CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 and the Intel Xeon E-2276G are both end-of-life server/workstation processors, but they represent opposite design philosophies from Intel. The E5-1681 v3 is a 10-core Haswell-EP part from 2014 built for multi-threaded throughput on a large socket, while the E-2276G is a 6-core Coffee Lake part from 2019 designed for higher clock speeds and single-thread responsiveness. Benchmark data from Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 shows the older E5-1681 v3 winning all six head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 5.3% to 5.9%. The E-2276G counters with a significant boost clock advantage, a newer architecture, and an integrated GPU, but the raw performance scores consistently favor the 10-core part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. In R15 multi-core, it scores 1269 versus the E-2276G's 1205 (5.3% ahead). In R20 multi-core, it scores 5290 versus 5021 (5.4% ahead). In R23 multi-core, it scores 12597 versus 11957 (5.4% ahead).

Q: Does the newer E-2276G have any single-core advantage?

A: No. The benchmark results show the opposite. The E5-1681 v3 wins single-core tests in R15 (179 vs 169, 5.9% ahead), R20 (746 vs 708, 5.4% ahead), and R23 (1778 vs 1688, 5.3% ahead). Despite the E-2276G's higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.90 GHz, it trails the E5-1681 v3's 2.90 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost in every measured single-threaded workload.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each CPU?

A: The E5-1681 v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads. The E-2276G has 6 cores and 12 threads. The E5-1681 v3 also has a larger shared L3 cache of 25 MB compared to 12 MB on the E-2276G.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The E5-1681 v3 has an average benchmark score of 3643, placing it in the 55th percentile of all CPUs. The E-2276G has an average benchmark score of 3614, also in the 55th percentile. The E5-1681 v3 sits slightly ahead, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core i9-10885H (3651, -0.2% delta) and AMD EPYC 7251 (3671, -0.8% delta). The E-2276G's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 (3613, 0% delta) and Intel Xeon E-2286G (3610, 0.1% delta).

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the E5-1681 v3 and the E-2276G support ECC memory. However, they differ in memory channel configuration: the E5-1681 v3 uses quad-channel DDR4 with 68.3 GB/s memory bandwidth, while the E-2276G uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth.

Q: What is the production status and release timing?

A: Both processors are end-of-life. The E5-1681 v3 was released on September 7, 2014. The E-2276G was released on May 28, 2019, almost five years later. The E-2276G has a launch MSRP of $362; no launch MSRP is recorded for the E5-1681 v3.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 is the better performer in every benchmark recorded. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with deltas between 5.3% and 5.9% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests. For workloads that rely on raw CPU throughput, the older 10-core Haswell part is the clear choice.

The E-2276G is not without merits, but they do not translate into benchmark victories. It offers a higher base clock (3.80 GHz vs 2.90 GHz) and boost clock (4.90 GHz vs 3.50 GHz), a newer 14 nm Coffee Lake architecture versus 22 nm Haswell, and includes integrated HD Graphics P630, the E5-1681 v3 has no integrated graphics. It also draws less power at 80 W TDP versus 135 W TDP and uses a more common Socket 1151 versus the E5-1681 v3's Socket 2011-3.

For a buyer prioritizing single-thread responsiveness or energy efficiency, the E-2276G's specs are attractive. But the benchmark results show the E5-1681 v3 leading in single-core scores by 5.3% to 5.9% despite its lower clocks. The verdict from the data is that the E5-1681 v3 wins on performance, while the E-2276G wins on platform efficiency and integrated features. Both sit at the same 55th percentile, making them comparable in the broader CPU landscape.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The E5-1681 v3 sweeps all six recorded comparisons. The largest margin comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 179 against the E-2276G's 169, a 5.9% advantage. This is notable because single-core performance usually favors newer architectures with higher boost clocks, yet the 2014 Haswell part outpaces the 2019 Coffee Lake part.

In multi-core tests, the margins are consistent at 5.3% to 5.4%. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows 1269 vs 1205 (5.3% ahead). Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 5290 vs 5021 (5.4% ahead). Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 12597 vs 11957 (5.4% ahead). The E5-1681 v3's 10 cores and 20 threads clearly overcome the E-2276G's higher clocks in threaded workloads.

