CPU Comparison
Intel Xeon E-2186M
Xeon E5-1650 v4
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Xeon E-2186M vs Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark data reveals a curiously split picture for these two six-core Xeon parts. The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 takes seven of eight head-to-head tests, but the single loss is decisive, and the margins elsewhere are surprisingly thin.
In the Cinebench suite, the E5-1650 v4 never leads by more than 0.7%. Cinebench R15 multicore shows 966 versus 961, a 0.5% edge. R15 singlecore is 136 versus 135, a 0.7% advantage. R20 multicore repeats the pattern: 4028 versus 4007, again 0.5%. R20 singlecore is 568 versus 565, also 0.5%. R23 multicore lands at 9592 versus 9542, 0.5%, and R23 singlecore at 1354 versus 1347, 0.5%. These are margins that fall within run-to-run noise on many test rigs; the data indicates near-identical sustained throughput in heavily threaded and lightly threaded rendering workloads.
The Geekbench results break the tie. In Geekbench multicore, the E5-1650 v4 posts 6060 against the E-2186M's 5306, a substantial 14.2% victory. That is the largest win for either part in any test. The E-2186M answers in Geekbench singlecore with 1434 versus 1122, a 21.8% blowout in the opposite direction. So the older Broadwell part dominates in raw multi-threaded integer/float throughput as measured by Geekbench, while the newer Coffee Lake part crushes it in single-threaded Geekbench performance.
Interpreting these numbers requires context. The E5-1650 v4's average benchmark score sits at 2978, placing it in the 52nd percentile of all CPUs tracked. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5675U at 2988 (a -0.3% delta) and the Intel Xeon E-2334 at 2988 (-0.3% delta). The E-2186M's average score is 2912, in the 51st percentile, with the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 at 2909 (0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C14 at 2921 (-0.3% delta) as close neighbors. The two Xeons are separated by only 2.2% in average score, yet they achieve that parity through very different performance profiles.
The Cinebench parity is striking given the architectural gap. Both parts have 6 cores and 12 threads, so thread count is identical. The E5-1650 v4 runs at a 3.60 GHz base clock with a 4.00 GHz boost, while the E-2186M has a 2.90 GHz base but boosts to 4.80 GHz. The higher boost of the E-2186M apparently offsets its lower base clock in rendering workloads, while the E5-1650 v4's higher base clock and larger L3 cache (15 MB versus 12 MB) help it keep pace in sustained multi-threaded tasks. Geekbench multicore rewards the E5-1650 v4's quad-channel memory interface (76.8 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s) and 40 PCIe lanes versus 16, which may explain the 14.2% gap there. Geekbench singlecore, conversely, heavily favors the E-2186M's 4.80 GHz turbo, producing the 21.8% delta.
FAQ
Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?
A: The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 wins 7 of 8 head-to-head tests. It takes all six Cinebench R15/R20/R23 multicore and singlecore tests, plus Geekbench multicore. The E-2186M wins only Geekbench singlecore.
Q: How large is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multicore?
A: The E5-1650 v4 scores 9592 versus 9542 for the E-2186M, a 0.5% delta. This is the same margin seen in R15 multicore (966 versus 961), R20 multicore (4028 versus 4007), and R20 singlecore (568 versus 565).
Q: Is the E-2186M faster in any benchmark?
A: Yes, in Geekbench singlecore it scores 1434 versus 1122, a 21.8% advantage. This is the largest single-test margin between the two chips and the only test the E-2186M wins.
Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?
A: The E5-1650 v4 averages 2978 across all benchmarks, placing it in the 52nd percentile. The E-2186M averages 2912, in the 51st percentile. The delta is roughly 2.2% in favor of the E5-1650 v4.
Q: What explains the Geekbench multicore gap?
A: The E5-1650 v4 scores 6060 versus 5306, a 14.2% lead. The E5-1650 v4 has quad-channel DDR4 memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth and 40 PCIe lanes, versus dual-channel with 42.7 GB/s and 16 lanes on the E-2186M. These memory and I/O advantages likely contribute to the multicore result.
Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?
A: Yes, both list ECC memory support. Both also use DDR4 memory and are built on Intel's 14 nm process node.
