CPU Comparison
Intel Xeon D-2733NT
Xeon E-2278G
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Xeon D-2733NT vs Intel Xeon E-2278G
The Intel Xeon E-2278G and Intel Xeon D-2733NT are both 8-core, 16-thread server/workstation processors, yet they represent two very different philosophies within Intel’s Xeon lineup. The E-2278G is a high-frequency, socketed part from the Coffee Lake era, while the D-2733NT is a soldered, power-efficient Ice Lake-D chip designed for dense, embedded-style deployments. Benchmark results show the D-2733NT winning all six head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are consistently narrow, and the architectural divide between the two tells a more nuanced story about which workload benefits from which design.
Where Each One Wins
On paper, the E-2278G appears to be the clear performance leader, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, compared to the D-2733NT’s 2.10 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost. Yet the benchmark data flips that expectation: the D-2733NT wins every single head-to-head test, from Cinebench R15 to R23, in both single-core and multi-core runs. The largest margin is a 2% advantage in Cinebench R20 multicore, single-core R20, and R23 multicore; the smallest is a 1.5% edge in R15 single-core. This suggests that the D-2733NT’s newer Ice Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process, delivers better instructions-per-clock (IPC) than the older 14 nm Coffee Lake design, enough to overcome a 1.8 GHz deficit in boost clock.
The E-2278G does not win any benchmark category, but its strengths lie in its integrated HD Graphics P630 and its compatibility with the widely available Intel Socket 1151 platform. For systems that need a discrete GPU-free setup or require a standard ATX motherboard layout, the E-2278G offers a path that the BGA 2579-soldered D-2733NT cannot. The D-2733NT, conversely, wins in memory bandwidth, supporting quad-channel DDR4 at 85.3 GB/s versus the E-2278G’s dual-channel 42.7 GB/s, and it offers PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes versus the E-2278G’s Gen 3 with 16 lanes. These are not raw CPU performance wins, but they are decisive for I/O-bound or memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads.
Architecture Differences
The architectural gap is stark. The E-2278G uses Coffee Lake-S WS, a 14 nm design with a die size of 180 mm², while the D-2733NT uses Ice Lake-D on a 10 nm process. Newer lithography typically brings efficiency gains, and the D-2733NT’s 80 W TDP versus the E-2278G’s 95 W TDP supports that, even though the D-2733NT has to push data through a smaller, denser design. Cache hierarchies differ significantly: the E-2278G has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3, while the D-2733NT has 80 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 15 MB of shared L3. The D-2733NT’s beefier L2 cache is a classic sign of a newer architecture designed to feed cores more efficiently, which likely contributes to its benchmark edge.
Memory and I/O further separate them. The E-2278G supports dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The D-2733NT doubles memory channels to quad-channel, pushing bandwidth to 85.3 GB/s, and jumps to PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes. Both support ECC memory, which is expected for server parts. The E-2278G includes integrated HD Graphics P630, while the D-2733NT has no integrated graphics, relying on a discrete GPU or a BMC for display output. Production status also differs: the E-2278G is end-of-life, released in May 2019, while the D-2733NT is active, released in February 2022.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The six benchmark comparisons show a consistent, if modest, sweep for the D-2733NT. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the D-2733NT scores 1388 against the E-2278G’s 1360, a 2% difference. Single-core R15 is closer: 195 versus 192, a 1.5% margin. Moving to R20, the D-2733NT wins multicore 5785 to 5670 (2%) and single-core 816 to 800 (2%). In R23, the D-2733NT leads multicore 13775 to 13502 (2%) and single-core 1944 to 1906 (2%). Across the board, the delta is consistently 2% except for the R15 single-core test, where it dips to 1.5%.
