Intel Xeon D-1732TE vs Intel Xeon W-1290TE Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-1290TE and the Intel Xeon D-1732TE are both server and workstation processors, but they represent different design philosophies within Intel’s lineup. The W-1290TE is a Comet Lake part built on the 14 nm process, while the D-1732TE is an Ice Lake-D part on the 10 nm node. The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, victory for the W-1290TE across every tested workload. The average benchmark score for the W-1290TE is 3532, while the D-1732TE averages 3486. This places the W-1290TE in the 55th percentile of all CPUs, with the D-1732TE just behind at the 54th percentile. The six head-to-head tests all finish with the W-1290TE on top, making the performance gap a matter of a few percentage points rather than a dramatic chasm.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite provides the full set of comparison data, covering both multi-core and single-core performance across three versions of the test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the W-1290TE scores 1230 against 1214 for the D-1732TE, a lead of 1.3 percent. The single-core R15 result is similar: 173 for the W-1290TE versus 171 for the D-1732TE, a 1.2 percent advantage. These are close margins, but they show the W-1290TE holds the edge even when the workload scales down to a single thread.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern repeats. The W-1290TE scores 5129 in multi-core, while the D-1732TE records 5061, again a 1.3 percent difference. In single-core R20, the W-1290TE posts 724, and the D-1732TE trails at 714, a 1.4 percent gap. The largest relative win for the W-1290TE appears in the single-core tests, where it reaches a 1.4 percent advantage in both R20 and R23.

Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the W-1290TE at 12213, against 12052 for the D-1732TE, maintaining that consistent 1.3 percent margin. The R23 single-core test gives the W-1290TE a score of 1724, while the D-1732TE manages 1701, a 1.4 percent lead. Across all six tests, the W-1290TE wins by margins ranging from 1.2 to 1.4 percent. No test in the dataset shows the D-1732TE ahead.

The nearest rivals for each processor put these numbers in context. The W-1290TE sits alongside the Intel Core i3-12300, which has an identical average score of 3532, and the Intel Core i5-10600K at 3533. The Intel Xeon W-2135 is 0.1 percent behind, and the Intel Core i3-12300T trails by 0.2 percent. The D-1732TE, meanwhile, is paired with the Intel Core i9-10900TE at 3484, which is 0.1 percent lower, and the Intel Xeon E-2246G, which is 0.2 percent higher. This means the D-1732TE competes against a slightly different tier of rivals, but both processors land in the same general performance neighborhood.

Architecture Differences

The two chips diverge substantially in their underlying designs. The W-1290TE uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, while the D-1732TE uses the Ice Lake-D architecture on a 10 nm node. This generational difference shows up in several measurable ways. The W-1290TE has 10 cores and 20 threads, compared to 8 cores and 16 threads for the D-1732TE. Despite having fewer cores, the D-1732TE runs a higher base clock of 1900 MHz, whereas the W-1290TE starts at 1800 MHz. The boost clocks tell a different story: the W-1290TE can reach 4.50 GHz, while the D-1732TE tops out at 3.00 GHz.

Cache layouts also differ. The W-1290TE provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 20 MB of shared L3. The D-1732TE offers 80 KB of L1 per core and a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but its shared L3 is smaller at 15 MB. This reflects the newer Ice Lake-D design, which devotes more cache to each individual core. The motherboard socket is another split: the W-1290TE fits Intel Socket 1200, while the D-1732TE uses the BGA 2227 package, which is soldered rather than socketed.

Memory support shows a clear division. Both processors accept DDR4, and both support ECC memory, but the W-1290TE runs dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The D-1732TE uses triple-channel memory and reaches 64.0 GB/s. That is a substantial memory bandwidth advantage for the D-1732TE, even though its compute performance lags in the Cinebench tests. PCIe capabilities also differ by generation: the W-1290TE provides Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the D-1732TE provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics are present on the W-1290TE in the form of Intel UHD Graphics P630. The D-1732TE has no integrated graphics at all. The die size for the W-1290TE is listed at 206 mm², while the D-1732TE has no recorded die size. The power envelopes are notably different as well: the W-1290TE has a 35 W TDP, and the D-1732TE has a 52 W TDP. The W-1290TE draws less power while delivering higher benchmark scores, though it also benefits from a larger core count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290TE reaches 4.50 GHz, while the Intel Xeon D-1732TE tops out at 3.00 GHz. The W-1290TE also has the lower base clock at 1800 MHz versus 1900 MHz for the D-1732TE, but the boost advantage is decisive.

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

A: The W-1290TE scores 12213, and the D-1732TE scores 12052, giving the W-1290TE a 1.3 percent lead. This is consistent with the multi-core margins seen in Cinebench R15 and R20, which are also 1.3 percent.

Q: Does the D-1732TE offer any memory advantage?

A: Yes. The D-1732TE supports triple-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 64.0 GB/s, while the W-1290TE uses dual-channel DDR4 at 46.9 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, but the D-1732TE has a higher theoretical bandwidth ceiling.

