Intel Xeon D-2796TE vs Intel Xeon Gold 5317 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data for these two Intel Xeon processors is remarkably consistent across every recorded test. The Intel Xeon Gold 5317 wins all six head-to-head comparisons in the database, yet the margins are surprisingly narrow given the differences in their core counts and thermal envelopes.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Gold 5317 scores 2338 against 2268 for the Xeon D-2796TE, a 3.1% advantage. The single-core result in the same test shows 330 versus 320, again a 3.1% lead for the Gold 5317. This pattern repeats exactly in Cinebench R20, where the multicore scores are 9743 and 9452, and single-core scores are 1375 and 1334, both with a 3.1% delta favoring the Gold 5317.

The latest rendering workload in the database, Cinebench R23, tells the same story. The Gold 5317 posts 23199 multicore and 3275 single-core, while the Xeon D-2796TE records 22507 and 3177 respectively. Every single test in the head-to-head table shows a 3.1% difference, which suggests that the architectural relationship between these two chips is consistent across both lightly threaded and heavily threaded workloads.

The average benchmark scores in the database reflect this overall parity. The Gold 5317 has an average score of 6710, while the Xeon D-2796TE sits at 6510. That is a 200-point gap, roughly 3% of the total, which aligns perfectly with the head-to-head deltas. Both chips land in the 62nd percentile of all CPUs tracked in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite their different designs.

Looking at the nearest rivals helps contextualize these numbers. The Gold 5317 is bracketed by the Intel Xeon D-2775TE at an average score of 6711, a 0% delta, and the AMD EPYC 72F3 at 6700, which is 0.2% behind. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2970WX sits slightly above at 6760, a -0.7% delta from the Gold 5317, while the Intel Core i9-9940X trails at 6657, a 0.8% delta. The Xeon D-2796TE faces similar company: the Intel Xeon W-2191B scores 6531 (-0.3%), the Intel Core i9-7960X scores 6533 (-0.3%), the Intel Core i7-12800HE sits at 6467 (0.7% behind), and the Intel Atom x7405C posts 6568 (-0.9% behind the D-2796TE).

What is striking here is that the Gold 5317 achieves its wins with 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Xeon D-2796TE has 20 cores and 40 threads. The extra 8 cores and 16 threads do not translate into a multicore victory. Instead, the Gold 5317's higher clock speeds, with a 3.60 GHz boost against 3.10 GHz, appear to carry the day across all workloads.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but modest winner. The Intel Xeon Gold 5317 outperforms the Intel Xeon D-2796TE in every benchmark recorded in the database, but the margin is uniform at 3.1% in each test. This is not a case of one chip dominating in specific workloads; it is a consistent, predictable advantage across the entire Cinebench suite.

For workloads that rely on single-threaded performance, the Gold 5317 is the better choice. Its 3275 score in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 3177 for the D-2796TE means faster response in lightly threaded applications. The same holds true for multicore rendering tasks, where the Gold 5317's 23199 score edges out the 22507 posted by the D-2796TE.

However, the Xeon D-2796TE is not far behind, and its lower 118 W TDP compared to the 150 W TDP of the Gold 5317 suggests it may fit into different system designs. The D-2796TE uses a BGA 2579 socket, which typically indicates a soldered, embedded-style platform, while the Gold 5317 uses the socketed Intel Socket 4189. That distinction matters more for platform selection than raw performance.

The percentile ranking of 62 for both processors confirms that they sit at the same level in the broader CPU landscape. Neither chip is a standout performer relative to the entire database, but both are competent server and workstation parts. The Gold 5317 takes the performance crown in this comparison, but the margin is thin enough that other factors, such as platform compatibility and power constraints, could reasonably tip a purchasing decision toward the D-2796TE.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon Gold 5317 wins in every measured category. It holds a 3.1% lead in single-core performance across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, which translates to better responsiveness in applications that depend on one or a few threads. It also wins in multicore workloads by the same margin, meaning heavily threaded rendering tasks will complete modestly faster on this chip.

