CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2386G and Intel Core i9-9900KS are two very different processors that happen to land in the same performance neighborhood. The Xeon is a server/workstation part built on Rocket Lake-E, while the i9 is a desktop flagship from the Coffee Lake Refresh generation. The benchmark data shows a clear, if narrow, pattern: the Xeon E-2386G wins every single head-to-head test they share, but by margins so slim that the practical difference is nearly negligible. With all six shared Cinebench tests going to the Xeon, the data presents a methodical sweep rather than a knockout.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The shared benchmark suite between these two CPUs consists entirely of Cinebench tests, and the results are remarkably consistent. In every test, the Intel Xeon E-2386G comes out ahead by exactly 0.9%. Starting with Cinebench R15, the Xeon scores 1672 in multi-core against the i9-9900KS’s 1657, and 235 in single-core versus 233. The pattern holds in R20, where the Xeon posts 6968 multi-core and 983 single-core, while the i9-9900KS trails with 6907 and 974 respectively. Moving to R23, the Xeon’s 16592 multi-core and 2342 single-core scores edge out the i9’s 16446 and 2321. The deltaPct of 0.9% is identical across all six benchmarks, indicating a consistent architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

What is striking is that the Xeon achieves this sweep despite having fewer cores. The Xeon E-2386G has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i9-9900KS has 8 cores and 16 threads. In multi-threaded workloads, one would typically expect the 8-core part to pull ahead. Yet the Xeon’s higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus the i9’s 5.00 GHz, combined with its newer Rocket Lake architecture, appears to compensate for the two-core deficit. The single-core results are also telling: the Xeon’s 235 in R15, 983 in R20, and 2342 in R23 all beat the i9’s 233, 974, and 2321. These are marginal wins, but they are consistent across every iteration of the Cinebench suite.

It is worth noting that the i9-9900KS has additional benchmark data not shared by the Xeon, including Geekbench scores of 9771 multi-core and 1715 single-core, plus a range of 3DMark thread tests. However, since no head-to-head comparison exists for those tests, they cannot be used to determine a winner. The data that does overlap shows a perfect 6-0 record for the Xeon E-2386G, with winsA at 6 and winsB at 0. In aggregate, the Xeon’s average benchmark score is 4799, compared to the i9’s 4738, a difference of about 1.3%. Both processors sit at the 59th percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the same performance tier.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different generations and design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E-2386G is built on Rocket Lake architecture, specifically the Rocket Lake-E variant, and uses a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. Its die size is 276 mm². The i9-9900KS, on the other hand, is based on Coffee Lake, specifically Coffee Lake-R, and also uses a 14 nm process but with a smaller die size of 180 mm². Both are Intel parts, but the Xeon is the newer design, released on 2021-09-07, while the i9 launched nearly two years earlier on 2019-10-27.

Core and cache configurations differ significantly. The Xeon E-2386G has 6 cores and 12 threads, with an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, an L2 cache of 512 KB per core, and a shared L3 cache of 12 MB. The i9-9900KS has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a smaller L1 cache of 64 KB per core and L2 cache of 256 KB per core, but a larger shared L3 cache of 16 MB. The Xeon’s larger per-core L2 cache (512 KB versus 256 KB) likely contributes to its single-thread performance advantage, while the i9’s extra cores and larger L3 pool help in heavily threaded scenarios, though not enough to overcome the Xeon in the shared benchmarks.

Memory and I/O also diverge. The Xeon supports DDR4 in dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i9 also supports dual-channel DDR4 but with a lower memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, whereas the i9 is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Xeon supports ECC memory, a key feature for server and workstation reliability, while the i9 does not. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Xeon has UHD Graphics P750, while the i9 has UHD 630. The Xeon’s multiplier is locked, while the i9-9900KS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the head-to-head data, the Intel Xeon E-2386G wins every single shared benchmark, so the case for it is straightforward. It is the better performer in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench workloads, albeit by a slim 0.9% margin. This makes it the preferred choice for applications that rely on Cinebench-style rendering or CPU-bound tasks where every point counts. Its support for ECC memory and PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes also positions it for server or workstation environments where data integrity and modern I/O are critical. The Xeon’s production status is Active, meaning it is still available, and its higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s could benefit memory-intensive workloads.

