CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 and the Intel Xeon E-2276G represent two distinct generations of Intel server silicon, separated by architecture, socket, and core strategy. The older Haswell-EP part fields 12 cores and 24 threads, while the newer Coffee Lake-S WS chip counters with six cores and 12 threads but dramatically higher clock speeds. Benchmark data from the FACT PACK shows a consistent, though narrow, victory for the 12-core processor across every Cinebench test, with the E5-2658A v3 winning all six head-to-head comparisons. The E-2276G, however, remains a competitive alternative in a smaller physical and thermal envelope, despite trailing by roughly 6% in every measured workload.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 wins all six head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Xeon E-2276G, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests.

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two in multi-core workloads?

A: The E5-2658A v3 leads by 5.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1274 vs 1205), 5.8% in R20 multi-core (5311 vs 5021), and 5.8% in R23 multi-core (12647 vs 11957).

Q: Does the newer E-2276G win anywhere in single-core tests?

A: No. Despite a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, the E-2276G trails the E5-2658A v3 in every single-core test, with the older chip leading by 5.9% in R15 single-core (179 vs 169) and 5.7% in R23 single-core (1785 vs 1688).

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

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2276G has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do their memory configurations differ?

A: The E5-2658A v3 supports quad-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the E-2276G supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 and the Intel Xeon E-2276G support ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two Xeons is substantial. The E5-2658A v3 is built on Intel’s 22 nm Haswell-EP process, a node that allowed for a large 356 mm² die size and 2,600 million transistors. In contrast, the E-2276G uses the newer 14 nm Coffee Lake-S WS process, shrinking the die to 154 mm²; notably, the FACT PACK does not list a transistor count for the E-2276G. The Haswell part carries 30 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Coffee Lake chip halves that to 12 MB shared L3. Both processors feature 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core.

Socket compatibility is a major divider. The E5-2658A v3 fits into Intel Socket 2011-3, a platform designed for high-core-count server parts, whereas the E-2276G uses Intel Socket 1151, a mainstream desktop-derived socket. This platform difference extends to PCIe connectivity: the E5-2658A v3 provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), while the E-2276G offers Gen 3 with just 16 lanes (CPU only). Memory architecture also diverges sharply, with the E5-2658A v3 running a quad-channel DDR4 memory bus and the E-2276G limited to dual-channel DDR4.

The E-2276G includes integrated HD Graphics P630, a feature absent from the E5-2658A v3, which lists no integrated graphics. Manufacturing processes differ, with the older part at 22 nm and the newer at 14 nm, yet the production status for both is end-of-life. The E5-2658A v3 belongs to the Haswell-EP generation, while the E-2276G is part of the Xeon E-2200 series, based on Coffee Lake. The E-2276G was released on 2019-05-28, while the release date for the E5-2658A v3 is not provided in the FACT PACK.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Across the board, the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 posts a clean sweep, but the margins are remarkably tight for a processor with double the cores. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E5-2658A v3 scores 1274 against the E-2276G’s 1205, a 5.7% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 179 for the older chip versus 169 for the newer one, a 5.9% delta. These results suggest the higher clock speeds of the E-2276G (3.80 GHz base, 4.90 GHz boost) are not translating into a win, likely due to architectural efficiency differences in the Haswell versus Coffee Lake cores as measured by Cinebench.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The E5-2658A v3 achieves 5311 multi-core, beating the E-2276G’s 5021 by 5.8%. In single-core R20, the scores are 749 and 708, respectively, again a 5.8% lead for the E5-2658A v3. The consistency of this delta across both multi-core and single-core tests is striking; it suggests that the 12-core part’s advantage is not merely about thread count but about per-thread performance in these specific workloads.

Cinebench R23, the most recent test in the dataset, reinforces the trend. The E5-2658A v3 scores 12647 multi-core, while the E-2276G manages 11957, a 5.8% gap. Single-core R23 results are 1785 for the E5-2658A v3 and 1688 for the E-2276G, a 5.7% difference. The E-2276G does have one additional benchmark in the FACT PACK, Geekbench multi-core (6551) and single-core (1610), but no head-to-head comparison is provided for that test, so it cannot be used to judge the matchup.

The average benchmark score tells a slightly different story in context. The E5-2658A v3 has an average score of 3658 across its benchmarks, while the E-2276G averages 3614. The E5-2658A v3 sits at the 56th percentile versus all CPUs, and the E-2276G is just behind at the 55th percentile. Nearest rivals for the E5-2658A v3 include the Intel Core i9-10885H (deltaPct 0.2) and the AMD EPYC 7251 (deltaPct -0.4), while the E-2276G’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 (deltaPct 0) and the Intel Xeon E-2286G (deltaPct 0.1). These figures place both chips in the same performance tier, with the E5-2658A v3 holding a narrow edge in the tested Cinebench suite.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 for anyone prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput. With 12 cores and 24 threads, it outperforms the E-2276G in every Cinebench test, from R15 to R23, with deltas ranging from 5.7% to 5.9%. Its quad-channel memory bus delivers 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth, a 60% advantage over the E-2276G’s 42.7 GB/s, which is critical for memory-sensitive server workloads. The 30 MB of shared L3 cache also dwarfs the 12 MB on the E-2276G, further favoring the older part in cache-heavy applications.

However, the E-2276G is not without merit. It consumes less power, with a TDP of 80 watts versus 105 watts for the E5-2658A v3, and its 14 nm process node is more modern. The integrated HD Graphics P630 provides a display output capability that the E5-2658A v3 lacks entirely, making the E-2276G a better fit for systems requiring a GPU without a discrete card. Its socket 1151 platform is also more common in mainstream workstations, while the E5-2658A v3 requires the larger Socket 2011-3 platform.

For a server or workstation where core count and memory bandwidth dominate, the E5-2658A v3 is the clear choice from the benchmark data. For a lighter-duty system where power efficiency, integrated graphics, and a smaller platform matter more, the E-2276G remains competitive, trailing by only about 6% in performance while offering a lower TDP and a more compact die. The E-2276G’s release in 2019 makes it a newer design, but the benchmark results indicate the older Haswell part still holds the performance crown in this specific comparison.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 | Intel Xeon E-2276G |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 12 | 6 |

| Threads | 24 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.90 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 105 W | 80 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 154 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 30 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 68.3 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | HD Graphics P630 |

| Launch MSRP | $1832 | $362 |