Intel Xeon E-2124G vs Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison against the Intel Xeon E-2124G. Across all six Cinebench tests, the E3-1270 v5 takes the win with a consistent delta of roughly 16% in each discipline. This is a clean sweep, with the E3-1270 v5 securing 6 wins and the E-2124G zero.

Looking at the raw scores, the E3-1270 v5 posts 713 points in Cinebench R15 multi-core, against 613 for the E-2124G, a 16.3% advantage. The single-core R15 test tells the same story: 100 points versus 86 points, again a 16.3% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the E3-1270 v5 scores 2974 in multi-core and 419 in single-core, while the E-2124G manages 2558 and 361 respectively. The deltas are 16.3% for multi-core and 16.1% for single-core. In the most recent Cinebench R23 results, the E3-1270 v5 secures 7082 in multi-core and 999 in single-core; the E-2124G trails with 6092 and 860, making the differences 16.3% and 16.2%.

The consistency of these margins is notable. From older R15 tests to newer R23 workloads, the performance gap barely moves, hovering around 16%. This indicates a structural advantage for the E3-1270 v5 rather than a workload-specific quirk. The E-2124G, despite its higher boost clock, cannot close the gap in any measured scenario. There is no benchmark in the database where the E-2124G comes out ahead, making the choice clear from a pure performance standpoint.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras despite sharing a socket and process node. The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 is built on the Skylake architecture (codename Skylake-DT) and belongs to the Xeon E3 generation from that family. The Intel Xeon E-2124G, meanwhile, is a Coffee Lake part (codename Coffee Lake-S WS) from the Xeon E-2100 series. Both are fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process, but the newer Coffee Lake design does not translate into a performance win here.

The most significant architectural divergence is in thread count. The E3-1270 v5 features 4 cores and 8 threads, utilizing Hyper-Threading technology. The E-2124G also has 4 cores but only 4 threads, meaning it lacks simultaneous multithreading. This explains the consistent multi-core deficit for the E-2124G, as each physical core can only handle one thread at a time. The single-core results are also in favor of the E3-1270 v5, which is more surprising given the clock speeds.

Clock speeds differ in both directions. The E3-1270 v5 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The E-2124G starts lower at 3.40 GHz base but boosts higher to 4.50 GHz. Despite the higher peak boost on the E-2124G, benchmark scores show the E3-1270 v5 delivering superior single-core performance in Cinebench, with scores of 100 versus 86 in R15, 419 versus 361 in R20, and 999 versus 860 in R23. The data indicates that the older Skylake architecture achieves better per-clock efficiency in these tests.

Cache hierarchies are identical in structure: both have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Transistor counts and die sizes differ only slightly, with the E3-1270 v5 using 1,750 million transistors on a 122 mm² die, while the E-2124G is listed with 126 mm² die size (transistor count not recorded). Neither processor has a 3D V-Cache variant.

Memory support is another differentiator. The E3-1270 v5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the E-2124G only supports DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the recorded bandwidth differs: the E3-1270 v5 is rated at 34.1 GB/s, while the E-2124G achieves 42.7 GB/s. The E-2124G also includes integrated graphics in the form of HD Graphics P630, whereas the E3-1270 v5 has no integrated graphics listed. Both support ECC memory and use the same Intel Socket 1151, with PCIe Gen 3 and 16 lanes from the CPU.

The Verdict

Based strictly on recorded benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 is the superior processor. It wins every single Cinebench test, from single-core to multi-core, across R15, R20, and R23. The data shows a consistent 16% performance lead in both core utilization and lightly threaded workloads. The E3-1270 v5 holds a 100% win rate in head-to-head comparisons, with 6 wins and 0 losses.

The E-2124G does not win a single benchmark in the database. Its only potential advantages are in architecture details: a newer Coffee Lake node, a higher boost clock, support for DDR4-only memory with higher bandwidth, and integrated graphics. However, none of these translate into a measured performance victory in the available Cinebench data. The E-2124G also has a lower TDP of 71 watts versus 80 watts for the E3-1270 v5, but this does not affect benchmark outcomes.

