CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2125 and Intel Xeon E-2174G are both 4-core, 8-thread server processors, but they target different platforms and exhibit distinct performance characteristics. The W-2125, built on the Skylake-W architecture for the Socket 2066 platform, consistently leads in Cinebench workloads, while the E-2174G, a Coffee Lake-S WS part for Socket 1151, counters with a decisive victory in Geekbench tests. The data reveals a split personality: one chip dominates legacy render benchmarks, while the other excels in modern cross-platform synthetic tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the near-total dominance of the Intel Xeon W-2125 across the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the W-2125 scores 852 against the E-2174G’s 815, a 4.5% advantage. That margin repeats almost identically in the single-core portion of R15, where the W-2125’s 120 beats 114, yielding a 5.3% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the story holds: the W-2125 posts 3551 versus 3398 in multi-core, again a 4.5% gap, and 501 versus 479 in single-core, a 4.6% edge. The latest Cinebench R23 iteration confirms the trend, with the W-2125 scoring 8455 to the E-2174G’s 8091 in multi-core and 1193 to 1142 in single-core, both showing a 4.5% delta. Across six Cinebench tests, the W-2125 wins every single one, and it does so with remarkable consistency, each victory falls within a narrow 4.5% to 5.3% band. This suggests a fundamental architectural advantage in rendering workloads that is independent of the specific benchmark version.

The narrative flips entirely in Geekbench, where the Intel Xeon E-2174G turns the tables. In Geekbench multi-core, the E-2174G scores 5104 against the W-2125’s 4988, a 2.3% win. The single-core result is far more lopsided: the E-2174G posts 1559 versus 1323, delivering a commanding 15.1% victory. That 15.1% margin is the largest of any benchmark in the comparison, dwarfing the W-2125’s best single-core win of 5.3%. It is a stark divergence, the same two processors that are nearly inseparable in Cinebench are separated by a chasm in Geekbench single-core. This indicates that the E-2174G’s higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz, compared to the W-2125’s 4.50 GHz, translates into a significant advantage in Geekbench’s workload patterns, while the W-2125’s older Skylake core design seems better optimized for Cinebench’s rendering pipeline.

Looking at the aggregate benchmark scores, the two CPUs are effectively neck-and-neck. The W-2125 holds an average benchmark score of 2623, while the E-2174G trails slightly at 2588. Both sit at the 49th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are perfectly average in the broader market. The nearest rivals for the W-2125 include the Intel Core i7-1195G7 with a delta of -0.6% and the Core i9-8950HK at -0.7%, while the E-2174G’s closest competitor is the Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 at a 0% delta. Interestingly, both processors share the Intel Core i7-8850H as a nearby rival, with the W-2125 being 0.7% ahead of it and the E-2174G 0.6% behind. This positions both chips in a crowded mid-range performance tier.

The head-to-head tally shows the W-2125 winning 6 out of 8 benchmarks, but that count is misleading. The two Geekbench losses for the W-2125, particularly the 15.1% single-core deficit, carry outsized weight. In a mixed workload environment, the E-2174G’s Geekbench dominance could easily compensate for its Cinebench shortfalls. The data paints a picture of two processors that are statistically similar in average performance, the difference of 35 points in average benchmark score is less than 1.4%, but with opposite strengths in different test suites. Users who prioritize Cinebench-style rendering would clearly prefer the W-2125, while those whose applications resemble Geekbench’s synthetic loads would see better results from the E-2174G.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2125 wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head comparisons, taking every Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 test. The Intel Xeon E-2174G wins the remaining 2, which are both Geekbench tests.

Q: How large is the performance gap in Geekbench single-core?

