Intel Xeon E-2136 vs Intel Xeon E-2374G Comparison
Intel Xeon E-2136
Xeon E-2374G
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Xeon E-2136 vs Intel Xeon E-2374G
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark results are unusually one-sided. The Intel Xeon E-2374G wins every single recorded test in the head-to-head comparison, taking all six Cinebench benchmarks across the R15, R20, and R23 versions. The E-2136 does not secure a single victory in this dataset. That said, the margins are not dramatic; the E-2374G leads by roughly 3% in most tests, which is a consistent but modest advantage.
In Cinebench R15 multicore, the E-2374G scores 1142 against the E-2136's 1112, a delta of 2.7%. The single-core R15 test shows a slightly larger gap: 161 versus 156, a 3.2% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result is 4760 against 4636, again a 2.7% difference, while the single-core test shows 672 versus 654, a 2.8% edge. The R23 results mirror the pattern: multicore 11335 versus 11040, and single-core 1600 versus 1558, both with a 2.7% delta.
The consistency of these deltas is noteworthy. The E-2374G is not winning by a landslide in any one test, but it is winning everywhere. This suggests a fundamental efficiency advantage rather than a single workload-specific strength. The larger single-core margin in R15 (3.2%) hints at a per-thread performance edge that scales across the board.
It is also worth placing these scores in context. The E-2374G has an average benchmark score of 3278, which places it at the 53rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The E-2136 averages 3193, also at the 53rd percentile. Despite the E-2374G winning all head-to-head tests, the average scores are close enough that both land in the same percentile tier. The nearest rivals for the E-2374G include the Intel Core i5-11500T at 3288 (a 0.3% gap), the Intel Core i3-12100T at 3277 (0% delta), and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2516 at 3277 (0% delta). For the E-2136, the nearest competition includes the Intel Core i7-9700E at 3197 (0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i3-13100T at 3198 (0.2% behind).
What this means practically: the E-2374G is the faster chip in every measured dimension, but the difference is not transformative. The E-2136 remains competitive on a per-dollar basis in raw multi-threaded throughput, though the E-2374G's single-core advantage is consistently present.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?
A: The Intel Xeon E-2374G boosts up to 5.00 GHz, while the E-2136 stops at 4.50 GHz. That 0.50 GHz gap is the primary driver behind the E-2374G's single-core wins.
Q: Does the E-2374G have more cores than the E-2136?
A: No. The E-2374G has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the E-2136 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The E-2136 has a 2-core and 4-thread advantage, yet it still loses all multicore benchmarks.
Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?
A: The E-2374G has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the E-2136 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The E-2136 has 4 MB more L3, which does not compensate for its lower clock speeds in these tests.
Q: Are both processors compatible with ECC memory?
A: Yes. Both the E-2374G and the E-2136 support ECC memory and are classified as Server/Workstation parts. Both also support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, though the E-2374G has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s for the E-2136.
Q: What is the production status of each processor?
A: The E-2374G is listed as Active, while the E-2136 is End-of-life. The E-2136 was released on 2018-07-11, and the E-2374G followed on 2021-09-07.
Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?
A: The E-2374G averages 3278 across all recorded benchmarks, compared to 3193 for the E-2136. That is an 85-point gap, which corresponds to roughly a 2.7% advantage, consistent with the head-to-head deltas.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different architectural generations despite sharing the same 14 nm process node and Intel as the foundry. The E-2374G is based on Rocket Lake-E, part of the Xeon E-2300 series, while the E-2136 uses Coffee Lake-S WS from the Xeon E-2100 series.
The die sizes tell a clear story. The E-2374G has a die size of 276 mm², which is substantially larger than the E-2136's 154 mm². That larger die accommodates a different core design with more per-core cache. The E-2374G allocates 80 KB of L1 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the E-2136 has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The E-2136 compensates with a larger shared L3 pool of 12 MB versus 8 MB on the E-2374G.
PCIe support differs significantly. The E-2374G provides Gen 4 connectivity with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the E-2136 is limited to Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This is a generational leap in I/O capability, which matters for storage and GPU bandwidth in a workstation context.
The integrated graphics also differ: the E-2374G carries UHD Graphics P750, while the E-2136 has UHD Graphics P630. Both are server-class IGPUs, but the P750 is the newer implementation.
Memory bandwidth is another differentiator. The E-2374G supports 51.2 GB/s of theoretical bandwidth, versus 42.7 GB/s for the E-2136. Both run DDR4 in dual-channel mode, so the higher bandwidth on the E-2374G comes from the newer memory controller design.
