Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 vs Intel Xeon E-2104G Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints an unusually clear picture: the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 wins all six recorded Cinebench comparisons against the Intel Xeon E-2104G. The margins are consistent but modest, ranging from 1.4% to 1.5% depending on the test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Bronze 3106 scores 495 against the E-2104G's 488, a 1.4% advantage. Single-core performance in R15 shows the same pattern, 69 versus 68, for a 1.5% lead. The R20 suite repeats this result: multi-core 2065 against 2035 (1.5% delta), single-core 291 versus 287 (1.4% delta). The R23 tests close the set with the Bronze 3106 at 4918 multi-core and 694 single-core, compared to the E-2104G's 4847 and 684, both 1.5% deltas.

What is notable here is not the size of the win but its universality. Every single benchmark, regardless of thread count or workload type, goes to the same part. The Bronze 3106 does not have a weak spot in the recorded data. Even in single-core tests, where its 2.10 GHz base clock and 3.00 GHz boost clock would suggest a disadvantage against the E-2104G's 3.20 GHz base (no boost listed), the Bronze 3106 still manages to edge ahead. This suggests the Skylake-SP architecture extracts more instructions per clock in these specific Cinebench workloads, or that the boost behavior under the test conditions favored the older design.

Looking at the broader database context, both processors sit at the 37th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy a similar tier in overall performance. The Bronze 3106 has an average benchmark score of 1422, while the E-2104G averages 1402. The nearest rivals for the Bronze 3106 include the Intel Core i7-3720QM (1421, 0.1% delta), the Intel Core i7-3820 (1424, -0.1% delta), the AMD Opteron 4274 HE (1420, 0.2% delta), and the Intel Core i7-2700K (1419, 0.2% delta). The E-2104G's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 (1401, 0.1% delta), Intel Pentium Gold G7400TE (1404, -0.2% delta), Intel Core i5-6500TE (1399, 0.2% delta), and Intel Xeon E3-1240L v3 (1396, 0.4% delta). These rival lists place both chips in the same performance class, within a rounding error of each other.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows a clean sweep for the Bronze 3106 across all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons. There is no recorded test where the E-2104G takes the lead. However, the practical meaning of this sweep depends on the workload. In multi-threaded rendering tasks, Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 495 versus 488 result. That 7-point gap is small in absolute terms, but it does indicate that the Bronze 3106's 8 cores and 8 threads provide a slight edge over the E-2104G's 4 cores and 4 threads in this particular test. The R20 multi-core result (2065 versus 2035) and R23 multi-core result (4918 versus 4847) follow the same pattern, with the Bronze 3106 ahead by roughly 1.5%.

Single-core performance is where the E-2104G might be expected to shine, given its higher base clock. Yet the recorded data contradicts that expectation. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Bronze 3106 scores 69 against 68. The R20 single-core test shows 291 versus 287, and the R23 single-core test shows 694 versus 684. The delta remains at 1.4% to 1.5% in every case. This means the E-2104G cannot claim a single benchmark victory, even in workloads that traditionally favor higher clock speeds over additional cores.

For practical use, the Bronze 3106 is the better choice if the workload scales with cores, as the Cinebench multi-core tests demonstrate. The E-2104G offers no recorded advantage in any measured scenario. Its 65 W TDP and integrated graphics might make it attractive for compact systems, but in pure benchmark performance, the data does not show a single area where it wins. The only potential advantage lies outside the recorded benchmarks, such as platform features or power draw, but those are not quantified in this dataset.

The Verdict

The verdict from the recorded data is straightforward: choose the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 if benchmark performance is the sole criterion. It wins every head-to-head comparison, and its average benchmark score of 1422 sits above the E-2104G's 1402. The margins are thin, typically 1.5%, but they are consistent across all six Cinebench tests. The Bronze 3106 also offers 8 cores and 8 threads against the E-2104G's 4 cores and 4 threads, which explains its multi-core edge, though the single-core wins suggest the architectural efficiency of Skylake-SP compensates for the lower clock speeds.