The Gold 5317 also offers advantages in platform features. It supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 187.7 GB/s, double the 93.9 GB/s available on the quad-channel memory bus of the Xeon D-2796TE. This is a substantial difference for memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads such as large-scale virtualization, database processing, or high-performance computing, even if the Cinebench results do not fully capture it. The Gold 5317 also provides 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, compared to 32 lanes on the D-2796TE, enabling more expansion devices, storage controllers, or accelerators.

The Xeon D-2796TE wins on core count, offering 20 cores and 40 threads versus 12 cores and 24 threads on the Gold 5317. It also has a larger L3 cache at 30 MB shared, compared to 18 MB shared on the Gold 5317, and its per-core L2 cache is 1.25 MB versus 1 MB. In workloads that scale with core count and cache capacity rather than raw clock speed, the D-2796TE could close the gap or potentially overtake the Gold 5317, though the Cinebench results do not show this happening. The D-2796TE also has a lower TDP of 118 W, which may be advantageous in dense, power-constrained deployments. Finally, the D-2796TE has a launch MSRP of $2101, which can be noted for reference.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 5317 wins all three single-core tests. It scores 330 in Cinebench R15, 1375 in R20, and 3275 in R23, compared to 320, 1334, and 3177 for the Xeon D-2796TE. Each margin is 3.1%.

Q: Does the Xeon D-2796TE's higher core count help in multicore workloads?

A: No. Despite having 20 cores and 40 threads against 12 cores and 24 threads on the Gold 5317, the D-2796TE still loses all three multicore tests by 3.1%. The Gold 5317 scores 2338 in R15, 9743 in R20, and 23199 in R23, while the D-2796TE scores 2268, 9452, and 22507.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Gold 5317 is effectively tied with the Intel Xeon D-2775TE, which has an average score of 6711, and it is 0.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 72F3. The D-2796TE is 0.3% behind both the Intel Xeon W-2191B and the Intel Core i9-7960X.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences between these two chips?

A: The Gold 5317 supports eight-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 187.7 GB/s. The Xeon D-2796TE supports quad-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 93.9 GB/s.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon Gold 5317 and the Intel Xeon D-2796TE have ECC memory support.

Q: What socket do these processors use?

A: The Gold 5317 uses Intel Socket 4189, while the Xeon D-2796TE uses Intel BGA 2579.

Architecture Differences

The two processors share the same underlying 10 nm Ice Lake architecture from Intel, but they are implemented in different variants. The Gold 5317 uses the Ice Lake-SP codename, designed for scalable server platforms, while the Xeon D-2796TE uses Ice Lake-D, optimized for dense, low-power edge and embedded deployments.

Core counts differ substantially. The Gold 5317 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the D-2796TE has 20 cores and 40 threads. Clock speeds favor the Gold 5317, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The D-2796TE lists a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost of 3.10 GHz. Both chips have locked multipliers.

Cache hierarchies are also different. The Gold 5317 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The D-2796TE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core caches on the D-2796TE do not compensate for its lower clock speeds in the Cinebench results.

Memory support differs significantly. The Gold 5317 uses an eight-channel DDR4 memory bus with 187.7 GB/s of bandwidth, while the D-2796TE uses a quad-channel bus with 93.9 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Gold 5317 offers 64 Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, while the D-2796TE offers 32 Gen 4 lanes.

The form factors are completely different, as reflected in their sockets. The Gold 5317 uses the socketed Intel Socket 4189, making it suitable for standard server motherboards with upgrade potential. The D-2796TE uses Intel BGA 2579, a ball-grid array that is soldered directly to the board, which is typical for system-on-chip designs aimed at embedded or compact platforms. The D-2796TE has a TDP of 118 W, which is lower than the 150 W TDP of the Gold 5317, and it carries the part number SRM23SRLCL.

Both processors support DDR4 memory and ECC, and both are built on the 10 nm process at Intel's foundry. Neither includes integrated graphics. The Gold 5317 was released on April 5, 2021, while the D-2796TE followed on February 23, 2022. Both remain active in production status. The market segment for both is listed as Server/Workstation, though the BGA packaging of the D-2796TE suggests a more specialized deployment path. The architectural split between the two lines is clear: the Gold 5317 prioritizes bandwidth, PCIe expansion, and higher clock speeds, while the D-2796TE prioritizes core density, cache capacity, and power efficiency.