CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2226G and Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 are two end-of-life server processors that, despite their generational gap, land in nearly identical performance territory. The E-2226G, a 6-core Coffee Lake part from 2019, edges out the 8-core Haswell-EP E5-2640 v3 from 2014 across every single benchmark in the Cinebench suite, but the margins are consistently razor-thin. With an average benchmark score of 2709 for the E-2226G versus 2703 for the E5-2640 v3, the data shows a difference of just 0.2% in favor of the newer chip. The two processors are listed as nearest rivals to one another, with the E-2226G holding a deltaPct of 0.2 over the E5-2640 v3, and the E5-2640 v3 showing a -0.2 deltaPct against the E-2226G. Neither chip escapes the 50th percentile ranking among all CPUs, placing them firmly in the mid-range of the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results tell a story of near-total parity, with the E-2226G winning all six head-to-head comparisons by fractions of a percent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E-2226G scores 944 against the E5-2640 v3's 942, a delta of just 0.2%. The single-core R15 test shows a slightly larger gap: 133 versus 132, a 0.8% advantage for the E-2226G. This pattern repeats in R20, where the multi-core scores are 3934 and 3926 (0.2% delta), and single-core results are 555 and 553 (0.4% delta). The R23 suite confirms the trend with multi-core scores of 9368 versus 9348 (0.2% delta) and single-core scores of 1322 versus 1319 (0.2% delta).

The largest victory for the E-2226G is its 0.8% single-core margin in R15, which is notable because it outpaces the multi-core deltas. This suggests that the E-2226G's higher clock speeds contribute meaningfully to lightly-threaded performance. The E-2226G operates at a base clock of 3.40 GHz with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the E5-2640 v3 sits at 2.60 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The E-2226G's 1.3 GHz boost advantage is the single most significant differentiator in the data, yet it translates to only a 0.4% to 0.8% single-core score improvement in the benchmarks. Meanwhile, the E5-2640 v3 counters with two additional cores and ten additional threads, 8 cores and 16 threads versus 6 cores and 6 threads, yet it still loses multi-core tests. This indicates that the newer architecture and higher clocks of the E-2226G fully compensate for its core deficit, and then some.

Neither processor demonstrates a meaningful multi-core lead in any test. The closest multi-core result is in R15, where a single point separates the two (944 to 942). The E5-2640 v3's 20 MB of shared L3 cache versus the E-2226G's 12 MB, along with its quad-channel memory bus, cannot overcome the clock speed gap. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the E-2226G averages 2709 across all tests, while the E5-2640 v3 averages 2703. For context, the nearest rival to the E-2226G is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U at 2713 (-0.2% delta), and the E5-2640 v3's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-1185G7E at 2703 (0% delta). The data positions these two Xeons as functionally equivalent in raw compute throughput, differing by less than a rounding error in most tests.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced verdict. The Intel Xeon E-2226G wins every benchmark and holds a 0.2% edge in average score, making it the objectively faster processor in this comparison. Its wins span both single-core and multi-core tests, meaning there is no workload category in the Cinebench suite where the E5-2640 v3 comes out ahead. Users prioritizing raw performance in the specific tests measured here should select the E-2226G, as it delivers a consistent, albeit small, advantage across the board.

However, the E5-2640 v3 is not without justification. Its architecture provides substantially more headroom in areas not captured by the Cinebench scores. With 8 cores and 16 threads, it offers parallel processing capabilities that the 6-core, 6-thread E-2226G cannot match in multi-threaded applications that scale beyond the benchmark's scope. The E5-2640 v3 also supports quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth, compared to the E-2226G's dual-channel 42.7 GB/s. For memory-intensive server workloads, this bandwidth advantage could translate to real-world wins that do not appear in the Cinebench results. The E5-2640 v3's 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes against the E-2226G's 16 lanes further positions it for expansion-heavy configurations.

The choice hinges on workload characteristics. The E-2226G is the pick for single-threaded responsiveness and modest multi-core tasks where its 4.70 GHz boost clock shines. The E5-2640 v3 is the pick for heavily threaded server workloads that leverage its 16 threads, quad-channel memory, and extensive PCIe connectivity. The data cannot declare an overall winner because the benchmark scores do not capture memory bandwidth or PCIe throughput. What the data does show is that in pure Cinebench compute, the E-2226G wins all six tests, and that is a decisive statement.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and manufacturing nodes. The E-2226G is built on Coffee Lake-S WS architecture using a 14 nm process, while the E5-2640 v3 uses Haswell-EP architecture on a 22 nm process. The E-2226G's die size is 154 mm², significantly smaller than the E5-2640 v3's 356 mm². The E5-2640 v3 packs 2,600 million transistors into its larger die, whereas the E-2226G's transistor count is not listed in the data. The newer 14 nm node gives the E-2226G a density and efficiency advantage, though both processors carry an 80 W TDP for the E-2226G and a 90 W TDP for the E5-2640 v3.

