CPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data places these two Xeon processors virtually neck-and-neck, with the Intel Xeon E-2336 taking a narrow edge across every single test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both CPUs record an identical score of 1388, with the E-2336 awarded the win only by tiebreak convention at a delta of 0%. The R15 single-core result is likewise a dead heat at 195 for both chips. Moving to Cinebench R20, the E-2336 posts 5786 in multi-core versus the D-2733NT’s 5785, a one-point margin that rounds to a 0% delta. The R20 single-core test shows both processors at exactly 816.

The pattern holds in the newer Cinebench R23 suite. The E-2336 scores 13777 in multi-core, while the D-2733NT trails by a mere two points at 13775. In single-core R23, the E-2336 edges ahead with 1945 against the D-2733NT’s 1944, representing the only non-zero delta in the entire comparison at 0.1%. Across all six head-to-head benchmarks, the E-2336 claims six wins and the D-2733NT none, though the largest margin between them is a single point in multi-core workloads. The average benchmark scores reflect this near-parity: the E-2336 averages 3985, and the D-2733NT averages 3984, a 0% delta.

This statistical dead heat is remarkable given the hardware differences. The E-2336 achieves these scores with six cores and twelve threads, while the D-2733NT has eight cores and sixteen threads. Both processors land in the 57th percentile of all CPUs tracked by the database. The nearest rivals for both chips include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G at an average score of 3977 (0.2% behind) and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U at 3971 (0.4% behind for the E-2336, 0.3% for the D-2733NT). The Intel Core i7-6900K rounds out the group at 3970, trailing by 0.4% in both cases.

In practical terms, a benchmark user would be hard-pressed to distinguish these two processors by raw rendering performance. The E-2336’s higher boost clock appears to compensate fully for its two fewer physical cores, at least within the Cinebench suite.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel server lineups and different manufacturing generations. The E-2336 belongs to the Xeon E-2300 series built on Rocket Lake-E architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process. Its die measures 276 mm². The D-2733NT is part of the Ice Lake-D family, using Ice Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, with no die size listed in the data. Both are produced by Intel, and both target the server/workstation market segment.

Core configuration differs meaningfully. The E-2336 has 6 cores and 12 threads; the D-2733NT has 8 cores and 16 threads. The E-2336 runs at a 2.90 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.80 GHz. The D-2733NT operates at a lower 2.10 GHz base and a 3.20 GHz boost. This clock disparity is substantial, the E-2336’s boost is 1.6 GHz higher, and likely explains how a six-core part keeps pace with an eight-core part in threaded workloads.

Cache hierarchies differ in both per-core and shared allocations. Both processors use 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The E-2336 has 512 KB of L2 per core and a 12 MB shared L3. The D-2733NT has larger L2 at 1.25 MB per core and a 15 MB shared L3. The D-2733NT therefore holds an advantage in total cache capacity, though this does not translate into a benchmark lead.

Memory architecture diverges substantially. Both support DDR4 and ECC memory. However, the E-2336 runs dual-channel memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the D-2733NT runs quad-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, a 66.6% higher figure for the D-2733NT. PCIe connectivity also differs: the E-2336 provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), and the D-2733NT provides Gen 4 with 32 lanes (CPU only). The D-2733NT thus offers more expansion bandwidth and memory throughput on paper.

The sockets are incompatible: the E-2336 uses Intel Socket 1200, while the D-2733NT is a BGA 2579 part. The E-2336 has a 65 W TDP, the D-2733NT an 80 W TDP. Both ship with locked multipliers. The E-2336 was released on 2021-09-07 and carries the part number SRKN5; the D-2733NT followed on 2022-02-23 with part number SRLCJ. The E-2336 has a listed launch MSRP of $284; the D-2733NT has no launch MSRP in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2733NT has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2336 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the E-2336 matches or slightly exceeds the D-2733NT in all recorded benchmark scores.

Q: Why does the E-2336 perform as well as the D-2733NT despite having fewer cores?

