Intel Core i9-9880H vs Intel Xeon E-2176G Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2176G and the Intel Core i9-9880H are both 14 nm Coffee Lake parts, but they target different segments. The Xeon E-2176G is a server and workstation processor on the LGA 1151 socket, while the Core i9-9880H is a mobile chip on the BGA 1440 package. The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, advantage for the Xeon in every test, with one outlier in single-core performance. The following analysis breaks down the architectural differences, the head-to-head results, and the specification gap between the two.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i9-9880H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2176G has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Xeon E-2176G support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E-2176G supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i9-9880H does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-9880H has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E-2176G has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2176G has a thermal design power of 80 watts, and the Intel Core i9-9880H has a thermal design power of 45 watts.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i9-9880H has 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Xeon E-2176G has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: In the Geekbench single-core test, which CPU won?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2176G won the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 1573, which is 14.7% ahead of the Intel Core i9-9880H's score of 1372.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process node, and both use the Coffee Lake architecture. The Xeon E-2176G uses the Coffee Lake-S WS codename, while the Core i9-9880H uses Coffee Lake-HR. The die sizes are close: the Xeon E-2176G measures 154 mm², and the Core i9-9880H measures 149 mm². The core counts differ, with the Xeon offering 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Core i9-9880H offers 8 cores and 16 threads. The per-core L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively, but the shared L3 cache differs: the Xeon has 12 MB, and the Core i9-9880H has 16 MB.

The sockets are completely different. The Xeon E-2176G uses Intel Socket 1151, which is a desktop or workstation platform, while the Core i9-9880H uses Intel BGA 1440, which is a soldered mobile package. The Xeon E-2176G is classified as a Server/Workstation part, and the Core i9-9880H is a Mobile part. The Xeon E-2176G supports ECC memory, while the Core i9-9880H does not. Memory support is otherwise similar: both support DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s.

The PCIe configuration differs as well. The Xeon E-2176G lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU only, while the Core i9-9880H lists PCIe Gen 3 without a specific lane count in the recorded data. Integrated graphics are present on both, but they are different models: the Xeon E-2176G has HD Graphics P630, and the Core i9-9880H has UHD 630. The Xeon E-2176G has a higher base clock of 3.70 GHz compared to the Core i9-9880H's base clock of 2.30 GHz, but the Core i9-9880H has a slightly higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz.

The thermal design power is a major differentiator. The Xeon E-2176G is rated at 80 watts, while the Core i9-9880H is rated at 45 watts. This makes sense given the mobile target of the Core i9-9880H. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon E-2176G has a part number of SR3WS, and the Core i9-9880H has a part number of SRFD1. The Xeon E-2176G was released on July 11, 2018, and the Core i9-9880H was released on April 22, 2019. Both are end-of-life products.

The generation labels differ: the Xeon E-2176G is from the Xeon E (Coffee Lake) generation, and the Core i9-9880H is from the Core i9 (Coffee Lake-HR) generation. The Xeon E-2176G has a launch MSRP of $367, while the Core i9-9880H has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. The production status for both is end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers eight benchmark tests across Cinebench and Geekbench. In all eight tests, the Intel Xeon E-2176G is the winner. The Xeon E-2176G wins all eight tests, while the Core i9-9880H wins none.

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the Xeon E-2176G scoring 1168, which is 1.4% ahead of the Core i9-9880H's score of 1152. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows the Xeon E-2176G scoring 164, which is 1.2% ahead of the Core i9-9880H's score of 162. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Xeon E-2176G scores 4867, a 1.3% lead over the Core i9-9880H's 4803. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon E-2176G scores 687, a 1.5% lead over the Core i9-9880H's 677.

Cinebench R23 multicore shows the Xeon E-2176G scoring 11589, which is 1.3% ahead of the Core i9-9880H's 11437. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the Xeon E-2176G scoring 1636, a 1.4% lead over the Core i9-9880H's 1614. Geekbench multicore shows the Xeon E-2176G scoring 6331, a 1.3% lead over the Core i9-9880H's 6248.

The largest margin comes in Geekbench single-core. The Xeon E-2176G scores 1573, which is 14.7% ahead of the Core i9-9880H's score of 1372. This is a notable outlier compared to the other single-core tests, where the Xeon's lead is just over 1%. The Geekbench single-core result is the only test in the head-to-head set with a double-digit percentage difference; all other deltas range from 1.2% to 1.5%.

