Intel Core i9-10900E vs Intel Xeon W-2145 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two Intel processors, with the Core i9-10900E winning seven of the eight recorded tests. The most decisive victory comes in Geekbench single-core, where the i9-10900E scores 1575 against the Xeon W-2145's 1345, a 17.1% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison and reflects the substantial per-core clock advantage of the Comet Lake part.

Across the Cinebench suite, the i9-10900E maintains a consistent edge of roughly 5% in every workload. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1622 versus 1542, a 5.2% lead. The single-core R15 result shows 228 against 217, a 5.1% margin. Moving to R20, the multi-core score is 6759 versus 6425, again a 5.2% gap, while single-core R20 shows 954 against 906, a 5.3% lead. The R23 results follow the same pattern: 16093 versus 15299 in multi-core and 2272 versus 2159 in single-core, both exactly 5.2% apart. These consistent deltas across different Cinebench versions suggest a stable performance advantage rather than workload-specific optimization.

The Xeon W-2145 claims only one victory, but it is a significant one. In Geekbench multi-core, it scores 8712 against the i9-10900E's 8162, a 6.3% margin. This is intriguing because the Xeon has fewer cores and threads, yet it wins in this particular multi-threaded test. The quad-channel memory configuration likely plays a role here, as the memory bandwidth available to the Xeon far exceeds that of the Core part.

Looking at the overall averages, the i9-10900E posts an average benchmark score of 4708, placing it in the 59th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Xeon W-2145 averages 4576, sitting at the 58th percentile. The Core i9's nearest rivals include the Core i9-11900T at 4685 (0.5% behind), the Core i7-6950X at 4734 (0.5% ahead), and the Core i9-9900KS at 4738 (0.6% ahead). The Xeon's closest competitors are the Xeon E-2356G at 4548 (0.6% behind), the Core i7-10700KF at 4547 (0.6% behind), and the Core i5-1340P at 4545 (0.7% behind). These placements show both processors sitting in a crowded mid-range performance tier, with the i9-10900E holding a slight overall edge.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and target different market segments. The Core i9-10900E uses Comet Lake, built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 206 mm². The Xeon W-2145 uses Skylake-W, also on a 14 nm node, but with a significantly larger die at 484 mm². Both are manufactured by Intel, but the die size difference reflects their divergent design goals.

Core and thread counts differ notably. The i9-10900E packs 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Xeon W-2145 provides 8 cores and 16 threads. This gives the Core part a 25% core advantage on paper. Clock speeds tell a different story, however. The Xeon has a base clock of 3.70 GHz compared to 2.80 GHz for the Core i9, but the boost clocks favor the Core part: 4.70 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. The higher base clock on the Xeon helps explain its competitive multi-threaded performance despite fewer cores, while the higher boost clock on the Core i9 drives its single-core dominance.

Cache hierarchies also diverge significantly. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: the i9-10900E has 256 KB per core, while the Xeon W-2145 has a much larger 1 MB per core. The L3 cache tells the opposite story, with the Core i9 offering 20 MB shared against 11 MB shared on the Xeon. The larger per-core L2 on the Xeon compensates somewhat for its smaller L3 pool.

Memory architecture represents one of the most substantial differences. The i9-10900E supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s and does not support ECC memory. The Xeon W-2145 supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth and includes ECC memory support. This 82% bandwidth advantage is the likely driver behind the Xeon's Geekbench multi-core win. The Xeon also provides 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, compared to 16 lanes on the Core i9, making it far more suitable for workstation configurations with multiple expansion cards.

The integrated graphics situation differs completely. The i9-10900E includes UHD Graphics 630, while the Xeon W-2145 has no integrated graphics at all. This means the Core part can run in systems without a discrete GPU, while the Xeon requires one. The Xeon's socket is Intel Socket 2066, whereas the Core i9 uses Intel Socket 1200. Production status also differs, with the i9-10900E listed as active and the Xeon W-2145 marked end-of-life. The Xeon launched in August 2017, while the Core i9 arrived in April 2020. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i9-10900E is the clear choice for single-threaded workloads. Its 17.1% Geekbench single-core lead and consistent 5% Cinebench single-core advantages make it superior for applications that rely on per-core performance, such as older games, lightly threaded productivity software, and general desktop responsiveness. The higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz directly translates into this advantage.

For multi-threaded rendering workloads, the i9-10900E also holds the edge in the Cinebench suite. Its 10 cores and 20 threads outperform the Xeon's 8 cores and 16 threads by about 5% across R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. Anyone running Cinebench-style rendering tasks would see modestly better performance from the Core part, despite its lower base clock and smaller thermal envelope. The 65 W TDP of the i9-10900E compared to 140 W for the Xeon makes this rendering advantage particularly notable, as it achieves higher scores while drawing substantially less power.

The Xeon W-2145 wins in Geekbench multi-core by 6.3%, and this result points to workloads where memory bandwidth matters more than raw core count. Applications that stream large datasets, such as certain scientific computing tasks, large database operations, or memory-intensive virtualization workloads, could benefit from the quad-channel memory subsystem. The 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth versus 46.9 GB/s gives the Xeon a substantial throughput advantage that can overcome its core deficit in bandwidth-sensitive scenarios.

The Xeon's 48 PCIe lanes make it the better fit for systems with multiple GPUs, high-speed storage arrays, or specialized accelerator cards. A workstation with several expansion cards would quickly exhaust the 16 lanes available on the Core i9. The ECC memory support adds another layer of suitability for mission-critical or long-running compute tasks where data integrity is paramount. The market segments reflect this: the i9-10900E is classified as Desktop, while the Xeon W-2145 is Server/Workstation.

For users who need integrated graphics, the i9-10900E is the only option between the two, as the Xeon has none. This makes the Core part more flexible for basic systems or troubleshooting scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900E has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Xeon W-2145 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Why does the Xeon W-2145 win in Geekbench multi-core despite having fewer cores?

A: The Xeon W-2145 scores 8712 versus 8162 for the i9-10900E, a 6.3% margin. This is likely due to its quad-channel memory configuration providing 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, compared to the dual-channel 46.9 GB/s on the Core i9.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2145 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i9-10900E does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference between the two?

A: The Core i9-10900E leads by 17.1% in Geekbench single-core with a score of 1575 versus 1345. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it leads by 5.2% with 2272 versus 2159.

Q: Does the Core i9-10900E have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 630. The Xeon W-2145 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core i9-10900E averages 4708, placing it in the 59th percentile of all CPUs. The Xeon W-2145 averages 4576, placing it in the 58th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-10900E | Intel Xeon W-2145 |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 140 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel Socket 2066 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Skylake |

| Codename | Comet Lake | Skylake-W |

| Generation | Core i9 (Comet Lake) | Xeon W (Skylake-W) |

| Die Size | 206 mm² | 484 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 11 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 85.3 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 48 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2020-04-29 | 2017-08-28 |

| Launch MSRP | $488 | $1113 |

| Part Number | SRJFD | SR3LQ |