The i9-9900KS, despite losing all shared tests, has its own strengths that the data supports. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, two more cores than the Xeon, which could be advantageous in workloads not captured by the Cinebench suite but that scale well with core count. Its larger 16 MB L3 cache provides more shared cache for data-heavy applications. The i9 also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing user overclocking to push performance beyond stock settings, a feature the Xeon lacks. Additionally, the i9 includes a broader set of benchmark results, such as Geekbench scores of 9771 multi-core and 1715 single-core, and 3DMark thread tests ranging from 841 single-thread to 7376 in 16-thread mode. While these are not directly comparable to the Xeon, they indicate the i9 is a capable part in its own right.

For a desktop enthusiast, the i9-9900KS’s unlocked multiplier and 8-core configuration may be more appealing, especially if overclocking is on the table. For a server or workstation user, the Xeon’s ECC support, PCIe Gen 4, and higher memory bandwidth are decisive factors. The data shows the Xeon is marginally faster in the tests that matter for Cinebench, but the i9 offers features that the Xeon cannot match.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2386G wins every single-core benchmark in the shared suite. It scores 235 in Cinebench R15, 983 in R20, and 2342 in R23, compared to the i9-9900KS’s 233, 974, and 2321, respectively, for a consistent 0.9% advantage.

Q: Does the i9-9900KS ever beat the Xeon E-2386G in any shared test?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the Xeon E-2386G winning all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core). The winsA count is 6 and winsB is 0.

Q: Why does the 8-core i9-9900KS lose to the 6-core Xeon in multi-core tests?

A: The Xeon E-2386G has a higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz versus the i9’s 5.00 GHz, and it uses the newer Rocket Lake architecture. The data shows the Xeon posting 1672 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 6968 in R20, and 16592 in R23, all ahead of the i9’s 1657, 6907, and 16446.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The Xeon E-2386G supports 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the i9-9900KS supports 42.7 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR4, but the Xeon’s higher bandwidth may benefit memory-intensive workloads.

Q: Can the i9-9900KS be overclocked?

A: Yes, the i9-9900KS has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon E-2386G’s multiplier is locked. This means the i9 can be overclocked by the user, potentially closing or reversing the performance gap seen in stock benchmarks.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2386G supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i9-9900KS does not. This makes the Xeon more suitable for server and workstation environments where error-correcting memory is required.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for raw performance: the Intel Xeon E-2386G is the faster CPU in every shared benchmark, winning all six Cinebench tests by a uniform 0.9% margin. Its average benchmark score of 4799 also edges out the i9-9900KS’s 4738. If the decision rests solely on Cinebench-style performance, the Xeon is the pick. It also offers ECC memory support, PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, and higher memory bandwidth, making it the more future-proof choice for server or workstation builds.

However, the i9-9900KS is not without merit. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, two more than the Xeon, which could be leveraged in multi-threaded applications not covered by the shared benchmarks. Its larger 16 MB L3 cache and unlocked multiplier provide flexibility for overclocking and cache-sensitive workloads. The i9 is also a desktop part with a smaller die size of 180 mm², and it has a wider range of available benchmark results, including Geekbench and 3DMark scores, indicating it is a well-rounded performer. For a desktop user who values overclocking and core count over ECC and PCIe Gen 4, the i9-9900KS is the sensible choice, despite its slight deficit in the tested workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2386G | Intel Core i9-9900KS |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 127 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Rocket Lake-E | Coffee Lake-R |

| Die Size | 276 mm² | 180 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics P750 | UHD 630 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2021-09-07 | 2019-10-27 |

| Launch MSRP | $450 | $513 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SRKN0 | SRG1Q |