Q: Are both processors currently in production?

A: According to the recorded data, both the W-1290TE and the D-1732TE have an active production status. The W-1290TE was released in May 2020, and the D-1732TE followed in February 2022.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The W-1290TE has 10 cores and 20 threads. The D-1732TE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The W-1290TE also wins every Cinebench test in the dataset, despite the D-1732TE’s newer architecture.

Q: Do both processors support PCIe Gen 4?

A: No. The W-1290TE provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The D-1732TE provides PCIe Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The W-1290TE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the D-1732TE has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 1800 MHz for the W-1290TE and 1900 MHz for the D-1732TE. Boost clocks are 4.50 GHz and 3.00 GHz, respectively. The TDP is another point of separation: 35 W for the W-1290TE versus 52 W for the D-1732TE. The W-1290TE uses Intel Socket 1200, while the D-1732TE uses Intel BGA 2227.

The architectures are entirely different: Comet Lake on 14 nm for the W-1290TE, and Ice Lake-D on 10 nm for the D-1732TE. Cache configurations follow suit. The W-1290TE has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 20 MB of shared L3. The D-1732TE has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 15 MB of shared L3. Memory channels differ as well: dual-channel for the W-1290TE, triple-channel for the D-1732TE. Memory bandwidth is 46.9 GB/s for the W-1290TE and 64.0 GB/s for the D-1732TE.

PCIe generation is split between Gen 3 on the W-1290TE and Gen 4 on the D-1732TE, though both provide 16 CPU lanes. The W-1290TE includes integrated Intel UHD Graphics P630, while the D-1732TE has none. The W-1290TE has a recorded die size of 206 mm², while the D-1732TE has no die size listed. The release dates are May 2020 for the W-1290TE and February 2022 for the D-1732TE. The part numbers are SRJFH for the W-1290TE and SRLBW for the D-1732TE. The launch MSRP for the W-1290TE is $552, and the launch MSRP for the D-1732TE is $730. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to the Intel Xeon W-1290TE as the stronger performer in every benchmark test. It wins all six Cinebench comparisons, with the largest margin being 1.4 percent in single-core R20 and R23. The W-1290TE also achieves a higher average benchmark score of 3532 versus 3486, and it sits at the 55th percentile of all CPUs compared to the 54th percentile for the D-1732TE. For workloads that hinge on raw Cinebench throughput, the W-1290TE is the pick.

The D-1732TE, however, is not without its own strengths. It offers a newer 10 nm architecture, a higher memory bandwidth of 64.0 GB/s, triple-channel memory support, and PCIe Gen 4 connectivity. These features do not translate into a win in the Cinebench suite, but they matter for systems where memory throughput and modern I/O are priorities. The D-1732TE also has a higher base clock of 1900 MHz, which could help in lightly threaded situations that do not trigger boost behavior.

The choice between the two depends on the workload. The W-1290TE delivers superior compute performance in the measured tests, and it does so at a lower TDP of 35 W. The D-1732TE counters with a more modern platform and a memory subsystem that could benefit memory-intensive server tasks. The benchmark data clearly favors the W-1290TE, but the architectural differences suggest the D-1732TE may be better suited to environments that value bandwidth over core count.

Where Each One Wins

The W-1290TE wins in every category measured by the Cinebench suite. Multi-core performance is consistently ahead by 1.3 percent across R15, R20, and R23. Single-core performance is ahead by 1.2 percent in R15 and 1.4 percent in R20 and R23. This makes the W-1290TE the better option for applications that rely on CPU rendering, video encoding, or any workload that scales with core count and clock speed. Its 10 cores and 20 threads provide more parallel capacity than the 8 cores and 16 threads of the D-1732TE, and its 4.50 GHz boost clock gives it a clear advantage in bursty, single-threaded tasks.

The D-1732TE wins in the specifications that matter outside of raw compute benchmarks. Its triple-channel memory configuration and 64.0 GB/s bandwidth are superior to the dual-channel 46.9 GB/s of the W-1290TE. For database servers, virtualized environments, or workloads that move large amounts of data through the memory controller, that bandwidth advantage could be significant. The D-1732TE also supports PCIe Gen 4, doubling the per-lane bandwidth of the Gen 3 interface on the W-1290TE. This makes it a reasonable choice for systems with high-speed NVMe storage or modern accelerators. The 10 nm Ice Lake-D architecture brings a more efficient transistor design, though the D-1732TE still draws more power at 52 W compared to 35 W for the W-1290TE.

Neither processor is a clear winner across all possible usage scenarios. The W-1290TE dominates the measured benchmark results and does so with a lower TDP, making it the stronger all-around compute option. The D-1732TE offers platform features that the W-1290TE lacks, including newer PCIe and a faster memory bus. The recorded data gives the W-1290TE six wins out of six tests, but the D-1732TE remains competitive in the broader system context. Users who prioritize Cinebench-style performance should choose the W-1290TE. Users who need memory bandwidth and modern I/O should consider the D-1732TE despite its lower benchmark scores.