CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2174G and Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 are both end-of-life server/workstation processors, but they represent very different design philosophies from Intel. The E-2174G is a modern 4-core part built on the 14 nm Coffee Lake architecture, released in 2018, while the E5-1650 v3 is a 6-core Haswell-EP chip from 2014 built on the older 22 nm node. The benchmark data tells a clear story: the E5-1650 v3 wins every single head-to-head test, but the margins are not uniform, and the architectural context explains why this older, higher-TDP chip comes out ahead.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 wins all six benchmark comparisons. The most consistent margin appears in the Cinebench tests, where the E5-1650 v3 leads by exactly 8.1% in four of the six comparisons. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the E5-1650 v3 scores 887 against the E-2174G’s 815, an 8.1% advantage. The single-core R15 result shows a slightly larger gap of 8.8%, with scores of 125 versus 114. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the E5-1650 v3 posts 3696 multicore and 521 single-core, versus 3398 and 479 for the E-2174G, again an 8.1% delta on both. The same 8.1% margin appears in Cinebench R23, with the E5-1650 v3 at 8800 multicore and 1242 single-core, against 8091 and 1142 for the E-2174G.

These consistent deltas suggest that the performance difference is structural rather than workload-specific. The E5-1650 v3’s two additional cores provide a multicore advantage, but the single-core wins are more surprising given the E-2174G’s higher boost clock. The E-2174G boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the E5-1650 v3 tops out at 3.80 GHz, yet the older chip still wins single-core tests by roughly 8%. The Geekbench results are not part of the head-to-head table, but the individual benchmark data shows the E-2174G scoring 5104 multicore and 1559 single-core, with no comparable Geekbench scores listed for the E5-1650 v3. The average benchmark scores reinforce the overall picture: the E-2174G averages 2588 across all its tests, while the E5-1650 v3 averages 2545, a surprisingly close overall figure given the E5-1650 v3’s sweep of the Cinebench suite. The E-2174G’s percentile ranking sits at 49, identical to the E5-1650 v3’s percentile of 49, placing both in the middle of the CPU population.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial and explains the benchmark outcomes. The E-2174G uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, with a die size of 126 mm². It packs 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The E5-1650 v3, by contrast, relies on the older Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, with a much larger die size of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. It offers 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. Its cache is larger in the L3 department, featuring 15 MB of shared L3, while L1 and L2 remain identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively.

Memory and I/O capabilities also differ significantly. The E-2174G supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the E5-1650 v3 supports quad-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, a 60% higher theoretical ceiling. The PCIe lanes also differ: the E-2174G provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, whereas the E5-1650 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The E-2174G includes integrated graphics in the form of HD Graphics P630, which the E5-1650 v3 lacks entirely. Both support ECC memory, and both are end-of-life products. The E-2174G has a locked multiplier, while the E5-1650 v3 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The E-2174G draws 71 W TDP, while the E5-1650 v3 draws 140 W TDP, reflecting its older process and extra cores.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for raw performance: the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3. It wins every head-to-head benchmark, with margins ranging from 8.1% to 8.8% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The multicore wins make sense given its 6 cores versus 4, but the single-core wins are notable because the E-2174G has a significantly higher boost clock. The E5-1650 v3’s larger L3 cache, quad-channel memory, and 40 PCIe lanes give it a platform-level advantage that cannot be offset by the newer architecture of the E-2174G. The E-2174G does have a much lower TDP of 71 W versus 140 W, and it includes integrated graphics, which are absent on the E5-1650 v3. For users who need maximum multi-threaded throughput, the E5-1650 v3 is the better choice. For those prioritizing power efficiency or needing integrated graphics, the E-2174G has a role, but it cannot match the E5-1650 v3’s benchmark performance. The average benchmark scores tell a somewhat different story, with the E-2174G averaging 2588 and the E5-1650 v3 averaging 2545, but this is because the E-2174G’s Geekbench scores (5104 multicore, 1559 single-core) are included in its average, while no Geekbench data exists for the E5-1650 v3.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The E-2174G has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the E5-1650 v3 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.80 GHz for the E-2174G and 3.50 GHz for the E5-1650 v3, while boost clocks are 4.70 GHz and 3.80 GHz respectively. TDP is 71 W for the E-2174G and 140 W for the E5-1650 v3. The sockets differ: the E-2174G uses Intel Socket 1151, while the E5-1650 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The process node is 14 nm for the E-2174G and 22 nm for the E5-1650 v3. The E-2174G has a die size of 126 mm², while the E5-1650 v3 has a die size of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. L3 cache is 8 MB shared for the E-2174G and 15 MB shared for the E5-1650 v3. Memory bus is dual-channel for the E-2174G and quad-channel for the E5-1650 v3, with memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s. PCIe lanes are 16 for the E-2174G and 40 for the E5-1650 v3. The E-2174G includes HD Graphics P630, while the E5-1650 v3 has no integrated graphics. The E-2174G has a locked multiplier, the E5-1650 v3 has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates are 2018-07-11 for the E-2174G and 2014-09-07 for the E5-1650 v3. The E-2174G has a launch MSRP of $334, while the E5-1650 v3 has no MSRP listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 8800 against the E-2174G’s 8091, an 8.1% advantage. It also wins Cinebench R15 multicore (887 vs 815) and Cinebench R20 multicore (3696 vs 3398).

Q: Does the newer architecture of the E-2174G help in single-core tests?

A: No. Despite the E-2174G’s newer Coffee Lake architecture and higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz, the E5-1650 v3 wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the E5-1650 v3 scores 1242 versus 1142, an 8.1% lead, and in R15 single-core it leads 125 to 114.

Q: How do the memory systems compare?

A: The E5-1650 v3 has a quad-channel memory bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the E-2174G has a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The E5-1650 v3’s memory bandwidth is significantly higher, which contributes to its performance advantage.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E-2174G and the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 support ECC memory, as expected for server/workstation parts.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E-2174G includes integrated graphics, specifically HD Graphics P630. The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 has no integrated graphics at all.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The E-2174G has a TDP of 71 W, while the E5-1650 v3 has a TDP of 140 W. The E-2174G draws significantly less power, making it more efficient per watt, despite losing in absolute performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v3 is the clear winner in every benchmark category where both were tested. Its 6 cores and 12 threads provide a solid multi-threaded advantage, and its 15 MB shared L3 cache helps in workloads that benefit from larger cache pools. The quad-channel memory with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth is a major asset for memory-intensive tasks, and the 40 PCIe lanes allow for more expansion options. The unlocked multiplier also permits overclocking, which could push performance even higher. The E5-1650 v3’s 140 W TDP is a trade-off, but for a workstation CPU, the extra power draw is justified by the performance gains. This chip is the better choice for rendering, simulation, and any workload that scales with core count and memory bandwidth.

The Intel Xeon E-2174G wins in power efficiency and platform integration. Its 71 W TDP is roughly half that of the E5-1650 v3, making it suitable for systems where thermal and power budgets are tight. The integrated HD Graphics P630 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic display scenarios. Its higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz does not translate into benchmark wins, but it may provide better responsiveness in lightly threaded tasks that are not captured by the Cinebench suite. The E-2174G also has the advantage of a smaller die size and lower transistor count, which typically means lower production costs, though its $334 launch MSRP is the only pricing data available. For users who do not need the massive multi-threading of the E5-1650 v3, the E-2174G offers a more efficient alternative, but the benchmark data is unequivocal that the E5-1650 v3 is the faster processor in every measured test.