The socket situation is worth noting: the E-2374G uses Intel Socket 1200, while the E-2136 uses Intel Socket 1151. These are not interchangeable, so a platform upgrade is required to move from one to the other.
Specification Differences
The most obvious difference is core count: 4 cores and 8 threads for the E-2374G versus 6 cores and 12 threads for the E-2136. The E-2136 has 50% more cores and threads, yet the E-2374G still wins the multicore benchmarks. This is a striking result that underscores the clock speed and IPC advantages of the newer architecture.
Clock speeds differ substantially. The E-2374G has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The E-2136 runs at 3.30 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. The E-2374G is 0.40 GHz faster at base and 0.50 GHz faster at boost.
Both have the same TDP of 80 watts, which makes the E-2374G's performance lead even more notable. It delivers higher performance within the same thermal envelope.
Cache configurations differ as described above: the E-2374G has larger per-core L1 and L2 (80 KB and 512 KB) but smaller shared L3 (8 MB), while the E-2136 has smaller per-core caches (64 KB and 256 KB) but larger shared L3 (12 MB).
Memory bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s for the E-2374G versus 42.7 GB/s for the E-2136. Both support ECC and DDR4.
PCIe: Gen 4 with 20 lanes on the E-2374G versus Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the E-2136.
Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics P750 versus UHD Graphics P630.
Release dates: 2021-09-07 for the E-2374G versus 2018-07-11 for the E-2136. The E-2374G is Active; the E-2136 is End-of-life.
Socket: Socket 1200 versus Socket 1151.
Process nodes are identical at 14 nm, and both are produced by Intel. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.
Where Each One Wins
The E-2374G wins in every benchmark category in the head-to-head data. Its biggest edge is in single-core performance, where the R15 test shows a 3.2% lead. This makes it the better choice for lightly threaded workloads, such as database queries, compile jobs with long dependency chains, or legacy software that does not scale across cores.
The E-2374G also wins multicore tests, but by a smaller margin of 2.7%. This means it can handle multi-threaded workloads adequately, but its advantage is less pronounced there. The larger L2 cache per core (512 KB versus 256 KB) likely helps with data reuse in single-threaded tasks.
The E-2136, despite losing all benchmarks, has one structural advantage: 6 cores versus 4. In workloads that are not captured by Cinebench, such as highly parallel throughput tasks with perfect scaling, the E-2136's two extra cores could theoretically close the gap or even reverse it. However, the recorded data does not show any test where this occurs. The E-2136 also has more L3 cache (12 MB versus 8 MB), which could benefit certain server workloads with large working sets.
For I/O-bound tasks, the E-2374G has a clear edge with PCIe Gen 4 and 20 lanes versus Gen 3 and 16 lanes. This matters for NVMe storage arrays or GPU compute nodes where bandwidth is critical.
The E-2136's advantage is availability and maturity: it is an older part that has been in the market since 2018, so platforms and BIOS support are well established. The E-2374G, being newer, may require more recent motherboard firmware.
The Verdict
The data points to a clear winner: the Intel Xeon E-2374G outperforms the E-2136 in every recorded benchmark, with consistent 2.7% to 3.2% margins across all Cinebench tests. It achieves this with fewer cores (4 versus 6) and the same 80-watt TDP, relying on a higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.50 GHz) and a newer architecture.
Who should pick the E-2374G: anyone building a workstation or server where single-thread performance matters, such as database servers, development machines, or real-time control systems. The PCIe Gen 4 support with 20 lanes is a significant future-proofing advantage for NVMe storage and high-end GPUs. The larger per-core L2 cache (512 KB) is beneficial for latency-sensitive workloads. It is also the only option of the two that is still in active production.
Who should pick the E-2136: buyers who already own a Socket 1151 platform and want to upgrade the CPU without changing the motherboard. The E-2136's 6 cores and 12 threads provide more raw parallel capacity, which could be useful in workloads that scale well beyond what Cinebench measures. Its 12 MB of L3 cache is larger, which may help with certain cache-heavy server tasks. It is also an end-of-life part, so it may be available at discounted prices in the used market, though the database does not track that.
The verdict is straightforward: benchmark results indicate the E-2374G is the superior processor. The E-2136 remains a capable option for existing platform holders, but there is no performance-based reason to choose it over the E-2374G in a new build. The E-2374G wins all six head-to-head tests, has a higher average score (3278 versus 3193), and supports newer I/O standards. For any workload that prioritizes single-thread speed or modern connectivity, the E-2374G is the clear choice.