The E-2104G is not without merit, but the data does not support picking it for raw performance. Its 3.20 GHz base clock and 65 W TDP are attractive on paper, and it includes UHD Graphics P630, which the Bronze 3106 lacks entirely. It also carries a launch MSRP of $193, which may factor into purchasing decisions, though the database does not list a price for the Bronze 3106. For builders who need integrated graphics, the E-2104G is the only option between these two, as the Bronze 3106 has no integrated graphics listed. For everyone else, the benchmark results favor the Bronze 3106.

The percentile data reinforces this conclusion. Both processors sit at the 37th percentile, so neither is a high-performance part by modern standards. But within this specific comparison, the Bronze 3106 holds a small, repeatable advantage. The E-2104G's nearest rivals, such as the Xeon E3-1220 v5 (1401) and Pentium Gold G7400TE (1404), all cluster within 0.4% of its score, while the Bronze 3106's rivals (Core i7-3720QM, Core i7-3820, Opteron 4274 HE, Core i7-2700K) sit within 0.2%. This means both chips are firmly mid-pack, and the choice between them will not dramatically alter system performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 wins all three multi-core tests. It scores 495 versus 488 in R15, 2065 versus 2035 in R20, and 4918 versus 4847 in R23, with deltas of 1.4% to 1.5%.

Q: Does the E-2104G win any single-core tests?

A: No. The Bronze 3106 wins every single-core test as well, scoring 69 versus 68 in R15, 291 versus 287 in R20, and 694 versus 684 in R23.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Bronze 3106 has 8 cores and 8 threads. The E-2104G has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Bronze 3106 and the E-2104G have ECC memory support listed in the database.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the E-2104G has integrated graphics, specifically UHD Graphics P630. The Bronze 3106 does not list any integrated graphics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Bronze 3106 has an average benchmark score of 1422, while the E-2104G averages 1402. Both sit at the 37th percentile among all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineage. The Bronze 3106 uses the Skylake-SP architecture with the codename Skylake-SP, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It contains 8,000 million transistors and has a die size that is not recorded in the database. The E-2104G belongs to the Coffee Lake architecture with the codename Coffee Lake-S WS, also on a 14 nm process, but with a recorded die size of 126 mm². Transistor count for the E-2104G is not listed.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Bronze 3106 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 11 MB of shared L3 cache. The E-2104G also has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but its L2 cache is only 256 KB per core, and its shared L3 cache is 8 MB. This means the Bronze 3106 has significantly more cache per core for L2, and a larger total L3 pool, which likely contributes to its benchmark consistency.

Socket and platform requirements are completely different. The Bronze 3106 uses Intel Socket 3647, the server platform socket, while the E-2104G uses Intel Socket 1151, the mainstream desktop socket. This makes them physically incompatible with each other's motherboards. The Bronze 3106 is from the Xeon Bronze generation (Skylake-SP), released on 2017-07-10, while the E-2104G is from the Xeon E-2100 series (Coffee Lake), released on 2018-07-11, and is marked as end-of-life production status. The Bronze 3106's production status is not listed.

Specification Differences

The specifications that differ between the two parts are clear. Core count: 8 for the Bronze 3106 versus 4 for the E-2104G. Thread count: 8 versus 4. Base clock: 2.10 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. Boost clock: 3.00 GHz for the Bronze 3106, while the E-2104G has no boost clock listed. TDP: 85 W for the Bronze 3106 versus 65 W for the E-2104G. Socket: Intel Socket 3647 versus Intel Socket 1151. L2 cache per core: 1 MB versus 256 KB. L3 cache: 11 MB shared versus 8 MB shared. The E-2104G lists a dual-channel memory bus and 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth; the Bronze 3106 lists neither. The E-2104G has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only); the Bronze 3106 does not list PCIe information. Integrated graphics: only the E-2104G has UHD Graphics P630. Die size: 126 mm² for the E-2104G, not listed for the Bronze 3106. The E-2104G has a launch MSRP of $193; the Bronze 3106 has no MSRP recorded. Both support DDR4 memory, both have ECC support, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.