The data presents two distinct performance profiles, making the choice dependent on whether the priority is sustained multithreaded rendering or memory-latency-sensitive single-threaded tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-8850H wins the majority of the head-to-head comparisons, taking 6 out of 8 benchmark tests. Its victories are concentrated in the Cinebench suite, covering R15, R20, and R23 versions, both multi-core and single-core runs. The largest margin in this group is a 2.6% advantage in every Cinebench test except R15 single-core, where it leads by 2.5%. This pattern suggests the i7-8850H’s six physical cores and 12 threads provide a consistent, if modest, edge in rendering workloads that scale with core count and clock speed.

The Intel Xeon E-2274G wins the remaining two tests, both from Geekbench. Its single-core score of 1586 is 22% higher than the i7-8850H’s 1300, a substantial gap. The multi-core Geekbench result also favors the Xeon, with 5174 versus 4765, an 8.6% advantage. This indicates that in Geekbench’s mixed workload, the Xeon’s higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz and lower core count allow for superior per-thread performance, even when the i7-8850H has two more cores available.

Looking at the broader benchmark landscape, both chips sit at the 49th percentile among all CPUs, tying their overall standing. The average benchmark score for the Xeon E-2274G is 2643, while the i7-8850H averages 2604, a 1.5% difference in favor of the Xeon. This overall average is pulled up by the Xeon’s strong Geekbench results, while the Cinebench wins for the i7-8850H are too narrow to shift the aggregate. The Xeon’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-5820K with an average score of 2642, a 0.1% difference, while the i7-8850H’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE at 2596, a 0.3% gap.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear verdict: pick the Intel Core i7-8850H for Cinebench-style rendering workloads, and pick the Intel Xeon E-2274G for Geekbench-heavy tasks. The i7-8850H’s six cores and 12 threads deliver a consistent, albeit small, advantage across all Cinebench iterations, making it the better choice for users whose primary metric is multi-threaded CPU rendering in applications like Cinema 4D.

The Xeon E-2274G, despite having only four cores and eight threads, wins decisively in Geekbench. The 22% single-core lead and 8.6% multi-core lead are not minor margins; they indicate a fundamental difference in how each chip handles Geekbench’s workload mix. For users running applications that resemble Geekbench’s pattern, short bursts of activity with high per-thread demands, the Xeon is the superior option.

There is no universal winner. The i7-8850H is a mobile part with a 45 W TDP, while the Xeon E-2274G is a server/workstation chip with an 83 W TDP. The i7-8850H’s lower power draw and soldered BGA 1440 socket make it suited for laptops, while the Xeon’s socketed LGA 1151 design and ECC memory support target workstations. The Xeon’s launch MSRP was $328, though no comparable price exists for the i7-8850H in the data. Ultimately, the choice hinges on whether the user needs the i7-8850H’s Cinebench edge or the Xeon’s Geekbench dominance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the Geekbench single-core test, where the Xeon E-2274G scores 1586 against the i7-8850H’s 1300, a 22% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The Xeon’s 4.90 GHz boost clock, compared to the i7-8850H’s 4.30 GHz, likely drives this gap, though the exact relationship is not specified in the data. The multi-core Geekbench test also favors the Xeon, with 5174 versus 4765, an 8.6% lead, showing that the Xeon’s four cores can outperform the i7-8850H’s six cores in this specific benchmark.

The Cinebench results paint a different picture. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-8850H scores 8511 versus the Xeon’s 8289, a 2.6% difference. The same 2.6% margin appears in R20 multi-core (3574 vs 3481) and R15 multi-core (857 vs 835). Single-core Cinebench tests show a similar pattern: R23 single-core is 1201 vs 1170, R20 single-core is 504 vs 491, and R15 single-core is 120 vs 117, with the i7-8850H winning by 2.5% in the latter. These margins are consistent, suggesting that the i7-8850H’s additional two cores provide a stable advantage in Cinebench’s rendering engine.

The average benchmark scores place the Xeon ahead overall, at 2643 versus 2604. This is because the Xeon’s Geekbench wins are larger in percentage terms than the i7-8850H’s Cinebench wins. The Xeon’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-5820K, has an average score of 2642, just 0.1% behind, while the i7-8850H’s nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE, sits at 2596, 0.3% behind. These rival comparisons show how close both chips are to their direct competitors, with neither holding a dominant position in the broader market.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-8850H wins 6 out of 8 head-to-head tests, all of which are Cinebench benchmarks. The Intel Xeon E-2274G wins the remaining 2 Geekbench tests.

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

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel Xeon E-2274G scores 1586 versus the Intel Core i7-8850H’s 1300, a 22% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-8850H scores 8511, while the Intel Xeon E-2274G scores 8289, giving the i7-8850H a 2.6% lead in this test.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E-2274G and the Intel Core i7-8850H are at the 49th percentile among all CPUs, indicating similar overall standing.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2274G has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i7-8850H’s 4.30 GHz boost clock.

Q: Do both chips support ECC memory?

A: No, only the Intel Xeon E-2274G supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-8850H does not have ECC memory support.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same 14 nm process node and Coffee Lake architecture, but their physical configurations diverge significantly. The Intel Xeon E-2274G is built on the Coffee Lake-S WS die, measuring 126 mm², while the Intel Core i7-8850H uses the Coffee Lake-H die at 149 mm². The larger die size for the mobile chip accommodates its six cores and 12 threads, compared to the Xeon’s four cores and eight threads.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the L3 cache is 8 MB shared on the Xeon E-2274G versus 12 MB shared on the i7-8850H. This 4 MB difference in L3 cache gives the i7-8850H more room for frequently accessed data, which may contribute to its Cinebench performance.

The Xeon E-2274G operates with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and boosts to 4.90 GHz, while the i7-8850H runs at a 2.70 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. The Xeon’s higher clocks are balanced by its higher 83 W TDP, compared to the i7-8850H’s 45 W TDP. This power difference reflects their intended use cases: the Xeon for socketed workstations, the i7-8850H for mobile platforms.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Xeon E-2274G supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and includes ECC memory capability. The i7-8850H also supports DDR4 but lacks ECC and has no listed memory bus or bandwidth figures in the data. The Xeon also offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-8850H has no PCIe specification listed.

Integrated graphics differ as well: the Xeon E-2274G uses HD Graphics P630, while the i7-8850H features UHD 630. Both are end-of-life products, but the Xeon was released in 2019, while the i7-8850H came out in 2018. The Xeon’s launch MSRP was $328, and it is part of the Xeon E-2200 series, while the i7-8850H is not assigned a series in the data. The Xeon uses an Intel Socket 1151, making it replaceable, whereas the i7-8850H is soldered to an Intel BGA 1440 socket.