From a percentile standpoint, the E3-1270 v5 sits at the 46th percentile among all CPUs, while the E-2124G is at the 45th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 2048 and 2034 respectively, a difference of roughly 1%. The E3-1270 v5 also has a release date of October 2015, while the E-2124G was released in July 2018. Both are end-of-life and locked (multiplier not unlocked).

For users who rely on multi-threaded workloads, the E3-1270 v5 is the clear choice. Its 8 threads versus 4 threads provide a tangible advantage in any parallel workload. For users who need integrated graphics or the slightly higher memory bandwidth, the E-2124G has merits, but it loses on every measured benchmark. The data recommends the E3-1270 v5 unless a specific need for integrated graphics or DDR4-optimized memory bandwidth outweighs a 16% CPU performance deficit.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 wins all multi-core Cinebench tests. In R15 it scores 713 versus 613, in R20 2974 versus 2558, and in R23 7082 versus 6092. Each is a 16.3% lead.

Q: Does the higher boost clock of the E-2124G help it in single-core tests?

A: No. The E-2124G boosts to 4.50 GHz, but the E3-1270 v5 still wins single-core tests with scores of 100 versus 86 in R15, 419 versus 361 in R20, and 999 versus 860 in R23. The E3-1270 v5 leads by 16.1-16.3%.

Q: How do the thread counts differ?

A: The E3-1270 v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the E-2124G has 4 cores and 4 threads. This thread advantage is a major factor in the multi-core score differences.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Both support ECC memory. The E3-1270 v5 supports DDR3 and DDR4, while the E-2124G supports DDR4 only.

Q: Does the E-2124G have any integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the E-2124G includes HD Graphics P630. The E3-1270 v5 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare to nearest rivals?

A: The E3-1270 v5 averages 2048, matching the Intel Core i7-7820HK exactly (0% delta) and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U (0.1% delta). The E-2124G averages 2031, matching the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U (0% delta) and trailing the Intel Core i7-3960X by 0.1%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 wins in every recorded benchmark category. Its list of wins includes all Cinebench versions, both multi-core and single-core variants. The multi-core wins are expected due to the 8-thread count doubling the E-2124G's thread capability. The single-core wins are more notable, as they show the Skylake architecture outperforms Coffee Lake in per-thread efficiency despite the E-2124G's higher boost clock.

The E-2124G does not have a single benchmark win, so its "wins" must be defined by non-performance attributes. It has a 71 watt TDP versus 80 watts, making it more power efficient. It supports only DDR4, which allows a higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. It also includes integrated graphics, which is useful for systems that do not have a discrete GPU. These are qualitative advantages, not performance wins in the database.

For users prioritizing raw CPU throughput, the choice is the E3-1270 v5. For users who need a CPU with integrated graphics for basic display output, the E-2124G is the only option. For those who want the higher memory bandwidth for specific memory-bound tasks, the E-2124G offers that, but it comes at the cost of 16.3% lower multi-core performance. The data does not show any benchmark where the E-2124G's higher bandwidth translates into a win.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 | Intel Xeon E-2124G |

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

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| TDP | 80 W | 71 W |

| Architecture | Skylake | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Skylake-DT | Coffee Lake-S WS |

| Generation | Xeon E3 (Skylake-DT) | Xeon E (Coffee Lake) |

| Die Size | 122 mm² | 126 mm² |

| Transistors | 1,750 million | Not recorded |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR4 only |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | None | HD Graphics P630 |

| Release Date | 2015-10-18 | 2018-07-11 |

| Launch MSRP | $339 | $218 |

| Part Number | SR2LF | SR3WL |

The two CPUs share the same socket (Intel Socket 1151), process node (14 nm), core count (4), L1 and L2 cache sizes, L3 cache (8 MB), PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 lanes), dual-channel memory bus, ECC support, and locked multiplier status. The E3-1270 v5 has a higher base clock, the E-2124G has a higher boost clock. The most impactful difference is the thread count: the E3-1270 v5's 8 threads versus the E-2124G's 4 threads.