The Verdict
The data paints a clear picture for specific use cases. If the workload is heavily multi-threaded and memory-bandwidth sensitive, the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is the choice. Its Geekbench multicore lead of 14.2% is the largest substantive margin in this comparison, and it maintains a narrow but consistent edge across every Cinebench test. The quad-channel memory bus and 40 PCIe lanes provide headroom that the E-2186M cannot match.
If single-threaded performance is the priority, the Intel Xeon E-2186M wins decisively. Its 21.8% Geekbench singlecore advantage is nearly twice the E5-1650 v4's multicore margin. The 4.80 GHz boost clock is the clear driver of that result. For lightly threaded applications or workloads where per-core latency matters more than aggregate throughput, the E-2186M is the better fit.
For rendering workloads specifically, the two are effectively tied. All Cinebench margins sit at 0.5% or 0.7%, which is within typical benchmark variance. Neither chip offers a meaningful advantage in R15, R20, or R23, whether singlecore or multicore. The average benchmark scores reflect this near-parity: 2978 versus 2912, a 2.2% spread.
The E5-1650 v4 also carries a slightly higher percentile ranking at 52 versus 51, and its nearest rivals cluster around the 2988-2956 range. The E-2186M's rivals sit between 2905 and 2921. The E5-1650 v4 edges out its own rival set by up to 0.8%, while the E-2186M lands within 0.3% of its nearest competitor. Neither chip dominates its peer group, but the E5-1650 v4 has a marginally stronger standing.
The launch MSRP for the E5-1650 v4 is $621, and for the E-2186M it is $623. Both are end-of-life products. The E5-1650 v4 targets the desktop market on Socket 2011-3, while the E-2186M is a server/workstation part on BGA 1440. The E-2186M includes UHD Graphics P630 integrated graphics; the E5-1650 v4 has none.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in several key specifications. The E5-1650 v4 has a 3.60 GHz base clock and 4.00 GHz boost, while the E-2186M runs at 2.90 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. Thermal design power differs sharply: 140 W for the E5-1650 v4 versus 45 W for the E-2186M. The E5-1650 v4 uses Intel Socket 2011-3, while the E-2186M uses Intel BGA 1440.
Cache configurations diverge in L3 only: the E5-1650 v4 has 15 MB shared L3, while the E-2186M has 12 MB shared. L1 and L2 are identical at 64 KB per core and 256 KB per core respectively. Memory support differs in channel count: quad-channel for the E5-1650 v4, dual-channel for the E-2186M. Memory bandwidth reflects this: 76.8 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s.
PCIe lane counts also differ: 40 lanes for the E5-1650 v4 versus 16 lanes for the E-2186M, both Gen 3. The E-2186M includes integrated UHD Graphics P630; the E5-1650 v4 has no integrated graphics. Die size differs as well: 246 mm² for the E5-1650 v4 versus 154 mm² for the E-2186M. Transistor count is listed only for the E5-1650 v4 at 3,400 million.
Architecture Differences
The E5-1650 v4 is built on the Broadwell architecture with the Broadwell-EP codename, part of the Xeon E5 generation. The E-2186M uses the Coffee Lake architecture with the Coffee Lake-H codename, part of the Xeon E-2100 series. Both use Intel's 14 nm process node and are fabricated by Intel.
The core counts and thread counts are identical: 6 cores and 12 threads for both. The E5-1650 v4 is a desktop-market chip; the E-2186M targets server/workstation. Release dates differ substantially: the E5-1650 v4 launched in June 2016, while the E-2186M launched in April 2018.
The E5-1650 v4's transistor count is listed at 3,400 million on a 246 mm² die. The E-2186M's transistor count is not listed, but its die is 154 mm². The smaller die for the Coffee Lake part is consistent with its lower TDP of 45 W versus 140 W, though both are 14 nm parts.
Both support DDR4 memory and ECC. Both have locked multipliers. The market segmentation differs: the E5-1650 v4 is explicitly a desktop part, while the E-2186M is a server/workstation part despite having integrated graphics. The integrated GPU on the E-2186M is a notable architectural feature absent from the E5-1650 v4.