CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i7-9700T and the Intel Xeon E-2274G are both end-of-life desktop and workstation processors built on the same 14 nm Coffee Lake architecture, yet they occupy different positions in the benchmark database. The i7-9700T is an 8-core, 8-thread part with a 35 W TDP and a 2.00 GHz base clock, while the Xeon E-2274G is a 4-core, 8-thread part with an 83 W TDP and a 4.00 GHz base clock. Despite these stark specification differences, the head-to-head benchmark data shows a surprisingly narrow overall performance gap, with the i7-9700T winning 7 of 8 tests, but the Xeon E-2274G taking a decisive victory in Geekbench single-core. The following analysis breaks down the data field by field to clarify where each processor excels and which user should choose based on measured results.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700T has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2274G has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon uses hyper-threading to match the thread count of the i7, but the i7 has twice as many physical cores.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption and clock speeds?

A: The i7-9700T has a 35 W TDP with a 2.00 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost, whereas the Xeon E-2274G has an 83 W TDP with a 4.00 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. The Xeon runs at significantly higher clocks but consumes over twice the power.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2274G supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-9700T does not. This is a key differentiator for workstation reliability-focused builds.

Q: How do their integrated graphics differ?

A: The i7-9700T includes UHD Graphics 630, while the Xeon E-2274G includes HD Graphics P630. Both are integrated graphics solutions, but they are listed as different models in the specification data.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The i7-9700T has an average benchmark score of 2668, placing it in the 50th percentile of all CPUs, while the Xeon E-2274G has an average score of 2643, placing it in the 49th percentile. The i7 is marginally ahead on average.

Q: What is the largest performance difference in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest difference is in Geekbench single-core, where the Xeon E-2274G wins with a score of 1586 versus 1392 for the i7-9700T, a delta of -12.2% from the i7’s perspective. The largest win for the i7 is in Geekbench multi-core at 6.4% ahead.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-9700T dominates the multi-core and most single-core benchmark categories. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, it wins both multi-core and single-core tests, albeit by very slim margins ranging from 0.4% to 0.9%. The i7’s most significant victory comes in Geekbench multi-core, where it scores 5503 against the Xeon’s 5174, a 6.4% advantage. This suggests that the i7’s 8 physical cores provide a measurable edge in workloads that scale across cores, even though the Xeon’s higher clock speeds help close the gap in most synthetic tests.

The Intel Xeon E-2274G wins one test decisively: Geekbench single-core. Its score of 1586 surpasses the i7-9700T’s 1392 by 12.2%. This is the only test where the Xeon leads, and the margin is substantial. The Xeon also benefits from ECC memory support and a higher base clock of 4.00 GHz, which makes it more suitable for single-threaded, latency-sensitive tasks that favor raw clock speed over core count.

In practical terms, the i7-9700T is the better choice for multi-threaded rendering or encoding workloads where its 8 cores can be fully utilized. The Xeon E-2274G, despite having only 4 cores, is competitive in single-threaded tasks and offers the reliability feature of ECC memory, making it a candidate for workstation environments where data integrity is prioritized over raw multi-core throughput.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node and share the Coffee Lake architecture, with the i7-9700T using the Coffee Lake Refresh generation and the Xeon E-2274G using the Coffee Lake-S WS variant. The die sizes differ notably: the i7-9700T has a die size of 180.3 mm², while the Xeon E-2274G has a smaller 126 mm² die. This reflects the different core configurations, as the i7 integrates 8 cores while the Xeon integrates 4.

The cache hierarchies are also distinct. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache differs: the i7-9700T has 12 MB shared, while the Xeon E-2274G has 8 MB shared. The i7’s larger L3 cache is likely a consequence of its additional cores, providing more aggregate cache for multi-threaded workloads. The Xeon compensates with higher clock speeds, which can offset cache size differences in single-threaded scenarios.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-9700T uses UHD Graphics 630, while the Xeon E-2274G uses HD Graphics P630. Both are integrated, but the Xeon’s part is positioned for workstation use, which aligns with its ECC memory support. The market segments also diverge: the i7-9700T is a Desktop processor, while the Xeon E-2274G is classified as Server/Workstation. Both use the Intel Socket 1151 and support Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious difference: the i7-9700T has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Xeon E-2274G has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon achieves the same thread count through hyper-threading, but the i7 offers more physical cores. Clock speeds also differ substantially: the i7-9700T has a 2.00 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost, while the Xeon E-2274G has a 4.00 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost, making the Xeon significantly faster in absolute clock terms.

