Intel Core i9-10940X vs Intel Xeon D-2775TE Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-2775TE and Intel Core i9-10940X are both Intel processors, but they target entirely different corners of the market. The Xeon D-2775TE is a 16-core server/workstation part on a 10 nm process, while the Core i9-10940X is a 14-core desktop enthusiast chip on 14 nm. The benchmark data shows a consistent, though small, edge for the Core i9 in every single test, but the Xeon counters with a lower TDP and ECC memory support. This comparison is about whether you need the Core i9's raw speed or the Xeon's platform features and efficiency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent. The Intel Core i9-10940X wins all six Cinebench tests, but the margins are narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Core i9 scores 2370 against the Xeon's 2338, a delta of -1.4%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 334 versus 330, a -1.2% difference. These are not the kind of blowouts that change a buying decision; they are within the noise of thermal and power delivery variations.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the story repeats. The Core i9 scores 9878 in multi-core, while the Xeon D-2775TE manages 9745, a -1.3% gap. The single-core R20 result is 1394 versus 1375, again a -1.4% delta. The consistency of these margins suggests the Core i9's higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz is providing a steady advantage over the Xeon's 3.10 GHz boost, even though the Xeon has two additional cores and four additional threads.

Cinebench R23, the most demanding workload in the set, shows the same outcome. The Core i9-10940X posts 23520 in multi-core, and the Xeon D-2775TE trails at 23204, a -1.3% difference. Single-core R23 is 3320 versus 3275, a -1.4% gap. The data is unambiguous: the Core i9 wins every benchmark by a margin between 1.2% and 1.4%. There are zero wins for the Xeon D-2775TE in this head-to-head set, despite its 16-core count versus the Core i9's 14 cores.

The average benchmark scores tell a broader story. The Xeon D-2775TE has an average benchmark score of 6711, placing it in the 62nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival is the Intel Xeon Gold 5317, which scores 6710 with a 0% delta, and the AMD EPYC 72F3, which scores 6700 with a 0.2% delta. The Core i9-10940X has an average score of 6605, also in the 62nd percentile, but its nearest rivals are completely different: the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 (6605, 0% delta), the Intel Core i9-12900E (6611, -0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i5-13500E (6586, 0.3% delta). This shows the Xeon is competing with enterprise-class silicon, while the Core i9 is trading blows with modern desktop and mobile parts.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmarks, the Intel Core i9-10940X is the faster processor. It wins 100% of the head-to-head tests, with a maximum advantage of 1.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and R20 single-core. If your only criterion is raw Cinebench performance, the Core i9 is the clear choice. The data shows no scenario where the Xeon D-2775TE outperforms it in these workloads.

However, the verdict is not that simple. The Core i9 has a TDP of 165 watts, while the Xeon D-2775TE is rated at 100 watts. That is a significant efficiency gap. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the Core i9 does not. For a server or workstation that must run 24/7 and handle data integrity-critical workloads, the Xeon's lower power draw and ECC support may be worth the 1.4% performance hit. The Xeon also uses a socket (Intel BGA 2579) that is soldered, whereas the Core i9 uses the standard Intel Socket 2066.

The launch MSRP of the Xeon D-2775TE is $1751. The Core i9-10940X has no launch MSRP listed in the data, so no price comparison is possible. The Core i9 is an unlocked multiplier part, allowing overclocking, while the Xeon is locked. For a desktop enthusiast who wants to push clocks higher, the Core i9 is the obvious pick. For a system administrator who needs a reliable, lower-power server CPU with ECC, the Xeon is the practical choice despite its benchmark deficit.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures. The Xeon D-2775TE uses the Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-D codename, on a 10 nm process node. It has 16 cores and 32 threads. Its cache layout is 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s. It features PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes (CPU only). Its market segment is Server/Workstation, and it was released on February 23, 2022.