The average benchmark score in the database reflects the overall picture. The Xeon E-2176G has an average benchmark score of 3502, while the Core i9-9880H has an average benchmark score of 3433. The Xeon E-2176G sits at the 55th percentile among all CPUs, and the Core i9-9880H sits at the 54th percentile. The Xeon E-2176G's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-9900T with an average score of 3499 and a delta of 0.1%, the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 with an average score of 3494 and a delta of 0.2%, the Intel Xeon E-2246G with an average score of 3492 and a delta of 0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT with an average score of 3515 and a delta of -0.4%. The Core i9-9880H's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-10875H with an average score of 3432 and a delta of 0%, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G with an average score of 3441 and a delta of -0.2%, the Intel Core i7-5960X with an average score of 3442 and a delta of -0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS with an average score of 3444 and a delta of -0.3%.

The data shows that the Xeon E-2176G, despite having fewer cores and threads, manages to outperform the Core i9-9880H in every benchmark. The Core i9-9880H has 8 cores and 16 threads, but the Xeon E-2176G's higher base clock and the overall system design appear to compensate. The margins are small in most tests, but the direction is consistent.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear winner for raw performance: the Intel Xeon E-2176G wins all eight head-to-head benchmarks. The margins are narrow in the Cinebench tests, ranging from 1.2% to 1.5%, but they are consistent across every run. The Geekbench single-core test is the exception, where the Xeon E-2176G is 14.7% ahead, a significant gap that suggests a single-threaded advantage that is not fully captured in the Cinebench single-core results.

The Core i9-9880H, despite having two more cores and four more threads, does not convert that hardware advantage into a benchmark win. Its average benchmark score of 3433 is lower than the Xeon E-2176G's 3502. The percentile ranking also favors the Xeon E-2176G, which sits at the 55th percentile versus the Core i9-9880H's 54th percentile.

For a user looking at the mobile segment, the Core i9-9880H is the only option of the two because it is a BGA 1440 mobile part. The Xeon E-2176G, with its LGA 1151 socket and Server/Workstation market segment, is intended for a different class of machine. The Xeon E-2176G also supports ECC memory, which is a requirement for some workstation and server workloads, while the Core i9-9880H does not.

The thermal design power difference is also relevant. The Xeon E-2176G is rated at 80 watts, while the Core i9-9880H is rated at 45 watts. The Core i9-9880H is designed for a platform with more limited cooling, and the data shows it still comes close to the Xeon E-2176G in most tests, trailing by just over 1%. The Xeon E-2176G is the better choice for a system where ECC memory and the higher single-core Geekbench score matter, and where the higher power draw is acceptable. The Core i9-9880H is the choice for a mobile system, and its performance is competitive despite the lower power envelope.

The launch MSRP of the Xeon E-2176G is $367. The Core i9-9880H has no recorded launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Xeon E-2176G has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9880H has 8 cores and 16 threads. The base clock of the Xeon E-2176G is 3.70 GHz, and the base clock of the Core i9-9880H is 2.30 GHz. The boost clock of the Xeon E-2176G is 4.70 GHz, and the boost clock of the Core i9-9880H is 4.80 GHz. The thermal design power of the Xeon E-2176G is 80 watts, and the thermal design power of the Core i9-9880H is 45 watts.

The socket differs: the Xeon E-2176G uses Intel Socket 1151, and the Core i9-9880H uses Intel BGA 1440. The codenames differ: the Xeon E-2176G is Coffee Lake-S WS, and the Core i9-9880H is Coffee Lake-HR. The die size is 154 mm² for the Xeon E-2176G and 149 mm² for the Core i9-9880H. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared for the Xeon E-2176G and 16 MB shared for the Core i9-9880H.

ECC memory support is present on the Xeon E-2176G and absent on the Core i9-9880H. The PCIe configuration lists Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) for the Xeon E-2176G, while the Core i9-9880H lists Gen 3 without a lane count. The integrated graphics are HD Graphics P630 for the Xeon E-2176G and UHD 630 for the Core i9-9880H. The market segment is Server/Workstation for the Xeon E-2176G and Mobile for the Core i9-9880H. The release dates are July 11, 2018 for the Xeon E-2176G and April 22, 2019 for the Core i9-9880H. The part numbers are SR3WS for the Xeon E-2176G and SRFD1 for the Core i9-9880H. The generation labels are Xeon E (Coffee Lake) for the Xeon E-2176G and Core i9 (Coffee Lake-HR) for the Core i9-9880H. The launch MSRP is $367 for the Xeon E-2176G and null for the Core i9-9880H. The average benchmark scores are 3502 for the Xeon E-2176G and 3433 for the Core i9-9880H. The percentiles are 55 for the Xeon E-2176G and 54 for the Core i9-9880H. Both have unlocked multipliers set to false. Both have identical L1 cache at 64 KB per core and L2 cache at 256 KB per core. Both have the same memory support of DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. Both are manufactured by Intel on a 14 nm process.