CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 and the Intel Xeon E-2144G are both end-of-life server/workstation processors, but they represent two very different design philosophies from Intel. The E5-1650 v3 is a 2014 Haswell-EP part built for the LGA 2011-3 platform, while the E-2144G is a 2018 Coffee Lake-S WS chip on LGA 1151. Despite the four-year gap and architectural leap for the newer part, benchmark data shows the older, higher-core-count processor consistently outperforms its successor in Cinebench testing. The E5-1650 v3 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, though the margins are tighter than the generational gap might suggest.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the near-uniformity of the performance gap. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 leads by exactly 11.3% in five of them, with the only outlier being the Cinebench R15 single-core test where it leads by 11.6%. This consistency suggests a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. In multi-core Cinebench R23, the E5-1650 v3 scores 8,800 versus 7,910 for the E-2144G. That translates to a substantial 890-point advantage for the older chip, a margin large enough to shift a rendering job from minutes to seconds.

Single-core performance tells a similar story, which is surprising given the E-2144G's much higher boost clock. The E5-1650 v3 posts 1,242 points in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the E-2144G manages 1,116. The 126-point delta is the same 11.3% advantage seen in multi-core. This is a notable outcome because the E-2144G boosts to 4.50 GHz, far above the E5-1650 v3's 3.80 GHz ceiling. The architectural efficiency of the newer Coffee Lake design does not overcome the older Haswell part's raw performance per clock in these tests.

The Cinebench R20 results mirror the pattern. The E5-1650 v3 scores 3,696 multi-core and 521 single-core, versus 3,322 and 468 for the E-2144G. Again, the 11.3% advantage holds for both metrics. In Cinebench R15, the numbers are 887 versus 797 multi-core and 125 versus 112 single-core. The single-core delta of 11.6% is the only deviation from the 11.3% figure across the entire benchmark suite.

It is worth noting the overall average benchmark scores. The E5-1650 v3 has an average benchmark score of 2,545, placing it at the 49th percentile of all CPUs. The E-2144G averages 2,514, also at the 49th percentile. This near-identical percentile ranking underscores that both chips sit in the same performance tier overall, but the E5-1650 v3's six wins out of six head-to-head tests show it is consistently the stronger performer in Cinebench workloads. The deltaPct in the average benchmark scores is small, roughly 1.2%, but the head-to-head data shows a much larger gap in specific rendering tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench multi-core tests?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 wins all three multi-core tests. It scores 887, 3,696, and 8,800 in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 respectively, compared to 797, 3,322, and 7,910 for the E-2144G. The margin is 11.3% in each case.

Q: Does the E-2144G's higher boost clock help it win single-core tests?

A: No. Despite a 4.50 GHz boost clock versus 3.80 GHz for the E5-1650 v3, the older chip still wins single-core tests by 11.3% in R20 and R23, and by 11.6% in R15.

Q: How do these processors compare to nearby rivals?

A: The E5-1650 v3's closest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3, which has an average score of 2,550, a 0.2% difference. The E-2144G's closest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 at 2,511, a 0.1% difference. Both chips also sit near the Intel Core i3-10325 in their rival lists.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The E5-1650 v3 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The E-2144G has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the E5-1650 v3 and the E-2144G support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The E5-1650 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the E-2144G provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only).

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different platforms. The E5-1650 v3 uses the Haswell-EP architecture on a 22 nm process node, with a die size of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. The E-2144G uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, with a much smaller 126 mm² die. The transistor count for the E-2144G is not listed, but the die-size difference is dramatic, nearly three times larger for the older chip.

Cache configurations differ substantially. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 cache is 15 MB shared on the E5-1650 v3 versus 8 MB shared on the E-2144G. This 7 MB difference in L3 could explain part of the performance advantage, especially in multi-threaded workloads that benefit from a larger shared pool.

Memory support also diverges. The E5-1650 v3 uses quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The E-2144G uses dual-channel DDR4, cutting memory bandwidth nearly in half to 42.7 GB/s. This bandwidth advantage is significant for the older chip, particularly in rendering tasks that are memory-sensitive.

The sockets are incompatible: the E5-1650 v3 requires Intel Socket 2011-3, while the E-2144G uses Intel Socket 1151. The E5-1650 v3 has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, whereas the E-2144G has a locked multiplier. The E-2144G also includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics P630), while the E5-1650 v3 has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The data points clearly to the E5-1650 v3 for users prioritizing raw rendering performance. It wins every Cinebench test by 11.3% or more, which is a meaningful margin in production workloads. Its 6-core/12-thread configuration and larger 15 MB L3 cache provide a structural advantage over the 4-core/8-thread E-2144G with its 8 MB L3. The quad-channel memory bus at 68.3 GB/s further cements its lead in memory-heavy tasks.

The E-2144G is not without merit, however. Its 71 W TDP is nearly half the E5-1650 v3's 140 W TDP, making it a far more power-efficient choice. It also has integrated graphics, which the E5-1650 v3 lacks entirely. For a system that does not need a discrete GPU and where power draw is a concern, the E-2144G's lower thermal footprint is a practical advantage. Its 4.50 GHz boost clock also makes it competitive in lightly threaded scenarios, even if the benchmark results show it still loses to the older chip in single-core Cinebench tests.

For a workstation that will spend hours in multi-threaded rendering, the E5-1650 v3 is the clear choice from the performance data. For a compact server or a system with thermal constraints, the E-2144G offers a lower-power alternative, though users must accept the 11.3% performance deficit in Cinebench workloads. Both chips sit at the 49th percentile of all CPUs, but the E5-1650 v3's six head-to-head wins and consistent 11.3% margins make it the stronger performer in this comparison.

The E-2144G does hold one advantage in the spec sheet: its launch MSRP was $272. The E5-1650 v3 has no listed launch MSRP. However, both processors are end-of-life, so current pricing would reflect market availability rather than launch values. The decision ultimately hinges on whether the E5-1650 v3's performance lead justifies its higher core count and power draw.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 | Intel Xeon E-2144G |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 71 W |

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

| Architecture | Haswell | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 126 mm² |

| Transistors | 2,600 million | Not listed |

| L3 Cache | 15 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 68.3 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | HD Graphics P630 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $272 |