A: The E-2174G leads by 15.1% in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1559 versus the W-2125’s 1323. This is the largest margin of any benchmark between the two processors.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The W-2125 has an average benchmark score of 2623, while the E-2174G has an average of 2588. Both processors rank at the 49th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon W-2125 and the Intel Xeon E-2174G support ECC memory. They both support DDR4 memory, though the W-2125 uses quad-channel while the E-2174G uses dual-channel.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2174G has a higher boost clock at 4.70 GHz, compared to the W-2125’s 4.50 GHz. However, the W-2125 has a higher base clock at 4.00 GHz versus the E-2174G’s 3.80 GHz.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The W-2125 has a TDP of 120 watts, while the E-2174G has a significantly lower TDP of 71 watts. This makes the E-2174G more power-efficient on paper.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but conditional recommendation. For users running Cinebench-heavy workloads, such as 3D rendering, animation, or visual effects, the Intel Xeon W-2125 is the superior choice. It wins all six Cinebench tests by roughly 4.5% to 5.3%, providing a consistent, measurable advantage in these tasks. The W-2125’s 8.25 MB of shared L3 cache and quad-channel memory bus, while not directly benchmarked here, correlate with its stronger multi-core Cinebench scores. Its 852 R15 multi-core score versus 815 for the E-2174G shows that the extra memory bandwidth and larger cache help in sustained render loads.

Conversely, the Intel Xeon E-2174G is the pick for Geekbench-style synthetic workloads and applications that favor high single-thread performance. Its 15.1% single-core Geekbench lead is decisive, and its 2.3% multi-core Geekbench win shows it is not a one-trick pony. The E-2174G also carries a much lower TDP of 71 watts versus 120 watts, which could be a deciding factor in dense server environments where thermal management is critical. The integrated HD Graphics P630 on the E-2174G is an additional feature the W-2125 lacks, though its impact on server workloads is minimal.

Neither processor is a clear overall winner. The average benchmark scores are separated by only 35 points (2623 versus 2588), a difference of about 1.3%, and both sit at the 49th percentile. The W-2125’s 6-2 head-to-head win tally is offset by the magnitude of the E-2174G’s Geekbench victories. The choice hinges on workload: choose the W-2125 for Cinebench-centric rendering, or the E-2174G for Geekbench-oriented general computing and scenarios where lower power draw is paramount. Both are end-of-life products, so platform availability and existing infrastructure should guide the final decision.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specifications. The W-2125 uses the Intel Socket 2066 platform, while the E-2174G uses the Intel Socket 1151. The W-2125 has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, whereas the E-2174G has a lower base clock of 3.80 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The TDP difference is substantial: the W-2125 draws 120 watts compared to the E-2174G’s 71 watts.

Memory configuration is another major divergence. The W-2125 supports quad-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the E-2174G supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. This means the W-2125 has exactly double the theoretical memory bandwidth. PCIe lanes also differ significantly: the W-2125 provides 48 Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the E-2174G provides 16 Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). The E-2174G includes integrated HD Graphics P630, while the W-2125 has no integrated graphics. The die size is dramatically different, with the W-2125 measuring 484 mm² versus the E-2174G’s 126 mm². The L2 cache differs as well: the W-2125 has 1 MB per core, while the E-2174G has 256 KB per core.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but they use different core architectures. The W-2125 is based on the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-W codename, while the E-2174G uses the Coffee Lake architecture, with the codename Coffee Lake-S WS. The W-2125 belongs to the Xeon W (Skylake-W) generation, whereas the E-2174G is part of the Xeon E-2100 series under the Xeon E (Coffee Lake) generation.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the W-2125 has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, four times the E-2174G’s 256 KB per core. The shared L3 cache is similar in size but not identical: the W-2125 has 8.25 MB shared, while the E-2174G has 8 MB shared. The W-2125’s larger die size of 484 mm² reflects its more complex memory controller for quad-channel support and additional PCIe lanes. The E-2174G’s smaller 126 mm² die is consistent with its simpler dual-channel memory controller and 16 PCIe lanes.

The release dates differ, with the W-2125 launching on 2017-08-28 and the E-2174G on 2018-07-11. Both are end-of-life production parts. The W-2125 has a launch MSRP of $444, while the E-2174G has a launch MSRP of $334. Both processors are multiplier-unlocked, meaning they cannot be overclocked via the multiplier. The part numbers are SR3LM for the W-2125 and SR3WN for the E-2174G. The architectural differences, Skylake versus Coffee Lake, explain the benchmark divergence: the newer Coffee Lake core in the E-2174G delivers superior Geekbench scores, while the Skylake-W core in the W-2125, paired with more cache and memory bandwidth, excels in Cinebench.