Intel Xeon E-2174G vs Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2174G and Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 are both end-of-life server processors, but they come from different eras and different platform strategies. The E-2174G is a 4-core Coffee Lake part with a high boost clock and integrated graphics, while the E5-2630 v3 is an 8-core Haswell-EP part with more cache and memory bandwidth. In every head-to-head benchmark recorded, the E5-2630 v3 comes out ahead, despite its older architecture and lower clock speeds.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, covering both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The E-2174G never takes a single win. If raw performance is the only criterion, the E5-2630 v3 is the clear choice. Its advantage ranges from 6.6% to 7.3% depending on the test, which is consistent across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

The E-2174G does have two practical advantages that are not reflected in the benchmark scores. It includes integrated HD Graphics P630, which the E5-2630 v3 lacks entirely, and its TDP is 71 watts versus 85 watts for the E5. For a system that needs a display output without a discrete GPU, or where the lower power envelope is critical, the E-2174G is the only option. For everything else, the E5-2630 v3 delivers more performance per dollar of benchmark score, though pricing is not part of this analysis.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different platforms. The E-2174G uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, with a die size of 126 mm². The E5-2630 v3 uses the Haswell-EP architecture on a 22 nm process, with a much larger die of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. The E-2174G has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the E5-2630 v3 doubles that to 8 cores and 16 threads.

Cache and memory support also diverge sharply. The E-2174G has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the E5-2630 v3 has 20 MB. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the E5's larger L3 is a direct result of its extra cores. Memory bandwidth is another major difference: the E-2174G runs dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s, while the E5-2630 v3 runs quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s. PCIe lane counts differ as well, with the E-2174G providing 16 lanes and the E5-2630 v3 providing 40 lanes.

The E-2174G includes integrated HD Graphics P630; the E5-2630 v3 has no integrated graphics. Sockets are incompatible: the E-2174G uses Intel Socket 1151, the E5-2630 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The E-2174G was released in July 2018, while the E5-2630 v3 came out in September 2014. Both support ECC memory and are end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record shows no wins for the E-2174G. The E5-2630 v3 wins every recorded test, including single-core tests where the E-2174G's higher boost clock (4.70 GHz versus 3.20 GHz) might be expected to help. The E5's advantage is consistent, suggesting that its larger core count, bigger cache, and higher memory bandwidth outweigh the clock speed deficit.

The E-2174G's strengths are not in raw compute but in platform features. Its integrated graphics allow a system to output video without a discrete card, which is useful for basic server management or lightweight workstation tasks. Its lower TDP of 71 watts versus 85 watts means less heat output and potentially smaller cooling requirements, though the database does not include thermal measurements. The E5-2630 v3, with 8 cores and 16 threads, is better suited for heavily threaded workloads such as virtualization, database processing, or content rendering, where the extra cores and memory bandwidth directly translate to higher throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has higher single-core performance?

A: The E5-2630 v3 wins all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1223 against the E-2174G's 1142, a 6.6% advantage. This holds despite the E-2174G's higher boost clock.

Q: Does the E-2174G support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both processors support ECC memory. The E-2174G and E5-2630 v3 both list ECC as a feature.

Q: What is the memory channel difference?

A: The E-2174G uses dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the E5-2630 v3 uses quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: Only the E-2174G, with HD Graphics P630. The E5-2630 v3 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required for display output.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The E-2174G has 4 cores and 8 threads. The E5-2630 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads, exactly double.

Q: What are the launch MSRPs?

A: The E-2174G launched at $334, and the E5-2630 v3 launched at $667.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are one-sided. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E5-2630 v3 scores 873 against the E-2174G's 815, a 6.6% lead. In R15 single-core, the E5 scores 123 versus 114, a 7.3% advantage. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20: multi-core 3640 versus 3398 (6.6% lead), single-core 513 versus 479 (6.6% lead). Cinebench R23 shows the same margin: multi-core 8668 versus 8091 (6.7% lead), single-core 1223 versus 1142 (6.6% lead).

The E-2174G does have Geekbench scores in the database, but the E5-2630 v3 has no Geekbench results, so no direct comparison is possible there. Across all six comparable tests, the E5-2630 v3 wins by a margin that never drops below 6.6%. The consistency of the delta suggests a fundamental performance gap rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Xeon E-2174G | Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 8 |

| Threads | 8 | 16 |

| Base clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.70 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 71 W | 85 W |

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

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Haswell |

| 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 bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe lanes | Gen 3, 16 lanes | Gen 3, 40 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | HD Graphics P630 | None |

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

| Launch MSRP | $334 | $667 |

| Part number | SR3WN | SR206 |

Both processors support DDR4 memory and ECC, and both are end-of-life. The E-2174G is a newer, smaller, more power-efficient part with integrated graphics, but the E5-2630 v3 offers double the cores, more than double the L3 cache, higher memory bandwidth, and more PCIe lanes. The benchmark data shows that the E5-2630 v3 converts those specifications into a consistent performance lead across every test where both were measured.