Intel Core i9-9980HK vs Intel Xeon E-2246G Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data for these two Coffee Lake processors reveals a surprisingly tight contest in most rendering workloads, with one clear outlier in each direction. The Intel Core i9-9980HK, a mobile part with 8 cores and 16 threads, takes the win in seven of the eight recorded head-to-head comparisons. The Intel Xeon E-2246G, a 6-core, 12-thread workstation processor, claims only a single victory, but that victory is substantial.

In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the i9-9980HK scores 1193 against the Xeon's 1181, a margin of just 1%. The single-core result follows the same pattern: 168 versus 166, a 1.2% edge for the mobile chip. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i9-9980HK posts 4971 multi-core and 701 single-core, while the Xeon E-2246G records 4922 and 694 respectively, again a 1% difference in both. Cinebench R23 shows the same narrow gap: 11836 against 11720 multi-core, and 1671 against 1654 single-core, both 1% advantages for the i9-9980HK.

The Geekbench multi-core result is where the i9-9980HK establishes its largest lead. The mobile processor scores 6687, which is 11.7% ahead of the Xeon's 5988. That is a significant margin, and it reflects the extra two cores and four threads available to the i9-9980HK in a workload that scales well with parallel resources.

The Geekbench single-core result flips the script entirely. The Xeon E-2246G scores 1613, which is 13.9% ahead of the i9-9980HK's 1389. This is the largest delta in either direction across the entire benchmark suite. The Xeon's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus 2.40 GHz likely contributes to this outcome, as does the fact that the Xeon's boost clock of 4.80 GHz is only 0.20 GHz lower than the i9's 5.00 GHz maximum. In a short, lightly threaded burst, the Xeon starts from a much higher baseline frequency and does not need to ramp as far.

The overall pattern is consistent: in sustained multi-threaded workloads, the i9-9980HK wins, but only by narrow margins of 1% in Cinebench tests. The one exception is Geekbench multi-core, where the margin grows to 11.7%. In single-threaded Geekbench, the Xeon dominates with a 13.9% advantage. The average benchmark score in the database puts the i9-9980HK at 3577 and the Xeon E-2246G at 3492, meaning the i9 is roughly 2.4% higher on average across all recorded tests. Both processors sit at the 55th percentile among all CPUs in the database, placing them in the same performance tier overall.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split follows directly from the benchmark results. The Intel Core i9-9980HK is the better choice for multi-threaded, parallel workloads. Its 8 cores and 16 threads give it a structural advantage in rendering, video encoding, compilation, and any task that can utilize more than six cores. The Geekbench multi-core result, where it leads by 11.7%, demonstrates this most clearly. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests, the i9 also wins, albeit by a narrower 1% margin. The database shows seven wins out of eight head-to-head comparisons for this processor, so for most workloads it is the faster part.

The Intel Xeon E-2246G wins in single-threaded Geekbench by a decisive 13.9%. This makes it the stronger option for lightly threaded applications, legacy software that relies on a single core, or interactive workloads where response time depends on one thread's performance. Its high base clock of 3.60 GHz means it does not rely on turbo ramping to deliver strong single-thread performance. In the Cinebench single-core tests, the Xeon loses by only 1% to 1.2%, which is a much closer margin than the Geekbench single-core gap. This suggests that the Xeon's single-thread advantage is workload-dependent, and that the i9-9980HK can hold its own in some single-threaded scenarios despite the lower base clock.

For users who need ECC memory support, the Xeon E-2246G is the only option between the two. The Xeon supports ECC memory, while the i9-9980HK does not. This is a critical differentiator for workstation and server reliability requirements. The Xeon also has a higher TDP of 80 watts, which indicates it is designed for sustained operation in a workstation chassis with adequate cooling, while the i9-9980HK's 45-watt TDP reflects its mobile heritage and power-constrained operating environment.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 14 nm process and use the Coffee Lake architecture. The i9-9980HK uses the Coffee Lake-HR codename, while the Xeon E-2246G uses Coffee Lake-S WS. The die sizes are very close: 149 mm² for the i9-9980HK and 154 mm² for the Xeon. Both are manufactured by Intel.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i9-9980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Xeon E-2246G has 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives the i9 a 33% advantage in core count and a 33% advantage in thread count. The cache hierarchy reflects this difference. The i9-9980HK has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Xeon has 12 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core.

