Intel Xeon D-2775TE vs Intel Xeon D-2796TE Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-2775TE and Intel Xeon D-2796TE are two server processors built on the same Ice Lake-D architecture, sharing the same 10 nm process node, the same Intel BGA 2579 socket, and identical base and boost clock speeds of 2.00 GHz and 3.10 GHz respectively. Both support quad-channel DDR4 memory with a memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s, and both include ECC memory support along with PCIe Gen 4 with 32 CPU lanes. The key structural difference between them is the core count: the D-2775TE has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the D-2796TE has 20 cores and 40 threads. On paper, the 20-core part should have a clear advantage in heavily threaded workloads, yet the benchmark data in the database tells a different story. Across every recorded Cinebench test, the 16-core D-2775TE finishes ahead, and by a consistent margin. This is not a case of one processor winning some tests and losing others; the data shows a clean sweep, with the smaller chip outperforming the larger one in both single-core and multi-core workloads by exactly the same relative amount in every test. The following sections break down the head-to-head results, the use-case implications, the architectural reasons behind this outcome, and what the recorded data suggests for potential buyers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six head-to-head benchmark comparisons between these two processors, all from the Cinebench suite. The Intel Xeon D-2775TE wins all six, with a consistent performance advantage of 3.1% over the Intel Xeon D-2796TE in every single test. There is no variation in the margin: whether the workload is single-core or multi-core, and regardless of the Cinebench version, the difference is exactly 3.1%.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the D-2775TE scores 2338, while the D-2796TE scores 2268. That gives the 16-core part a 70-point lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the D-2775TE scores 330 against 320 for the D-2796TE, a 10-point gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result shows the D-2775TE at 9745 and the D-2796TE at 9452, a difference of 293 points. The single-core result in R20 is 1375 for the D-2775TE and 1334 for the D-2796TE, a 41-point gap. In Cinebench R23, the largest test in the suite, the D-2775TE records a multi-core score of 23204, while the D-2796TE records 22507, a difference of 697 points. Single-core in R23 is 3275 versus 3177, a 98-point lead for the D-2775TE.

What makes this result noteworthy is the expectation that the 20-core D-2796TE should have an inherent advantage in multi-core tests. The D-2796TE has four more cores and eight more threads than the D-2775TE, yet it loses the multi-core tests by the same 3.1% margin that it loses the single-core tests. The consistency of the margin suggests that the advantage of the D-2775TE is not workload-specific; it appears across every scenario the database records. The average benchmark score for the D-2775TE is 6711, while the average for the D-2796TE is 6510, a difference of 201 points, or about 3.1% relative to the lower score.

Looking at the broader competitive context, the D-2775TE sits at the 62nd percentile of all CPUs in the database, with an average score of 6711. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 5317 with an average score of 6710, a 0% difference, and the AMD EPYC 72F3 with an average score of 6700, a 0.2% difference. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX scores 6760, which is 0.7% higher, and the Intel Core i9-9940X scores 6657, which is 0.8% lower. The D-2796TE also sits at the 62nd percentile, but with an average score of 6510. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon W-2191B with an average score of 6531, a 0.3% difference, the Intel Core i9-7960X with an average score of 6533, also a 0.3% difference, the Intel Core i7-12800HE with an average score of 6467, a 0.7% difference, and the Intel Atom x7405C with an average score of 6568, a 0.9% difference. Both processors occupy the same percentile tier, but the D-2775TE sits at the top of that tier while the D-2796TE sits near the bottom.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the Intel Xeon D-2775TE wins in every category that the database measures. It wins all three multi-core tests (Cinebench R15, R20, and R23) and all three single-core tests (Cinebench R15, R20, and R23). There are no recorded tests where the D-2796TE comes out ahead. The wins column for the D-2775TE shows 6, while the D-2796TE has 0.

For workloads that rely on multi-threaded performance, such as rendering, video encoding, or scientific computing, the D-2775TE delivers more performance despite having fewer cores. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is the clearest example: the D-2775TE scores 23204, which is 697 points higher than the D-2796TE's 22507. That gap, while modest in percentage terms at 3.1%, is consistent across the entire multi-core test set. The D-2796TE cannot leverage its additional cores to overcome the deficit.

For single-threaded workloads, the D-2775TE also holds the edge. The Cinebench R23 single-core scores are 3275 for the D-2775TE and 3177 for the D-2796TE. The single-core advantage is the same 3.1% margin, which indicates that the difference is not about core scaling but about per-core efficiency. Tasks like database queries, application logic, or any latency-sensitive operation that depends on single-thread speed will favor the D-2775TE.