Cache configurations differ markedly. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache diverges: the E-2226G has 12 MB while the E5-2640 v3 boasts 20 MB. The E5-2640 v3's larger L3 cache is a product of its extra cores and older architecture, but the E-2226G's newer design appears to use its smaller cache more efficiently, as evidenced by the benchmark parity. The E5-2640 v3 also features a quad-channel memory bus versus the E-2226G's dual-channel, yielding 59.7 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Both support DDR4 memory and ECC, but the E-2226G includes integrated HD Graphics P630, while the E5-2640 v3 has no integrated graphics.

The socket and platform infrastructure differ completely. The E-2226G uses Intel Socket 1151, while the E5-2640 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. This dictates motherboard compatibility and expansion options. The E5-2640 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, compared to the E-2226G's 16 lanes. The E-2226G was released on 2019-05-28, while the E5-2640 v3 predates it by nearly five years, launching on 2014-09-07. Both are end-of-life products, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2226G has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 boosts to 3.40 GHz.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The E-2226G has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the E5-2640 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for these two CPUs?

A: The E-2226G has an average benchmark score of 2709, and the E5-2640 v3 has an average score of 2703. The E-2226G leads by 0.2%.

Q: Which CPU supports more memory channels?

A: The E5-2640 v3 supports quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the E-2226G supports dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The E-2226G includes HD Graphics P630, while the E5-2640 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the L3 cache size on each chip?

A: The E-2226G has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, and the E5-2640 v3 has 20 MB of shared L3 cache.

Where Each One Wins

The E-2226G wins in every measured benchmark, so its victories are comprehensive in the Cinebench suite. It holds a 0.8% lead in R15 single-core, its largest margin, and maintains 0.2% to 0.4% leads in all other tests. This makes it the choice for applications where single-thread performance is paramount, such as lightly threaded database queries, legacy software, or tasks that rely on high clock speeds. Its 4.70 GHz boost clock is the key asset, and its integrated graphics provide a display output option that the E5-2640 v3 lacks entirely. The E-2226G also consumes less power at 80 W TDP versus 90 W, which can reduce cooling requirements in dense server environments.

The E5-2640 v3 wins in areas outside the benchmark data. Its 16 threads versus 6 threads provide substantially more parallel compute capacity for workloads that scale across many threads, such as virtualization hosts, compilation farms, or scientific simulations that are not bound by the limits of the Cinebench tests. The quad-channel memory bus with 59.7 GB/s of bandwidth is a decisive advantage for memory-bound workloads, offering 40% more bandwidth than the E-2226G's 42.7 GB/s. The 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes allow for more expansion cards, GPUs, or NVMe storage devices directly attached to the CPU. For server deployments that need maximum I/O and memory throughput, the E5-2640 v3's platform-level features outweigh its slight compute deficit.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every fundamental specification. The E-2226G offers 6 cores and 6 threads, while the E5-2640 v3 offers 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds favor the E-2226G at 3.40 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost, versus 2.60 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost for the E5-2640 v3. Power draw is close, with the E-2226G at 80 W TDP and the E5-2640 v3 at 90 W TDP. The socket is incompatible: Socket 1151 for the E-2226G and Socket 2011-3 for the E5-2640 v3. The E-2226G uses Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process with a 154 mm² die, while the E5-2640 v3 uses Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process with a 356 mm² die and 2,600 million transistors. L3 cache differs at 12 MB for the E-2226G versus 20 MB for the E5-2640 v3, though L1 and L2 caches are identical per core. Memory bandwidth favors the E5-2640 v3 at 59.7 GB/s over the E-2226G's 42.7 GB/s, with quad-channel versus dual-channel support. PCIe lanes differ at 16 for the E-2226G and 40 for the E5-2640 v3. The E-2226G includes HD Graphics P630, while the E5-2640 v3 has no integrated graphics. Release dates are 2019-05-28 for the E-2226G and 2014-09-07 for the E5-2640 v3. The launch MSRP for the E-2226G was $255, and the E5-2640 v3 launched at $939.