The single-core trend repeats in newer Cinebench versions. R20 single-core has the E5-1681 v3 at 746 versus 708 (5.4% ahead). R23 single-core has it at 1778 versus 1688 (5.3% ahead). The consistency of these margins, all between 5.3% and 5.9%, suggests a fundamental performance advantage for the E5-1681 v3 that is not explained by clock speed alone. The E-2276G's additional Geekbench scores (6551 multi-core, 1610 single-core) are not matched by an E5-1681 v3 Geekbench result, so no comparison is possible there.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The E5-1681 v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads; the E-2276G has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.90 GHz for the E5-1681 v3 and 3.80 GHz for the E-2276G. Boost clocks are 3.50 GHz and 4.90 GHz, respectively.

Power draw differs substantially: the E5-1681 v3 has a 135 W TDP, while the E-2276G has an 80 W TDP. Sockets are incompatible: the E5-1681 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3, and the E-2276G uses Intel Socket 1151. The E5-1681 v3 offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the E-2276G offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only).

Memory support also diverges. Both support DDR4, but the E5-1681 v3 uses quad-channel memory with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the E-2276G uses dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The E5-1681 v3 has a 25 MB shared L3 cache; the E-2276G has a 12 MB shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Integrated graphics is exclusive to the E-2276G, which features HD Graphics P630. The E5-1681 v3 has no integrated graphics. The E-2276G also has a launch MSRP of $362; the E5-1681 v3 has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The E5-1681 v3 is built on Intel's 22 nm process with a Haswell-EP architecture, codenamed Haswell-EP. It uses 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The E-2276G uses Intel's 14 nm process with a Coffee Lake architecture, codenamed Coffee Lake-S WS, on a 154 mm² die. The E-2276G's transistor count is not listed in the data.

The die size difference is substantial: 356 mm² versus 154 mm². The E5-1681 v3's larger die accommodates 10 cores and a 25 MB L3 cache, while the E-2276G fits 6 cores and a 12 MB L3 cache on a smaller die. The process node improvement from 22 nm to 14 nm allows the E-2276G to achieve higher clocks (4.90 GHz boost vs 3.50 GHz) at lower power (80 W vs 135 W).

Both use Intel as the foundry. The E5-1681 v3 belongs to the Xeon E5 (Haswell-EP) generation, while the E-2276G belongs to the Xeon E-2200 series with a Coffee Lake generation. The E5-1681 v3's part number is SR1Y2; the E-2276G's is SR3WS. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The E5-1681 v3 wins every benchmark category recorded. In multi-core workloads, its 10-core/20-thread configuration delivers a 5.3% to 5.4% advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. This makes it the better choice for rendering, simulation, or any heavily threaded application that scales with core count. Its quad-channel memory with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth also provides a platform advantage for memory-intensive tasks.

The E5-1681 v3 also wins in single-core tests, despite the E-2276G's higher clocks. Margins of 5.3% to 5.9% in R15, R20, and R23 single-core indicate a per-core efficiency advantage. The data does not explain why, but the results are consistent across all three Cinebench versions.

The E-2276G wins in areas outside raw benchmarks. Its 80 W TDP versus 135 W TDP makes it a more power-efficient option for systems where cooling and energy draw matter. Its integrated HD Graphics P630 means it can run without a discrete GPU, which the E5-1681 v3 cannot. Its dual-channel memory and 16 PCIe lanes are sufficient for many workstation tasks, and its Socket 1151 platform is more common than the E5-1681 v3's Socket 2011-3.

For a use-case split, the data suggests: choose the E5-1681 v3 for maximum CPU performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded benchmarks, especially if quad-channel memory bandwidth and 40 PCIe lanes are needed. Choose the E-2276G for lower power consumption, integrated graphics, and a more compact platform, accepting a 5% performance deficit in all measured Cinebench tests. The E-2276G's higher clock speeds and newer architecture do not translate to benchmark wins, but they do enable a more efficient overall system.