A: The E-2336 has a substantially higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz compared to the D-2733NT’s 3.20 GHz. This 1.6 GHz advantage appears to compensate for the two-core deficit across the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 workloads.

Q: Do the two processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the E-2336 and D-2733NT support ECC memory, consistent with their server/workstation market positioning. Both also use DDR4 memory, though with different channel configurations.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The E-2336 averages 3985 across benchmark results, and the D-2733NT averages 3984. The delta is 0%, placing them in a statistical tie. Both sit in the 57th percentile of all CPUs tracked.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The D-2733NT has quad-channel memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the E-2336’s dual-channel 51.2 GB/s. This memory bandwidth advantage does not produce a win in any Cinebench benchmark in the data.

Q: Are these processors the same generation?

A: No. The E-2336 is from the Rocket Lake-E generation on a 14 nm process, released in 2021. The D-2733NT is from the Ice Lake-D generation on a 10 nm process, released in 2022. They also use different sockets: Socket 1200 for the E-2336 and BGA 2579 for the D-2733NT.

The Verdict

The data presents an unusual case: two processors with different core counts, clocks, cache sizes, memory channels, and process nodes that perform identically in the tested workloads. The E-2336 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, but the largest margin is 0.1%, and five of six tests show a 0% delta. Neither chip demonstrates a meaningful performance advantage over the other in Cinebench rendering.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance as measured by these benchmarks, the choice is effectively neutral. The E-2336 offers a marginal edge in every test, but a one-point difference in R20 multi-core or a two-point difference in R23 multi-core falls well within run-to-run variance. The E-2336’s higher clock speeds and lower TDP (65 W versus 80 W) make it the more efficient choice on paper. The D-2733NT counters with more cores, more cache, quad-channel memory, and 32 PCIe Gen 4 lanes versus 20.

Platform compatibility will likely decide the matter. The E-2336 uses Socket 1200, which implies a socketed, replaceable CPU. The D-2733NT uses BGA 2579, a ball-grid-array package that is typically soldered to the board. Buyers choosing between these two must also weigh the E-2336’s listed launch MSRP of $284 against the D-2733NT’s unlisted price.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Xeon E-2336 | Intel Xeon D-2733NT |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.80 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 80 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel BGA 2579 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Ice Lake |

| Process node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die size | 276 mm² | Not listed |

| L2 cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 12 MB (shared) | 15 MB (shared) |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 85.3 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes | Gen 4, 32 Lanes |

| Release date | 2021-09-07 | 2022-02-23 |

| Launch MSRP | $284 | Not listed |

| Part number | SRKN5 | SRLCJ |

Where Each One Wins

The E-2336 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, so by raw Cinebench scores it takes the performance crown across all six tests. Its victories are narrow, but they are consistent. The E-2336 also wins on power efficiency with a 65 W TDP versus the D-2733NT’s 80 W, making it the more power-conscious choice for rack deployments where thermal density matters. Its socketed form factor allows for field replacement, which may appeal to workloads requiring periodic CPU swaps.

The D-2733NT wins in specifications that the benchmarks do not measure. It offers two additional cores and four additional threads, which may benefit workloads outside the Cinebench suite that scale better with core count. Its quad-channel memory configuration with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth provides 34.1 GB/s more theoretical throughput than the E-2336, a meaningful advantage for memory-bound applications such as virtualized environments or in-memory databases. The 32 PCIe Gen 4 lanes double the E-2336’s 20 lanes, supporting more NVMe storage devices or high-speed network adapters. The larger L2 and L3 caches also favor the D-2733NT in cache-sensitive workloads, even if Cinebench does not expose that benefit.

The practical split is this: the E-2336 wins wherever raw clock speed and single-thread performance dominate, plus all measured multi-thread tests by a hair. The D-2733NT wins wherever memory bandwidth, cache capacity, core count, or PCIe expansion dominate. For a six-core workload, the E-2336 is the better performer; for a sixteen-thread workload that does not rely on boost clocks, the D-2733NT’s additional cores provide headroom. Neither processor has a decisive edge in the data, so the decision falls to platform, memory, and I/O requirements rather than benchmark scores.