Intel Core i9-9900 vs Intel Xeon E-2336 Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9900 and the Intel Xeon E-2336 occupy different corners of the Intel lineup, yet their benchmark results place them in a surprisingly close contest. The Core i9-9900 is a desktop part with 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Xeon E-2336 is a server and workstation processor with 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite the Core i9’s two-core advantage, the recorded data shows the Xeon E-2336 winning every single head-to-head benchmark in the database. The margins are narrow, but they are consistent across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E-2336 wins everywhere in the head-to-head comparison, but the nature of those wins matters. In multi-core tests, the Xeon’s advantage is slight. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1388 against the Core i9-9900’s 1361, a delta of -1.9 percent from the Core i9’s perspective. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon posts 5786 versus 5673, a 2 percent gap. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon reaches 13777 while the Core i9 manages 13509, again a 1.9 percent difference. These results indicate that the Xeon’s higher per-core efficiency offsets the Core i9’s additional two physical cores.

Single-core performance shows the same pattern. The Xeon E-2336 leads in Cinebench R15 single-core with 195 points against 192, in R20 single-core with 816 against 800, and in R23 single-core with 1945 against 1907. The deltas range from -1.5 percent to -2 percent, meaning the Xeon is consistently about 2 percent faster in single-threaded work. This is not a case where one processor dominates in one workload type and the other in another. The database shows a clean sweep for the Xeon E-2336 across all six recorded head-to-head tests.

The Core i9-9900 does have a separate set of Geekbench results in the database. It scores 8175 in Geekbench multi-core and 1687 in Geekbench single-core. The Xeon E-2336 has no Geekbench entry in the recorded data, so no direct comparison is possible there. For the tests that both processors share, the Xeon is the winner in every instance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Core i9-9900 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-R refresh, built on Intel’s 14 nm process with a die size of 180.3 mm². The Xeon E-2336 uses the Rocket Lake architecture, specifically Rocket Lake-E, also on a 14 nm process but with a larger die size of 276 mm². Both are manufactured by Intel, and both run on DDR4 memory.

The core configurations differ. The Core i9-9900 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Xeon E-2336 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache hierarchies are structured differently as well. The Core i9-9900 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon E-2336 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon’s larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations likely contribute to its ability to match or beat the Core i9 despite having fewer cores.

Memory bandwidth favors the Xeon. The Core i9-9900 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon E-2336 also supports dual-channel DDR4 but with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the Core i9 does not. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the Core i9-9900 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon E-2336 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The Core i9-9900 includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 630. The Xeon E-2336 has no integrated graphics. The Core i9 targets the desktop market segment and is marked end-of-life, while the Xeon targets the server and workstation segment and remains active in production. The sockets are different: the Core i9-9900 uses Intel Socket 1151, and the Xeon E-2336 uses Intel Socket 1200. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Core i9-9900 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Xeon E-2336 has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Both have a TDP of 65 watts.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Xeon E-2336 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Xeon E-2336 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E-2336 supports ECC memory. The Core i9-9900 does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Core i9-9900 includes UHD Graphics 630. The Xeon E-2336 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Xeon E-2336 scores 13777, while the Core i9-9900 scores 13509. The Xeon leads by 1.9 percent.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Core i9-9900 has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon E-2336 has a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Are both processors on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process. The Core i9-9900 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, and the Xeon E-2336 uses the Rocket Lake architecture.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The Core i9-9900 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Xeon E-2336 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.10 GHz for the Core i9 and 2.90 GHz for the Xeon. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for the Core i9 and 4.80 GHz for the Xeon. The Core i9 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1200. The architecture differs: Coffee Lake for the Core i9 and Rocket Lake for the Xeon. Die sizes are 180.3 mm² for the Core i9 and 276 mm² for the Xeon.

Cache configurations differ. The Core i9-9900 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Xeon E-2336 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. Memory bandwidth is 42.7 GB/s for the Core i9 and 51.2 GB/s for the Xeon. ECC memory support is absent on the Core i9 and present on the Xeon. PCIe support differs: the Core i9 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the Xeon offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are present on the Core i9 as UHD Graphics 630, while the Xeon has none. The market segments differ: Desktop for the Core i9, Server and Workstation for the Xeon. Production status differs: End-of-life for the Core i9, Active for the Xeon. The release dates are 2019-04-22 for the Core i9 and 2021-09-07 for the Xeon. The launch MSRP is $423 for the Core i9 and $284 for the Xeon.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are uniform. The Xeon E-2336 wins all six shared tests, but the margins are small. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1388 against the Core i9-9900’s 1361, a delta of -1.9 percent. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 195 against 192, a delta of -1.5 percent. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Xeon scores 5786 against 5673, a delta of -2 percent. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon scores 816 against 800, also a delta of -2 percent. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 13777 against 13509, a delta of -1.9 percent. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 1945 against 1907, a delta of -2 percent.

The most notable result is the multi-core performance. The Core i9-9900 has two more cores and four more threads than the Xeon E-2336, yet it trails in every multi-core test. The Xeon’s larger L2 cache per core, 512 KB versus 256 KB, and its higher memory bandwidth, 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s, appear to compensate for the core deficit. The single-core results reinforce this interpretation. The Xeon’s boost clock is lower at 4.80 GHz versus 5.00 GHz, but it still wins each single-core test by roughly 2 percent. The architectural improvements in Rocket Lake over Coffee Lake, despite the same 14 nm process node, show up in these consistent margins.

It is also worth noting the average benchmark scores and nearest rivals from the database. The Core i9-9900 has an average benchmark score of 4163, while the Xeon E-2336 has an average score of 3985. The Core i9’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-11500H with an average score of 4187, a delta of -0.6 percent. The Xeon’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon D-2733NT with an average score of 3984, a delta of 0 percent. Both processors sit at the 57th percentile among all CPUs. The Core i9’s higher average score comes from its Geekbench results, which the Xeon does not have in the recorded data.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for workloads that rely on the shared benchmark suite. The Xeon E-2336 is the faster processor in every recorded head-to-head test, winning by margins of 1.5 to 2 percent. It achieves this with two fewer cores and a lower boost clock, which points to a more efficient architecture. For single-threaded performance, the Xeon is consistently about 2 percent ahead. For multi-threaded performance, the Xeon also leads, despite the Core i9-9900’s 8-core and 16-thread configuration.

The Core i9-9900 remains relevant for desktop builds where integrated graphics are needed. Its UHD Graphics 630 means a discrete GPU is not strictly required for basic display output. The Xeon E-2336 has no integrated graphics, so it demands a separate graphics card. The Core i9 also has a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz and a higher base clock of 3.10 GHz, which may appeal in scenarios where those specifications matter more than the measured benchmark deltas.

The Xeon E-2336 is the better choice for server and workstation applications that can use ECC memory, PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and higher memory bandwidth. It also remains an active production part, while the Core i9-9900 is end-of-life. The Xeon’s launch MSRP is $284, compared to the Core i9’s $423, though pricing is not otherwise a factor in this analysis. For users who need integrated graphics or a desktop-oriented socket, the Core i9-9900 has its place. For raw performance in the tests that both share, the Xeon E-2336 is the winner across the board.