The Core i9-10940X uses the Cascade Lake architecture, specifically Cascade Lake-X, on a 14 nm process node. It has 14 cores and 28 threads. Its cache is smaller: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 19.25 MB of shared L3. It also supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus, but the data does not list a memory bandwidth figure. It uses PCIe Gen 3, not Gen 4. Its market segment is Desktop, and it was released on October 18, 2019.

The process node difference is significant: 10 nm versus 14 nm. This explains the Xeon's lower TDP of 100 watts versus the Core i9's 165 watts, despite the Xeon having more cores. The Xeon also has a larger L3 cache (25 MB versus 19.25 MB) and more L1 and L2 per core. The Core i9 counters with much higher clock speeds: a base of 3.30 GHz and a boost of 4.80 GHz, versus the Xeon's 2.00 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. The Core i9 is also unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the Xeon is locked.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-10940X scores 23520, while the Intel Xeon D-2775TE scores 23204. The Core i9 leads by 1.3%.

Q: Does the Xeon D-2775TE support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon D-2775TE has ECC memory support. The Core i9-10940X does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The Xeon D-2775TE has a TDP of 100 watts, while the Core i9-10940X has a TDP of 165 watts.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Xeon D-2775TE has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Core i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of each CPU?

A: The Xeon D-2775TE has a boost clock of 3.10 GHz. The Core i9-10940X has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Q: Are these CPUs on the same process node?

A: No. The Xeon D-2775TE is on a 10 nm process, while the Core i9-10940X is on a 14 nm process.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-10940X wins in every benchmark category recorded. It has a 1.4% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core (2370 versus 2338) and a 1.2% lead in R15 single-core (334 versus 330). In R20, it leads by 1.3% in multi-core (9878 versus 9745) and 1.4% in single-core (1394 versus 1375). In R23, it leads by 1.3% multi-core (23520 versus 23204) and 1.4% single-core (3320 versus 3275). The Core i9 also has additional Geekbench scores that the Xeon does not have listed: 10464 multi-core and 1556 single-core. If you are rendering, compiling, or doing any CPU-bound work where those extra 1-2% matter, the Core i9 is the winner.

The Intel Xeon D-2775TE has no benchmark wins in this data set, but it wins on platform attributes. Its 100 watt TDP is 65 watts lower than the Core i9's 165 watts, making it more suitable for dense server chassis or environments where heat dissipation is a concern. Its ECC memory support is a critical feature for servers handling financial data, scientific computations, or long-running processes where a bit flip could be catastrophic. It also has PCIe Gen 4 support with 32 lanes, while the Core i9 is limited to PCIe Gen 3, which matters for modern NVMe storage and accelerators. The Xeon's larger L3 cache (25 MB versus 19.25 MB) could benefit certain cache-sensitive workloads, even if Cinebench does not show it. For a 24/7 server role, the Xeon D-2775TE is the appropriate choice, and the performance gap is small enough to be negligible.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in almost every core specification. The Xeon D-2775TE has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Core i9-10940X has 14 cores and 28 threads. The Xeon's base clock is 2.00 GHz and boost is 3.10 GHz; the Core i9's base is 3.30 GHz and boost is 4.80 GHz. The Xeon's TDP is 100 watts, the Core i9's is 165 watts. The Xeon uses the Intel BGA 2579 socket, the Core i9 uses Intel Socket 2066. The Xeon is on the Ice Lake architecture (Ice Lake-D codename) with a 10 nm process; the Core i9 is on Cascade Lake (Cascade Lake-X) with a 14 nm process. The Xeon's cache is 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 25 MB shared L3; the Core i9's is 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, with 19.25 MB shared L3. The Xeon has a memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s; the Core i9 has no listed bandwidth. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the Core i9 does not. The Xeon has PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes; the Core i9 has PCIe Gen 3. The Xeon is a locked multiplier part; the Core i9 is unlocked. The Xeon's market segment is Server/Workstation; the Core i9's is Desktop. The Xeon was released on February 23, 2022; the Core i9 on October 18, 2019. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $1751; the Core i9 has no launch MSRP listed.