The D-2796TE does offer one advantage in the database: a larger shared L3 cache. The D-2796TE has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, while the D-2775TE has 25 MB. This 5 MB difference could theoretically benefit workloads with large working sets that fit in cache. However, the benchmark data does not show any test where this cache advantage translates into a performance win. The D-2796TE also has a higher TDP at 118 watts compared to 100 watts for the D-2775TE, which means it draws more power for less recorded performance. In every measured scenario, the D-2775TE is the superior choice.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-D variant, and both use a 10 nm process node from Intel's foundry. They share the same socket, Intel BGA 2579, which means they are drop-in compatible from a physical standpoint, though firmware support may vary. Both have the same base clock of 2.00 GHz and the same boost clock of 3.10 GHz. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not available on either part.

The core configuration is where the two parts diverge. The D-2775TE has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the D-2796TE has 20 cores and 40 threads. That is a 25% difference in core count and thread count. The L1 and L2 cache configurations are identical on a per-core basis: 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. The L3 cache, however, is larger on the D-2796TE at 30 MB shared, versus 25 MB shared on the D-2775TE. The total L3 difference is 5 MB, which is a 20% increase in shared cache capacity for the D-2796TE.

Memory support is the same on both processors. Each supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, which is critical for server and workstation reliability. Both also provide PCIe Gen 4 with 32 CPU lanes. There is no integrated graphics on either processor, as both are aimed at the server and workstation market segment.

The TDP differs, with the D-2775TE rated at 100 watts and the D-2796TE rated at 118 watts. The higher TDP on the D-2796TE is consistent with its larger core count, but it also means the 20-core part requires more cooling and consumes more power. The release date for both processors is February 23, 2022, and both are listed as Active in production status. The D-2775TE has a launch MSRP of $1751, while the D-2796TE has a launch MSRP of $2101. The part numbers are SRM26SRLCM for the D-2775TE and SRM23SRLCL for the D-2796TE.

The most striking architectural observation is that the D-2796TE, with its additional 4 cores and 5 MB of extra L3 cache, cannot outperform the D-2775TE in any recorded benchmark. The consistent 3.1% margin in favor of the D-2775TE suggests that the 16-core part is operating at a higher efficiency per core, or that the D-2796TE is constrained by power or thermal limits that prevent its extra cores from contributing fully. The identical clock speeds and architecture mean the difference must come from how each chip is configured or binned.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2796TE has 20 cores and 40 threads, while the Intel Xeon D-2775TE has 16 cores and 32 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2775TE wins all three multi-core tests in the database. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 23204 versus 22507 for the D-2796TE.

Q: What is the performance difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2775TE is ahead by 3.1% in every recorded benchmark. This includes both single-core and multi-core tests across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with a memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s, and both support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2775TE has a TDP of 100 watts, while the Intel Xeon D-2796TE has a TDP of 118 watts.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2796TE has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Xeon D-2775TE has 25 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite this, the D-2775TE still wins all benchmark tests.

The Verdict

The recorded data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon D-2775TE is the faster processor in every benchmark the database tracks. It wins all six head-to-head tests, with a consistent 3.1% margin over the D-2796TE in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The D-2775TE's average benchmark score of 6711 places it slightly above the D-2796TE's average of 6510, and both sit at the 62nd percentile of all CPUs. The D-2775TE also carries a lower TDP of 100 watts versus 118 watts for the D-2796TE, meaning it achieves more performance while drawing less power.

The D-2796TE offers more cores, more threads, and a larger L3 cache, but none of that translates into a measurable performance advantage in the data. The extra 4 cores and 5 MB of cache do not help it win a single test. For workloads that scale with core count, the D-2796TE should theoretically have an edge, but the benchmarks show the opposite. The D-2775TE wins the multi-core tests by the same margin it wins the single-core tests, which suggests the D-2796TE's additional cores are not being effectively utilized or are held back by power constraints.

For buyers prioritizing raw performance, the Intel Xeon D-2775TE is the clear choice based on the database results. It delivers higher scores in every recorded test, has a lower TDP, and a lower launch MSRP of $1751 compared to $2101 for the D-2796TE. The D-2796TE only makes sense for scenarios where the larger core count or the 30 MB L3 cache is needed for reasons not captured by the Cinebench suite, such as specific server workloads with large cache-sensitive datasets. However, based strictly on the measurements available, the D-2775TE is the superior processor. Its consistent 3.1% lead across all tests, combined with lower power consumption and a lower launch MSRP, makes it the stronger recommendation from the data. The D-2796TE cannot be recommended for performance reasons, as it loses every benchmark while consuming more power. The database shows a clear hierarchy: the 16-core D-2775TE outperforms the 20-core D-2796TE in every recorded metric.