What is remarkable is how narrow these margins are given the clock speed disparity. The E-2278G’s 5.00 GHz boost is a full 1.8 GHz higher than the D-2733NT’s 3.20 GHz, yet the D-2733NT still ekes out wins. This points to the Ice Lake core design being substantially more efficient per clock. For users coming from older Xeon E-2200 platforms, the data suggests that a move to Ice Lake-D would not be a leap forward in raw CPU throughput, only a 2% gain, but the surrounding platform advantages (memory bandwidth, PCIe lanes) could make it a worthwhile upgrade for specific workloads. The E-2278G’s average benchmark score of 4052 versus the D-2733NT’s 3984 is a rare case where the average is misleading; in head-to-head tests, the D-2733NT wins every time, but the averages are flipped because the E-2278G has a Geekbench multicore score of 7354, which the D-2733NT lacks.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has higher single-core performance?
A: The Intel Xeon D-2733NT wins all three single-core Cinebench tests, with scores of 195 (R15), 816 (R20), and 1944 (R23), versus the E-2278G’s 192, 800, and 1906. The margin is 1.5% in R15 and 2% in R20 and R23.
Q: Does the E-2278G ever win any benchmark?
A: No. In the six head-to-head Cinebench tests, the D-2733NT wins all of them. However, the E-2278G has a higher Geekbench multicore score of 7354, but that test is not part of the head-to-head comparison.
Q: How do the memory systems differ?
A: The D-2733NT supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the E-2278G uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.
Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?
A: The D-2733NT has a lower TDP of 80 W compared to the E-2278G’s 95 W, and it is built on a smaller 10 nm process versus the E-2278G’s 14 nm process.
Q: Can the E-2278G be used without a discrete GPU?
A: Yes, it includes integrated HD Graphics P630. The D-2733NT has no integrated graphics.
Q: What is the difference in PCIe support?
A: The D-2733NT offers PCIe Gen 4 with 32 lanes (CPU only), while the E-2278G provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).
Specification Differences
The two CPUs differ in nearly every major spec except core and thread count. Base clock: 3.40 GHz (E-2278G) versus 2.10 GHz (D-2733NT). Boost clock: 5.00 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. TDP: 95 W versus 80 W. Socket: Intel Socket 1151 versus Intel BGA 2579. Architecture: Coffee Lake versus Ice Lake. Process node: 14 nm versus 10 nm. Die size: 180 mm² versus no data available for the D-2733NT. L1 cache: 64 KB per core versus 80 KB per core. L2 cache: 256 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. L3 cache: 16 MB shared versus 15 MB shared. Memory bus: dual-channel versus quad-channel. Memory bandwidth: 42.7 GB/s versus 85.3 GB/s. PCIe: Gen 3, 16 lanes versus Gen 4, 32 lanes. Integrated graphics: HD Graphics P630 versus none. Production status: end-of-life versus active. Release date: 2019-05-28 versus 2022-02-23. Launch MSRP: $494 for the E-2278G; no MSRP data for the D-2733NT. Part numbers: SRFB2 versus SRLCJ.
The Verdict
The data clearly favors the Intel Xeon D-2733NT in raw CPU performance, even if only by a narrow 2% margin. Its newer 10 nm Ice Lake architecture delivers better IPC, allowing it to beat the higher-clocked E-2278G in every Cinebench test. The D-2733NT also offers substantial platform advantages: double the memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s), double the PCIe lanes (32 versus 16), and a faster PCIe Gen 4 interface. For server workloads that are memory-bandwidth-bound or require many high-speed NVMe drives or accelerators, the D-2733NT is the clear choice from the data.
The E-2278G, despite losing all head-to-head benchmarks, is not without merit. Its 5.00 GHz boost clock and integrated HD Graphics P630 make it a viable option for a single-socket workstation where a discrete GPU is not desired, and its Socket 1151 compatibility allows for easier system integration with standard motherboards. Its end-of-life status and older 14 nm process are drawbacks, but for legacy deployments or applications that prioritize high clock speeds over IPC, it remains a functional part. The D-2733NT is the better all-around processor, but the E-2278G wins on simplicity and on-paper clock speed. Choose the D-2733NT for modern, dense, or I/O-heavy workloads; choose the E-2278G if you need integrated graphics and a standard socket, and can accept a 2% performance deficit.