Clock speeds favor the Xeon in base frequency and the i9 in boost frequency. The Xeon runs at 3.60 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The i9-9980HK runs at 2.40 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The 1.20 GHz difference in base clock is substantial and explains the Xeon's single-threaded Geekbench advantage. The 0.20 GHz difference in boost clock favors the i9 but is a smaller factor.

The sockets are incompatible. The i9-9980HK uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile socket, while the Xeon E-2246G uses Intel Socket 1151, a desktop/workstation socket. This means the two processors are not interchangeable in any system, and the platform choice determines which processor is even eligible.

Memory support is identical in bandwidth: both support DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus and 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The key difference is ECC support. The Xeon E-2246G supports ECC memory, the i9-9980HK does not. This is a fundamental feature difference for workstation reliability. The integrated graphics also differ: the i9-9980HK has UHD 630, while the Xeon has HD Graphics P630.

PCIe support is Gen 3 on both, but the Xeon lists 16 lanes from the CPU only. The i9-9980HK's PCIe lane configuration is not specified in the recorded data. The multiplier on the i9-9980HK is unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the Xeon E-2246G has a locked multiplier. The i9's market segment is mobile, and the Xeon's is server/workstation. The Xeon had a launch MSRP of $311, and both processors are end-of-life. Release dates are close: the i9-9980HK was released on 2019-04-22, and the Xeon E-2246G on 2019-05-28.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i9-9980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2246G has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Why does the Xeon E-2246G win in Geekbench single-core?

A: The Xeon E-2246G scores 1613 in Geekbench single-core, which is 13.9% ahead of the i9-9980HK's 1389. The Xeon's base clock of 3.60 GHz is much higher than the i9's 2.40 GHz, and its boost clock of 4.80 GHz is close to the i9's 5.00 GHz.

Q: Does the i9-9980HK support ECC memory?

A: No. The i9-9980HK does not support ECC memory. The Xeon E-2246G does support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The i9-9980HK has an average benchmark score of 3577, and the Xeon E-2246G has an average of 3492. Both are at the 55th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Can both processors fit in the same motherboard?

A: No. The i9-9980HK uses Intel BGA 1440, a mobile socket, while the Xeon E-2246G uses Intel Socket 1151.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i9-9980HK has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Xeon E-2246G has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Is the i9-9980HK overclockable?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked on the i9-9980HK. The Xeon E-2246G has a locked multiplier.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear but nuanced picture. The Intel Core i9-9980HK wins the majority of head-to-head comparisons, taking 7 of 8 tests. Its multi-core advantage is consistent across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, with 1% margins, and it achieves a decisive 11.7% lead in Geekbench multi-core. For users running parallel workloads, the i9-9980HK is the faster processor despite its mobile heritage. Its 8 cores, 16 threads, 16 MB of L3 cache, and 5.00 GHz boost clock make it a capable performer in rendering and multi-threaded applications.

The Intel Xeon E-2246G is the better choice for single-threaded performance and for workstation environments that require ECC memory. Its 13.9% lead in Geekbench single-core is the largest margin in the entire comparison, and its 3.60 GHz base clock provides strong out-of-the-box performance in lightly threaded tasks. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the i9-9980HK does not, making it the only viable option for systems that need error-correcting memory. Its launch MSRP was $311.

The choice between these two processors should be driven by platform and workload. If the system is a mobile platform with BGA 1440, the i9-9980HK is the only option. If the system is a Socket 1151 workstation, the Xeon E-2246G offers single-thread superiority and ECC support, while the i9-9980HK offers more cores and higher multi-threaded throughput. Both processors sit at the 55th percentile in the database, and their average scores differ by only about 2.4%, so neither is a dominant overall winner. The i9-9980HK is the multi-threaded pick, and the Xeon E-2246G is the single-threaded and ECC pick.