CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2174G and Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 represent two distinct approaches to server processing. The E-2174G is a modern, high-frequency Coffee Lake part with 4 cores and 8 threads, while the E5-4640 v3 is a 12-core, 24-thread Haswell-EP chip designed for dense multi-threaded workloads. This analysis compares their benchmark performance, architectural trade-offs, and ideal use cases based strictly on the supplied data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 wins every single head-to-head test in this comparison. The E-2174G does not record a single victory across the six Cinebench tests, giving the E5-4640 v3 a clean sweep with 6 wins to 0.

The margin of victory is consistent and narrow. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the E5-4640 v3 scores 888 against the E-2174G’s 815, a delta of -8.2%. The single-core R15 test shows a similar pattern: 125 for the E5-4640 v3 versus 114 for the E-2174G, again a -8.8% gap. This consistency continues across the newer Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the E5-4640 v3 posts 3702 compared to 3398 (-8.2%), and in R20 single-core it scores 522 versus 479 (-8.2%). The R23 results mirror this exactly: multi-core shows 8816 against 8091 (-8.2%), and single-core shows 1244 against 1142 (-8.2%).

The near-identical deltas across all tests are striking. Whether the workload is single-threaded or heavily multi-threaded, the E5-4640 v3 maintains roughly an 8% advantage. This suggests a fundamental performance gap that is not workload-dependent but rather an overall throughput difference. The E-2174G’s higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz does not overcome the E5-4640 v3’s architectural advantages, even in single-threaded tests where clock speed typically matters most.

It is importantly the E5-4640 v3’s base clock is listed as 1900.00 MHz, which is remarkably low. Yet the data shows it outperforming the E-2174G in every scenario. The 12-core, 24-thread configuration provides a massive parallel advantage, while the single-core results indicate the Haswell architecture’s efficiency at lower clocks still edges out the newer Coffee Lake design in these specific benchmarks.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the E5-4640 v3 wins in every measurable category. There is no test in the the benchmark database where the E-2174G comes out ahead. The multi-core results favor the E5-4640 v3 due to its 12 cores and 24 threads, which allow it to process more tasks simultaneously. In R23 multi-core, it scores 8816, which is 725 points higher than the E-2174G’s 8091. This advantage scales across all multi-core tests, with the R20 multi-core showing a 304-point gap (3702 vs 3398) and R15 multi-core showing a 73-point gap (888 vs 815).

Surprisingly, the E5-4640 v3 also wins the single-core tests. This is notable because single-core performance is typically dominated by clock speed, and the E-2174G boosts to 4.70 GHz while the E5-4640 v3 only reaches 2.60 GHz. Yet the E5-4640 v3 scores higher in R15 single-core (125 vs 114), R20 single-core (522 vs 479), and R23 single-core (1244 vs 1142). The data indicates that the Haswell-EP architecture’s per-core efficiency exceeds the Coffee Lake design in these Cinebench workloads, despite the massive clock deficit.

The E-2174G’s only potential advantage outside benchmarks lies in its integrated graphics (HD Graphics P630), which the E5-4640 v3 lacks entirely. However, this does not translate into any benchmark wins. The E-2174G also has a lower TDP of 71 watts versus 105 watts, and a smaller die size of 126 mm² versus 356 mm². But for pure processing performance, the E5-4640 v3 is the clear winner across all six tests in the the benchmark database.

The Verdict

The data is decisive: the Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 should be chosen over the Intel Xeon E-2174G for any workload where raw benchmark performance is the priority. It wins every single test, with a consistent 8.2% margin in most cases. The E5-4640 v3’s 12 cores and 24 threads provide substantial multi-threading capability, and its single-core results demonstrate that it does not sacrifice single-threaded performance despite lower clock speeds.

The E-2174G is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Xeon E-2100 series, released in 2018 with a launch MSRP of $334. It is built on the 14 nm Coffee Lake architecture with an 8 MB shared L3 cache. The E5-4640 v3, released in 2015 with a launch MSRP of $2859, uses the 22 nm Haswell-EP architecture with a 30 MB shared L3 cache and 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The E5-4640 v3’s larger cache and higher PCIe lane count are notable architectural advantages, though the benchmark data alone justifies its selection.

For users who require maximum benchmark scores, the E5-4640 v3 is the only rational choice based on this data. The E-2174G’s higher clock speed and newer process node do not compensate for its lower core count in any measured test. The percentile rankings are identical at 49 for both, but the average benchmark score favors the E-2174G slightly at 2588 versus 2550. This discrepancy is explained by the E-2174G’s Geekbench results, which are included in its benchmark set (5104 multi-core, 1559 single-core) while the E5-4640 v3 lacks Geekbench scores in the the benchmark database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4640 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2174G has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in single-core tests?

A: The E5-4640 v3 wins all single-core tests by about 8.2% to 8.8%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1244 versus the E-2174G’s 1142, a -8.2% difference.

Q: Does the E-2174G win any benchmark tests?

A: No, the E-2174G wins zero of the six head-to-head benchmark tests. The E5-4640 v3 wins all six.

Q: What are the memory configurations of these processors?

A: The E-2174G supports dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the E5-4640 v3 supports quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E-2174G has integrated graphics, featuring HD Graphics P630. The E5-4640 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The E-2174G has a TDP of 71 watts, while the E5-4640 v3 has a TDP of 105 watts.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations and design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E-2174G is based on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS codename, built on a 14 nm process node. The E5-4640 v3 uses the Haswell architecture with the Haswell-EP codename, manufactured on a 22 nm process node. The die sizes reflect this difference: the E-2174G measures 126 mm², while the E5-4640 v3 is substantially larger at 356 mm² with 2,600 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ significantly. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. However, the L3 cache is notably different: the E-2174G has 8 MB shared, while the E5-4640 v3 has 30 MB shared. This 22 MB difference in L3 cache provides the E5-4640 v3 with a substantial advantage for workloads that benefit from larger on-die data storage.

Memory support also diverges. The E-2174G uses a dual-channel memory bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the E5-4640 v3 uses a quad-channel bus with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. Both support DDR4 and ECC memory, but the E5-4640 v3’s wider memory bus provides nearly 40% more theoretical bandwidth, which is critical for memory-intensive server workloads.

PCIe connectivity is another differentiator. The E-2174G provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the E5-4640 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. This makes the E5-4640 v3 far more suitable for systems requiring multiple high-bandwidth expansion cards, such as GPUs or NVMe storage controllers.

Clock speeds and sockets also differ. The E-2174G has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, fitting into Intel Socket 1151. The E5-4640 v3 has a base clock of 1900.00 MHz and a boost clock of 2.60 GHz, using Intel Socket 2011-3. The E-2174G’s higher clocks are a direct result of its newer process node and lower core count, but they do not translate into benchmark victories.

Release timelines show the E-2174G launched in July 2018, while the E5-4640 v3 launched in May 2015. Both are end-of-life products. The E-2174G has a launch MSRP of $334, and the E5-4640 v3 has a launch MSRP of $2859. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, making overclocking impossible on both parts.