CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i9-11900T and Intel Xeon E-2386G are both Rocket Lake parts on the Intel Socket 1200 platform, but they target very different corners of the market. The data is unusually lopsided: across six Cinebench tests, the Xeon E-2386G wins every single one, with a consistent 6% margin. The i9-11900T, however, counters with a lower 35W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics 750, making this a contest between sheer throughput and efficiency-oriented design. Benchmark results indicate the Xeon is the faster chip in raw compute, but the i9's existence is justified by its power envelope and feature set, not by winning render tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Xeon E-2386G dominates the Cinebench suite, and the margins are uniform. In Cinebench R15, the Xeon scores 1672 multicore versus the i9-11900T's 1572, a 6% lead. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 235 for the Xeon versus 221 for the i9, also a 6% gap. This consistency carries through every test in the pack.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon posts 6968 multicore against the i9's 6550, again a 6% difference. The single-core R20 scores are 983 and 924, respectively, with the same 6% delta. The largest absolute gap appears in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Xeon reaches 16592 and the i9 stops at 15596, roughly 1000 points apart, yet still exactly 6% in relative terms. The R23 single-core test shows the Xeon at 2342 versus the i9's 2201, maintaining the identical 6% margin.

What does this mean practically? The Xeon is faster in every threaded and single-threaded workload measured here. The 6% delta is small enough that real-world differences in lightly threaded tasks will be minor, but it is large enough to be consistent and measurable. The i9-11900T does have Geekbench results, 8257 multicore and 2157 singlecore, but the Xeon has no Geekbench scores in the data, so no comparison is possible there.

The i9-11900T's average benchmark score is 4685, placing it at the 58th percentile of all CPUs. The Xeon E-2386G averages 4799, at the 59th percentile. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X (4807, -0.2%) and the Intel Core i5-1350P (4776, +0.5%), showing it sits in a tight cluster. The i9's nearest rivals are similarly close, with the Intel Core i9-10900F at 4664 (0.5% behind) and the Intel Core i9-9900KF at 4652 (0.7% ahead). Neither chip is a standout in its percentile tier; they are both mid-pack performers surrounded by comparable alternatives.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same 14 nm process node, the same Intel foundry, and the same 276 mm² die size. They are architecturally related, with the i9 using the Rocket Lake codename and the Xeon using Rocket Lake-E. The core design is identical: each chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. The differences appear in core counts and shared cache.

The i9-11900T has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Xeon E-2386G has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having two fewer cores, the Xeon wins all multicore benchmarks, which points to its much higher clock speeds. The i9's base clock is 1500 MHz with a boost of 4.90 GHz. The Xeon's base clock is 3500 MHz, boosting to 5.10 GHz. That 2 GHz base-clock advantage is enormous for sustained workloads.

Shared L3 cache also differs: the i9 has 16 MB shared across its 8 cores, while the Xeon has 12 MB shared across 6 cores. Per-core, the Xeon has 2 MB of L3 per core versus the i9's 2 MB per core, so the ratios are similar, but the i9's larger total cache does not overcome the Xeon's clock advantage. Memory support is identical on paper, DDR4, dual-channel, 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, but the Xeon adds ECC memory support, which the i9 lacks.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i9 uses UHD Graphics 750, while the Xeon uses UHD Graphics P750. Both are integrated, but the Xeon's P-series designation aligns with its server/workstation positioning. The PCIe implementation is the same: Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The i9 is marked as end-of-life, while the Xeon is active production. The i9 launched in March 2021 with a launch MSRP of $439; the Xeon launched in September 2021 with a launch MSRP of $450.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E-2386G wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. That makes its case straightforward: if you are running Cinebench R15, R20, or R23, the Xeon is the faster chip by 6% in every variant. Its higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 1.50 GHz means it will sustain performance better in longer workloads, and its 5.10 GHz boost clock gives it an edge in bursty single-threaded tasks. The ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive workstation or server environments where data integrity matters more than raw speed.

The i9-11900T's wins are not in benchmarks but in operational characteristics. Its 35W TDP versus the Xeon's 95W is a massive difference, the i9 uses less than half the power budget. For a small-form-factor build or a system with limited cooling, that 35W envelope is the defining feature. The i9 also has 8 cores versus the Xeon's 6, which means in a hypothetical scenario where clocks are equalized or workloads scale perfectly with core count, the i9 would have an advantage. The data does not show that scenario, but the core count is factually higher. The i9's 16 MB of L3 versus the Xeon's 12 MB is another specification where the i9 leads, even if benchmark results do not reflect a benefit.

The i9 also has Geekbench scores, 8257 multicore and 2157 singlecore, that the Xeon lacks, so in the Geekbench metric, the i9 is the only one with data. This is not a win in performance, but it means the i9 has a more complete benchmark profile. For a builder who values integrated graphics, the i9's UHD Graphics 750 is the same generation as the Xeon's P750, but the i9's lower TDP makes it more plausible for a fanless or passively cooled design.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Xeon E-2386G is the faster processor in every measured test. It wins all six Cinebench benchmarks by a consistent 6% margin, has a higher average benchmark score (4799 versus 4685), and sits at a higher percentile (59th versus 58th). If the priority is raw compute performance in rendering or similar multi-threaded workloads, the Xeon is the clear choice.

The Intel Core i9-11900T is not a performance pick from this data, it loses every comparison. Its justification is the 35W TDP. That number is the single largest differentiator between the two chips. For a system where power consumption and heat output are the primary constraints, the i9 allows a much smaller cooler and a lower power supply requirement. The Xeon's 95W TDP is nearly triple that, which demands real cooling and a motherboard that can feed it.

The i9's 8 cores and 16 MB of L3 cache are technically superior to the Xeon's 6 cores and 12 MB, but those advantages do not translate into benchmark wins because the Xeon's clocks are so much higher. The i9's launch MSRP is $439, and the Xeon's is $450, so they are priced nearly identically. At those prices, the Xeon gives you more performance per dollar in benchmarks, but the i9 gives you a dramatically lower power draw.

Who should pick which? Builders with a strict power budget or a compact chassis should take the i9-11900T. Builders who need ECC memory or want maximum Cinebench performance on the LGA 1200 platform should take the Xeon E-2386G. There is no scenario in this data where the i9 wins on speed, so the decision hinges entirely on power and platform features.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2386G scores 16592 versus the Intel Core i9-11900T's 15596, a 6% lead for the Xeon.

Q: How many cores does each processor have?

A: The i9-11900T has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Xeon E-2386G has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Xeon E-2386G support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E-2386G supports ECC memory. The i9-11900T does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The i9-11900T has a 35W TDP, while the Xeon E-2386G has a 95W TDP.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Xeon E-2386G boosts to 5.10 GHz, which is higher than the i9-11900T's 4.90 GHz boost.

Q: Are both CPUs on the same socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1200 and are based on the 14 nm process node with a 276 mm² die size.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-11900T | Intel Xeon E-2386G |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 1500 MHz | 3500 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 35W | 95W |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | UHD Graphics P750 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

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

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2021-09-07 |

| Part Number | SRKNQ | SRKN0 |

| Avg Benchmark Score | 4685 | 4799 |

| Percentile | 58th | 59th |

The specification table highlights the core trade-off: the i9 has more cores and cache but far lower clocks and power draw, while the Xeon has fewer cores but much higher clocks, ECC support, and a higher average benchmark score. Both share the same memory bandwidth, PCIe lanes, and dual-channel DDR4 support, so those are not differentiators. The 14 nm process and 276 mm² die size are identical, confirming they are cut from the same silicon generation.