Intel Xeon E-2176G vs Intel Xeon E-2186G Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E-2176G wins every single recorded head-to-head test against the Intel Xeon E-2186G. Out of eight benchmark comparisons, the E-2176G takes eight wins, while the E-2186G records zero. This is a clean sweep, though the margins are narrow in most tests.

The largest gap appears in the Geekbench multicore test. The E-2176G scores 6331, while the E-2186G scores 6204, a delta of 2.0%. That is the biggest percentage difference in the entire comparison. The Geekbench singlecore test shows a similar pattern, with the E-2176G at 1573 versus 1550 for the E-2186G, a 1.5% advantage.

In Cinebench tests, the margins are tighter but still favor the E-2176G consistently. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the E-2176G scores 1168 against 1158, a 0.9% difference. The singlecore test shows 164 versus 163, a 0.6% edge. Cinebench R20 multicore gives the E-2176G 4867 versus 4826, a 0.8% lead, and the singlecore result is 687 versus 681, a 0.9% advantage. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 11589 versus 11492, a 0.8% gap, and singlecore is 1636 versus 1622, another 0.9% difference.

The data indicates that the E-2176G is the stronger performer across the board, but the differences are small enough that most real-world workloads would not show a perceptible difference. The E-2186G does hold a higher base clock, but the recorded benchmarks do not translate that into a win.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is straightforward, because the E-2176G wins every benchmark category. For heavily threaded workloads, the Cinebench multicore results show the E-2176G ahead by margins of 0.8% to 0.9% across the R15, R20, and R23 versions. The Geekbench multicore test gives the E-2176G its largest victory at 2.0%, suggesting that certain multithreaded application patterns benefit more from the E-2176G's configuration.

For lightly threaded tasks, the singlecore results also favor the E-2176G. Geekbench singlecore shows a 1.5% lead, while Cinebench singlecore tests show between 0.6% and 0.9% advantages. This means the E-2176G is the better choice for both single-threaded responsiveness and multi-threaded throughput.

The E-2186G, despite its higher base clock of 3.80 GHz versus 3.70 GHz, does not manage a single win. Its boost clock is identical at 4.70 GHz, and the recorded scores suggest that the E-2186G's extra base frequency does not yield higher benchmark results. In fact, the E-2186G scores lower in every test, which indicates that other factors, such as power management or silicon quality, play a larger role than the nominal base clock difference.

For users who rely on single-threaded applications like legacy software or lightly threaded games, the E-2176G is the pick. For users who run rendering, encoding, or virtualization workloads that use all cores, the E-2176G again comes out ahead, even if only by a small margin. The E-2186G has no benchmark category where it wins, so its value proposition rests entirely on its specifications rather than its measured performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2176G has an average benchmark score of 3502, while the Intel Xeon E-2186G has an average score of 3462.

Q: How does the E-2176G compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The E-2176G is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i9-9900T, 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4, and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2246G. It trails the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT by 0.4%.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two Xeons?

A: The largest gap is in the Geekbench multicore test, where the E-2176G scores 6331 versus 6204 for the E-2186G, a 2.0% difference.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E-2176G and the Intel Xeon E-2186G support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of both processors?

A: Both processors have a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and support dual-channel DDR4 memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking?

A: The E-2176G ranks in the 55th percentile of all CPUs, while the E-2186G ranks in the 54th percentile.

Specification Differences

The two processors share most of their core specifications. Both have 6 cores, 12 threads, a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, a TDP of 80 watts for the E-2176G and 95 watts for the E-2186G, and the same Intel Socket 1151. Both use the Coffee Lake architecture and the Coffee Lake-S WS codename, with a 14 nm process node and a die size of 154 mm². Cache is identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Memory support is the same, with dual-channel DDR4 and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC support. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and both include HD Graphics P630 integrated graphics.

The differences are limited to a few fields. The base clock is 3.70 GHz on the E-2176G and 3.80 GHz on the E-2186G. The TDP is 80 watts on the E-2176G and 95 watts on the E-2186G. The release date differs: the E-2176G was released on 2018-07-11, while the E-2186G was released earlier on 2018-05-30. The launch MSRP is $367 for the E-2176G and $506 for the E-2186G. The part numbers are SR3WS for the E-2176G and SR3WR for the E-2186G. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both are end-of-life.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same architectural foundation. They share the Coffee Lake architecture, the Coffee Lake-S WS codename, and the Xeon E (Coffee Lake) generation. The process node is identical at 14 nm, produced by Intel, and the die size is the same at 154 mm². Cache hierarchies are exactly the same, with 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Both support DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. PCIe is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are HD Graphics P630 on both parts.

The only architectural difference that appears in the data is the base clock frequency and the associated TDP. The E-2176G runs at 3.70 GHz base with an 80 watt TDP, while the E-2186G runs at 3.80 GHz base with a 95 watt TDP. This means the E-2186G consumes more power to achieve a higher base clock, but the recorded benchmarks show that the E-2176G still produces higher scores. The boost clocks are identical at 4.70 GHz, so the single-threaded ceiling is the same. The higher TDP of the E-2186G does not translate into any measured performance advantage in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Xeon E-2176G is the superior processor in this comparison. It wins all eight head-to-head benchmarks, holds a higher average benchmark score of 3502 versus 3462, and ranks one percentile higher at 55 versus 54. The margins are small in most tests, ranging from 0.6% to 2.0%, but they are consistent across every workload type.

The E-2186G does have a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and a higher TDP of 95 watts, but these specifications do not produce better results. In fact, the E-2186G loses by 0.9% in Cinebench R15 multicore, 0.8% in Cinebench R20 multicore, and 2.0% in Geekbench multicore. The E-2176G also wins every singlecore test, so there is no workload where the E-2186G comes out ahead.

For users choosing between these two Xeon parts, the E-2176G is the better pick based on measured performance. It offers the same core count, threads, boost clock, cache, and memory support, while delivering higher scores in every recorded benchmark. The E-2186G may have a higher base clock on paper, but the database shows that this does not translate into real-world wins. The E-2176G is also the more power-efficient option, with a TDP of 80 watts versus 95 watts, and it carries a lower launch MSRP of $367 versus $506.

The E-2186G is not a poor processor; it still ranks in the 54th percentile and sits close to rivals like the Intel Core i7-9700F with a 0% delta. But in a direct comparison, the E-2176G wins every measurable test. The verdict is simple: choose the E-2176G for better performance, lower power consumption, and a lower launch MSRP. The data does not support choosing the E-2186G on any performance basis.