Power consumption is another key differentiator. The i7-9700T has a TDP of 35 W, which is remarkably low for an 8-core part, while the Xeon E-2274G has a TDP of 83 W, reflecting its much higher base clock. The L3 cache differs as well: the i7-9700T has 12 MB shared, while the Xeon E-2274G has 8 MB shared. ECC memory support is exclusive to the Xeon, which also uses a different integrated graphics model (HD Graphics P630 versus UHD Graphics 630).

The release dates are close: the i7-9700T launched on 2019-04-22, and the Xeon E-2274G launched on 2019-05-28. The launch MSRP for the i7-9700T is $323, and for the Xeon E-2274G it is $328. Both are end-of-life products with locked multipliers. The Xeon’s part number is SRFDE, while the i7-9700T’s is SRG17.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent pattern: the Intel Core i7-9700T wins every Cinebench test by a small margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7 scores 839 versus the Xeon’s 835, a 0.5% difference. Single-core R15 sees the i7 at 118 versus 117, a 0.9% lead. The R20 tests follow the same trend: multi-core is 3496 versus 3481 (0.4%), and single-core is 493 versus 491 (0.4%). In Cinebench R23, the i7 wins multi-core with 8325 versus 8289 (0.4%) and single-core with 1175 versus 1170 (0.4%). These margins are tiny, suggesting that the Xeon’s higher clock speeds nearly compensate for its lower core count in Cinebench’s workloads.

The Geekbench tests show a different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the i7-9700T wins decisively with 5503 versus 5174, a 6.4% advantage. This is the largest multi-core delta in the entire head-to-head set, indicating that Geekbench’s multi-core test better utilizes the i7’s 8 physical cores. However, in Geekbench single-core, the Xeon E-2274G wins with 1586 versus 1392, a -12.2% delta from the i7’s perspective. This is a substantial reversal and the only test where the Xeon takes the lead.

The data reveals a clear trade-off: the i7-9700T wins on multi-core and marginally on Cinebench single-core, but the Xeon E-2274G dominates Geekbench single-core by a wide margin. The i7’s 8 cores provide a meaningful advantage in multi-threaded Geekbench, but the Xeon’s 4.90 GHz boost clock delivers a strong single-threaded performance that the i7 cannot match.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-9700T is the better overall performer, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head tests and posting a higher average benchmark score of 2668 versus 2643. Its 8 physical cores give it a clear edge in Geekbench multi-core, where it leads by 6.4%, and it holds narrow but consistent wins across all Cinebench tests. Users running multi-threaded workloads, such as video rendering, compilation, or scientific computing that scales across cores, should favor the i7-9700T based on these results. Its 35 W TDP also makes it a more power-efficient choice, though that is a specification difference rather than a benchmark outcome.

The Intel Xeon E-2274G is the pick for users prioritizing single-threaded performance, as evidenced by its 12.2% lead in Geekbench single-core. This makes it suitable for lightly threaded applications where clock speed is paramount, such as certain legacy software or real-time simulation tasks. Additionally, the Xeon’s ECC memory support is a feature that the i7-9700T lacks entirely, making the Xeon the correct choice for workstation environments where memory error correction is a non-negotiable requirement. The Xeon’s higher base clock of 4.00 GHz also provides consistent performance in single-threaded tasks without relying on boost behavior.

In summary, the i7-9700T wins on multi-core performance and overall average score, while the Xeon E-2274G wins on single-core Geekbench and offers ECC support. The decision hinges on whether the workload is core-count-bound or clock-speed-bound, and whether ECC memory is required. The data does not show a clear overall winner; it shows two distinct profiles for different use cases.