Intel Xeon E-2278G vs Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How close are these two CPUs in overall benchmark performance?

A: The database shows they are nearly identical in average benchmark score. The Intel Xeon E-2278G records an average score of 4052, while the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 records 3959. Both sit at the 57th percentile among all CPUs tracked.

Q: Which processor wins in the Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons. Its margins range from 1% to 1.4% across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests.

Q: Does the E-2278G have any benchmark wins at all?

A: In the head-to-head benchmark set, the E-2278G has zero wins. The E5-2669 v3 takes all six recorded tests. However, the E-2278G has a higher average benchmark score overall (4052 versus 3959), driven by its Geekbench results, which are not part of the head-to-head set.

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

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278G has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: How do the memory systems differ?

A: The E-2278G uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The E5-2669 v3 uses quad-channel DDR3 or DDR4 with 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The E-2278G includes HD Graphics P630. The E5-2669 v3 has no integrated graphics at all.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap between these two Xeons is substantial. The E-2278G is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS die, and uses a 14 nm process with a die size of 180 mm². The E5-2669 v3 is a Haswell-EP part, fabricated on a 22 nm process with a much larger die at 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. The process node difference alone, 14 nm versus 22 nm, explains much of the clock speed disparity. The E-2278G boosts to 5.00 GHz from a 3.40 GHz base, while the E5-2669 v3 tops out at 3.10 GHz from a 2.30 GHz base.

Cache configurations also differ sharply. Both chips give each core 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2, but the shared L3 pools diverge: the E-2278G has 16 MB shared, while the E5-2669 v3 has 30 MB shared. That larger L3 is typical of a server die with more cores. The E5-2669 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads, versus 8 cores and 16 threads on the E-2278G. More cores, a larger cache, and quad-channel memory on the E5-2669 v3 compete directly against the E-2278G's much higher clocks and newer process.

The memory controllers tell a similar story. The E-2278G runs dual-channel DDR4 with a recorded bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The E5-2669 v3 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, runs quad-channel, and reaches 68.3 GB/s. The PCIe lane allocation also favors the older chip: 40 lanes (CPU only) versus 16 lanes (CPU only) on the E-2278G. The E5-2669 v3 is a more expansive platform in terms of I/O and memory parallelism, while the E-2278G is a compact 8-core design on Socket 1151.

Socket and generation further separate them. The E-2278G uses Intel Socket 1151 and belongs to the Xeon E-2200 series. The E5-2669 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3 and belongs to the Haswell-EP generation. Both are end-of-life server or workstation parts, and both have locked multipliers. The E-2278G was released on 2019-05-28, while the E5-2669 v3 has no recorded release date in the database. The E-2278G carries a launch MSRP of $494.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent. The E5-2669 v3 wins every single test, but by margins so small they are almost within run-to-run variation. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E5-2669 v3 scores 1379 against 1360 for the E-2278G, a 1.4% lead. In R15 single-core, it is 194 versus 192, a 1% edge. The same pattern repeats in R20: multi-core 5749 versus 5670 (1.4%), single-core 811 versus 800 (1.4%). In R23, the E5-2669 v3 scores 13690 multi-core and 1932 single-core, while the E-2278G scores 13502 and 1906, again 1.4% and 1.3% gaps respectively. Every delta sits between 1% and 1.4%.

This is a particularly interesting result given the architectural differences. The E-2278G has a 5.00 GHz boost clock, which is 61% higher than the E5-2669 v3's 3.10 GHz boost. Yet in single-core Cinebench tests, the older chip still edges ahead, albeit by 1% to 1.4%. The Haswell architecture with its 30 MB L3 and the lower memory latency of quad-channel configuration may offset the clock disadvantage in these workloads. Meanwhile, in multi-core tests, the E5-2669 v3's extra 4 cores and 8 threads should theoretically push it much further ahead, but the measured lead is still only 1.4%. The higher per-core throughput of the Coffee Lake design appears to nearly neutralize the core count advantage.

The recorded Geekbench scores, which are not part of the head-to-head set, show a different picture. The E-2278G scores 7354 multi-core and 1633 single-core. The E5-2669 v3 has no Geekbench entries in the database. These Geekbench numbers pull the E-2278G's average benchmark score up to 4052, above the E5-2669 v3's 3959. The database's nearest rivals for each chip reinforce how close they are. The E-2278G sits within 1% of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X (delta -0.5%), the Intel Core i5-12500TE (delta -0.8%), the Intel Core i5-12400T (delta 0.8%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G (delta 1%). The E5-2669 v3 is within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U, the Intel Core i7-6900K, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G. Both chips occupy the same crowded performance neighborhood.

The Verdict

The data paints a nuanced picture. In every Cinebench head-to-head test, the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 wins, but the margins are tiny, never exceeding 1.4%. The E-2278G counters with a higher average benchmark score, 4052 versus 3959, and a Geekbench multi-core result of 7354 that has no direct counterpart for the E5-2669 v3. The E-2278G also offers integrated graphics, a much higher boost clock, and a more modern 14 nm process. The E5-2669 v3 offers 12 cores, 24 threads, 30 MB of L3, quad-channel memory, and 40 PCIe lanes.

Who should pick which, strictly from the data? A workload that is heavily single-threaded or dependent on high clock speeds would favor the E-2278G on paper, even though the Cinebench single-core tests do not show it winning. A workload that needs maximum memory bandwidth or many PCIe lanes would favor the E5-2669 v3. The E5-2669 v3 also has the edge in all six measured Cinebench tests, so users who rely specifically on those renderers would see a slight but consistent advantage. The E-2278G's integrated graphics make it a more self-contained platform, especially for systems that do not include a discrete GPU. Both sit at the 57th percentile, so neither is a standout in the broader CPU landscape.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2278G | Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Threads | 16 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 120 W |

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

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Haswell |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-S WS | Haswell-EP |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Die Size | 180 mm² | 356 mm² |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 2,600 million |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 30 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

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

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

| PCIe Lanes (CPU only) | 16 | 40 |

| Integrated Graphics | HD Graphics P630 | None |

| Launch MSRP | $494 | Not recorded |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 wins every Cinebench test in the head-to-head set. That includes R15 multi-core (1379 versus 1360), R15 single-core (194 versus 192), R20 multi-core (5749 versus 5670), R20 single-core (811 versus 800), R23 multi-core (13690 versus 13502), and R23 single-core (1932 versus 1906). If the workload is a Cinebench render, the E5-2669 v3 is the safer choice, even if the advantage is only around 1.4%.

The Intel Xeon E-2278G wins in overall average benchmark score, 4052 versus 3959, and in Geekbench multi-core, 7354 versus no recorded score for the E5-2669 v3. It also wins in platform features: integrated HD Graphics P630, a 5.00 GHz boost clock, a 14 nm process, and a lower 95 W TDP compared to 120 W. The E-2278G has no head-to-head wins, but its higher average score suggests that outside the Cinebench suite, it is the more capable all-round performer. For memory bandwidth and I/O expansion, the E5-2669 v3 is clearly superior with 68.3 GB/s and 40 PCIe lanes against 42.7 GB/s and 16 lanes. The choice depends on whether the workload lives inside Cinebench or spans a broader mix of applications.