CPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unusually consistent picture: Intel Xeon E-2134 wins every single head-to-head comparison, yet the margins are remarkably narrow. Across all six Cinebench tests, the E-2134’s advantage ranges from 1.6% to 1.8%, with no test showing a decisive breakthrough for either processor. The largest delta appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the E-2134 scores 114 against the E5-2629 v3’s 112, a 1.8% edge. Every other test, R15 multi-core, R20 single-core, R20 multi-core, R23 single-core, and R23 multi-core, shows a 1.6% or 1.7% margin.

The multi-core results are particularly telling given the core disparity. The E-2134 manages 808 points in R15 multi-core versus 795 for the E5-2629 v3, despite the latter having double the cores and threads. That pattern repeats in R20 multi-core (3367 vs 3315) and R23 multi-core (8018 vs 7893). A 4-core/8-thread part consistently outpaces an 8-core/16-thread part by roughly 1.6% in heavily threaded workloads. This suggests the E-2134’s higher clock speeds and newer architecture fully compensate for the core-count disadvantage.

Single-core performance tells a similar story. The E-2134 leads by 1.8% in R15 (114 vs 112) and by 1.7% in R20 (475 vs 467), with a 1.6% margin in R23 (1132 vs 1114). These deltas, while small, are uniform across all test versions, indicating a consistent per-thread advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Aggregate scores reinforce the pattern. The E-2134 holds an average benchmark score of 2319, placing it in the 48th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700, scores 2320, a negligible 0.1% difference. The E5-2629 v3 averages 2283, sitting at the 47th percentile, with its nearest competitor, the Intel Xeon D-1557, matching its score almost exactly. The 36-point gap between the two Xeons in average score is smaller than the margin separating each from its nearest rivals, underscoring how closely matched these parts are overall.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E-2134 belongs to the Xeon E-2100 series, built on Coffee Lake architecture with a 14 nm process node from Intel. Its die size is 126 mm². The Intel Xeon E5-2629 v3 is a Haswell-EP part, fabricated on a 22 nm node, with a substantially larger 356 mm² die and 2,600 million transistors. The process node gap alone explains much of the performance-per-clock difference.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply: the E-2134 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the E5-2629 v3 doubles that to 8 cores and 16 threads. Cache configurations follow the core counts. Both share identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) layouts, but the L3 cache differs significantly: the E-2134 has 8 MB shared, whereas the E5-2629 v3 carries 20 MB shared. The larger L3 on the older part partially compensates for its architectural age in cache-sensitive workloads.

Clock speeds favor the newer chip. The E-2134 runs at a 3.50 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.50 GHz. The E5-2629 v3 operates at 2.40 GHz base and 3.20 GHz boost, a 1.10 GHz and 1.30 GHz deficit, respectively. These frequency advantages allow the E-2134 to overcome the E5-2629 v3’s core-count lead in every benchmark.

Memory subsystems differ as well. The E-2134 supports DDR4 only, over a dual-channel bus, delivering 42.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The E5-2629 v3 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 across a quad-channel interface, reaching 59.7 GB/s, roughly 40% higher bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also favors the older part: the E5-2629 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the E-2134 offers only 16 lanes. The E-2134 does include integrated graphics (UHD Graphics P630), whereas the E5-2629 v3 has none.

Socket requirements differ completely. The E-2134 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the E5-2629 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. Release dates reflect their generational gap: the E-2134 launched in July 2018, the E5-2629 v3 in September 2014. Both are end-of-life products.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2134 wins every multi-core test despite having half the cores. It leads by 1.6% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (808 vs 795), R20 multi-core (3367 vs 3315), and R23 multi-core (8018 vs 7893).

Q: How significant is the single-core advantage?

A: The E-2134 holds a consistent 1.6% to 1.8% lead across all single-core tests. Cinebench R15 single-core shows the largest gap at 1.8% (114 vs 112), while R20 and R23 show 1.7% and 1.6% margins, respectively.

Q: Does the E5-2629 v3’s larger cache help it in any benchmark?

A: Despite having 20 MB of L3 cache versus the E-2134’s 8 MB, the E5-2629 v3 does not win any of the six Cinebench tests. The cache advantage does not translate into a benchmark victory.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth implications?

A: The E5-2629 v3 offers 59.7 GB/s over a quad-channel memory bus, approximately 40% higher bandwidth than the E-2134’s 42.7 GB/s over dual-channel. The E5-2629 v3 also supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the E-2134 supports only DDR4.

Q: How do these parts compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The E-2134’s average score of 2319 is within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 (2320) and 0.5% of the Intel Core i7-8809G (2307). The E5-2629 v3’s 2283 average matches the Intel Xeon D-1557 (2282) and trails the Core i5-10400H (2303) by 0.9%.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The E5-2629 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the E-2134 provides only 16 lanes. This makes the E5-2629 v3 more suitable for configurations requiring extensive expansion.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, winner: the Intel Xeon E-2134 outperforms the Intel Xeon E5-2629 v3 in every benchmark recorded. The six head-to-head tests all favor the E-2134, with margins between 1.6% and 1.8%. This is notable because the E5-2629 v3 has twice the cores and threads, yet cannot convert that hardware advantage into a single test victory.

The E-2134’s higher clock speeds, 3.50 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost versus 2.40 GHz and 3.20 GHz, drive its consistent lead. Its newer 14 nm Coffee Lake architecture also delivers better instructions-per-clock than the 22 nm Haswell design. The E5-2629 v3 compensates with more cores, more cache, higher memory bandwidth, and more PCIe lanes, but none of these strengths materialize in the Cinebench results.

For workloads dominated by single-thread performance or lightly threaded applications, the E-2134 is the clear choice. Its 1.6% to 1.8% single-core advantage directly benefits such tasks. Even in multi-threaded scenarios, the E-2134 wins by 1.6%, meaning its architectural and frequency advantages outweigh the E5-2629 v3’s core-count lead.

The E5-2629 v3 retains relevance in specific contexts. Its 40 PCIe lanes support more expansion devices. Its quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth suits memory-intensive workloads. Its 20 MB L3 cache may benefit cache-sensitive applications. However, the benchmark data shows no scenario where these features translate into a performance win in the tested workloads.

Buyers choosing between these two end-of-life parts should base decisions on platform requirements rather than raw performance. The E-2134 requires Socket 1151 and delivers better benchmark results. The E5-2629 v3 requires Socket 2011-3 and offers superior I/O and memory capabilities. For pure CPU throughput, the E-2134 is the data-backed winner.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2134 | Intel Xeon E5-2629 v3 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 8 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 71 W | 85 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Haswell |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-S WS | Haswell-EP |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 356 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 2,600 million |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 3, 40 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics P630 | None |

| Release Date | 2018-07-11 | 2014-09-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $256 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SR3WP | SR1XY |

| Percentile (All CPUs) | 48 | 47 |

| Average Benchmark Score | 2319 | 2283 |