Intel Xeon E-2278G vs Intel Xeon E-2378 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent, across-the-board victory for the Intel Xeon E-2378 over the Intel Xeon E-2278G in every recorded Cinebench test. The margin is remarkably uniform, hovering around 8.3% to 8.4% in both single-core and multi-core workloads. This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the E-2378 scores 14,633 against the E-2278G’s 13,502, a delta of 8.4%. The single-core R23 result tells a similar story: 2,065 versus 1,906, an 8.3% gap. These are not marginal differences; they represent a clear generational step forward in raw compute capability.

The pattern holds across older Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the E-2378 posts 6,145 versus 5,670 (8.4% ahead), while single-core R20 shows 867 versus 800 (also 8.4%). In R15, the multi-core score is 1,474 against 1,360 (8.4%), and single-core is 208 versus 192 (8.3%). Every single test in the head-to-head comparison goes to the E-2378, giving it 6 wins and 0 losses.

What does this mean in practical terms? The E-2378’s consistent 8.4% lead in multi-core tests indicates that it can finish rendering or compilation tasks noticeably faster, roughly one extra minute of work saved for every twelve minutes of compute. The single-core advantage, while slightly smaller at 8.3%, still matters for latency-sensitive tasks like database queries or single-threaded scripting.

Interestingly, the E-2278G does hold a raw clock speed advantage on paper, with a boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus the E-2378’s 4.80 GHz. Yet the E-2378 still wins every single-core benchmark. This implies that the newer architecture’s instruction-per-clock (IPC) efficiency more than compensates for the 200 MHz deficit. The data suggests the E-2378’s per-core performance is superior despite the lower clock ceiling.

The average benchmark scores from the database reinforce this picture. The E-2378 has an average benchmark score of 4,232, while the E-2278G sits at 4,052, a difference of roughly 4.4%. Both CPUs land in the 57th percentile of all tested CPUs, meaning they occupy similar positions in the global performance distribution, but the E-2378 is consistently ahead within that band.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras within Intel’s 14 nm process node. The E-2378 is built on the Rocket Lake architecture, specifically the Rocket Lake-E variant, while the E-2278G uses the older Coffee Lake architecture, designated Coffee Lake-S WS. Both use the same 14 nm process node and are fabricated by Intel, but the design philosophies diverge significantly.

One of the most striking differences is die size. The E-2378 has a die size of 276 mm², substantially larger than the E-2278G’s 180 mm². This 96 mm² difference likely reflects additional logic, improved memory controllers, and more robust I/O capabilities in the newer design. The larger die also hints at why the E-2378 achieves higher performance per clock despite running at lower boost frequencies.

Cache hierarchies also differ meaningfully. The E-2378 provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the E-2278G offers 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. Both share 16 MB of L3 cache, so the total cache capacity is similar, but the distribution favors the E-2378. Doubling the L2 cache per core can significantly reduce memory latency for working sets that fit in L2, which helps explain the consistent benchmark advantage.

Memory bandwidth is another clear separator. The E-2378 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a peak bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, whereas the E-2278G manages 42.7 GB/s. That is a 19.9% improvement in theoretical memory throughput for the newer chip. For multi-core workloads that are memory-bound, such as video encoding or large data set manipulation, this bandwidth advantage compounds with the IPC gains.

PCIe support also differs. The E-2378 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the E-2278G is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Gen 4 doubles the per-lane bandwidth, so even with fewer lanes on paper, the newer chip delivers far more I/O throughput for GPUs or NVMe storage. The E-2278G does include integrated HD Graphics P630, while the E-2378 has no integrated graphics, which may matter for systems that skip a discrete GPU.

The sockets are incompatible: the E-2378 uses Intel Socket 1200, while the E-2278G uses Intel Socket 1151. This means upgrading requires a new motherboard, not just a CPU swap. The E-2378 was released on September 7, 2021, and remains in active production, while the E-2278G launched on May 28, 2019, and is now end-of-life. The E-2378 carries the part number SRKN4, and the E-2278G is SRFB2.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2378 wins every multi-core Cinebench test by 8.4%. In R23 multi-core, it scores 14,633 versus 13,502 for the E-2278G. The consistent delta indicates a solid architectural lead.

Q: Does the E-2278G’s higher boost clock make it better for single-core tasks?

A: No. Despite boosting to 5.00 GHz versus the E-2378’s 4.80 GHz, the E-2278G loses all single-core Cinebench tests by 8.3%. The E-2378’s newer architecture delivers higher instructions per clock, overcoming the clock speed deficit.

Q: Are these CPUs compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The E-2378 uses Intel Socket 1200, while the E-2278G uses Intel Socket 1151. They are not interchangeable, and upgrading between them requires a new motherboard.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes. Both the E-2378 and E-2278G support ECC memory, which is important for server and workstation reliability. Both also use dual-channel DDR4 memory.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare?

A: The E-2378 offers 51.2 GB/s of peak memory bandwidth, while the E-2278G provides 42.7 GB/s. That is a 19.9% advantage for the newer chip, which can help in memory-intensive multi-threaded workloads.

Q: What is the production status of each CPU?

A: The E-2378 is listed as active and still in production, while the E-2278G is marked as end-of-life. The E-2378 was released on September 7, 2021, and the E-2278G on May 28, 2019.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2378 | Intel Xeon E-2278G |

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

| Base clock | 2.60 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.80 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Rocket Lake-E | Coffee Lake-S WS |

| Die size | 276 mm² | 180 mm² |

| L1 cache (per core) | 80 KB | 64 KB |

| L2 cache (per core) | 512 KB | 256 KB |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe version | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | None | HD Graphics P630 |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2021-09-07 | 2019-05-28 |

| Launch MSRP | $362 | $494 |

The E-2378 runs at lower base and boost clocks but has a dramatically lower TDP of 65 W versus 95 W. This is noteworthy: the newer chip delivers 8.4% better multi-core performance while consuming 31.6% less thermal headroom. The E-2378 also doubles the per-core L2 cache and increases memory bandwidth by 19.9%. The E-2278G retains integrated graphics, which is absent on the E-2378, and requires a different socket.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Xeon E-2378 is the superior processor in every benchmark category tested. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with deltas ranging from 8.3% to 8.4%. It achieves this while using a lower TDP (65 W versus 95 W), which suggests better energy efficiency per unit of work. The E-2378 also offers double the L2 cache per core, higher memory bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 4 support, all of which are meaningful for server and workstation workloads.

The E-2278G’s only advantages are its higher base clock (3.40 GHz versus 2.60 GHz) and boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.80 GHz), plus integrated graphics. However, those clock advantages do not translate into benchmark wins, as the E-2378’s architecture overcomes them. The E-2278G is also end-of-life, while the E-2378 remains active, meaning the newer chip has a longer support horizon.

For anyone choosing between these two for a new system, the data points clearly to the E-2378. The launch MSRP was $362 for the E-2378 versus $494 for the E-2278G, and the newer chip outperforms the older one across the board. The only scenario where the E-2278G might be preferable is if a system already exists on Socket 1151 and cannot be moved to Socket 1200, or if integrated graphics are a hard requirement. Otherwise, the benchmark evidence is unambiguous.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Xeon E-2378 wins in:

• All multi-core Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23), with a consistent 8.4% lead. This makes it the better choice for rendering, video encoding, batch processing, and any heavily threaded server workload.
• All single-core Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23), with an 8.3% lead. This benefits latency-sensitive applications like database transactions, web serving, and scripting.
• Memory bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s, which helps in data-intensive operations.
• PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, allowing faster GPU and NVMe connectivity compared to Gen 3 with 16 lanes.
• Power efficiency: 65 W TDP versus 95 W, meaning lower cooling requirements and operational costs.
• Production longevity, as it is still active while the E-2278G is end-of-life.

Intel Xeon E-2278G wins in:

• Base clock speed: 3.40 GHz versus 2.60 GHz, which may matter for extremely short, lightly threaded bursts where the CPU does not reach boost clocks.
• Boost clock speed: 5.00 GHz versus 4.80 GHz, though this advantage fails to materialize as a benchmark win.
• Integrated graphics: HD Graphics P630 is present, while the E-2378 has none. This allows for a display output without a discrete GPU, useful in basic headless or diagnostic setups.
• Existing Socket 1151 infrastructure: if a motherboard and cooler are already in place, the E-2278G can be dropped in without platform changes.

The data shows the E-2378 is the winner in every measured performance metric, but the E-2278G retains niche relevance for legacy platforms and integrated graphics scenarios.