Intel Xeon E-2286M vs Intel Xeon E-2434 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2286M and the Intel Xeon E-2434 are both server and workstation processors from Intel's Xeon E line, but they come from different eras. The E-2286M is an 8-core Coffee Lake-H part from the Xeon E-2200 series, while the E-2434 is a 4-core Raptor Lake-S part from the Xeon E-2400 series. The recorded head-to-head data shows a remarkably tight contest: the older, higher-core-count E-2286M wins all six shared benchmark tests, yet every margin is 0.2% or less. That near tie, despite an 8-core versus 4-core split, is the central story of this comparison.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Six benchmark tests appear in the database for both processors. The E-2286M wins all six. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1295 against 1292, a 0.2% lead. The single-core R15 result is a dead tie at 182 for both. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 5396 versus 5385, again a 0.2% margin. The R20 single-core test is closer still: 761 versus 760, a 0.1% edge. Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the pattern with 12848 against 12823, a 0.2% gap, and R23 single-core gives 1813 versus 1810, also 0.2%.

These numbers are striking for what they do not show. The E-2286M has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the E-2434 has 4 cores and 8 threads. A doubling of cores would normally produce a large multi-core advantage. Instead, the largest multi-core margin in the data is 0.2%. The E-2434 compensates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz against 2.40 GHz, a newer 10 nm process against 14 nm, and a larger per-core L2 cache at 1.25 MB per core versus 256 KB per core. The boost clocks are identical at 5.00 GHz, so the newer part's per-core efficiency nearly cancels the older part's core-count advantage.

The average benchmark score in the database tells a similar story. The E-2286M averages 3822, while the E-2434 averages 3709. Both sit at the 56th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The E-2286M's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 4900H at 3820 with a 0% delta, meaning the two are effectively tied. The E-2434's nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-10980HK at 3706 with a 0.1% delta, meaning the E-2434 holds a razor-thin edge over that chip. The gap between the two Xeons, 3822 versus 3709, is larger than the gap to their nearest rivals, which reinforces how close these two parts are in raw compute.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head table records 6 wins for the E-2286M and 0 for the E-2434. In every shared test, the E-2286M comes out ahead. The E-2434 has no benchmark win in the database. However, the E-2434 wins on platform capabilities that are not captured by these rendering tests. It supports DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, well above the E-2286M's 42.7 GB/s on DDR4. It also brings PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the E-2286M is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. For workloads that depend on memory bandwidth or PCIe throughput, the E-2434's platform is the stronger one.

The E-2286M counters with features the E-2434 lacks. It includes integrated UHD Graphics P630, while the E-2434 has no integrated graphics at all. That makes the E-2286M usable in a system without a discrete GPU. The E-2286M also has Geekbench scores recorded in the database: 6746 multi-core and 1537 single-core. The E-2434 has no Geekbench results in the database, so no comparison is possible there.

The production status also splits the two. The E-2286M is marked end-of-life, while the E-2434 is active. For new system designs, the E-2434 is the part that is still in production. The E-2286M, despite its benchmark edge, is a legacy part.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Xeon E-2286M is the faster processor in every shared benchmark. It wins all six head-to-head tests, and its average score of 3822 exceeds the E-2434's 3709. The margins are small, never more than 0.2%, but they are consistent across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core runs. If the only criterion is these specific scores, the E-2286M is the pick.

The E-2434 is the pick for a different set of priorities. It is the actively produced part, released later (2023-12-13 versus 2019-05-28), and it sits on a modern platform with DDR5 memory at 76.8 GB/s and PCIe Gen 5. The E-2286M is end-of-life and limited to DDR4 and PCIe Gen 3. The E-2434 also has a higher base clock at 3.40 GHz, which can matter for lightly threaded workloads that do not boost.

Who should choose which? The data points to the E-2286M for anyone who needs the highest recorded scores in these Cinebench and Geekbench workloads and who can work with an end-of-life part. The E-2434 is the choice for anyone building on a current platform, needing DDR5 or PCIe Gen 5, or requiring a processor that is still in active production. The E-2286M's integrated graphics also make it the only one of the two that can run without a discrete GPU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2286M has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Xeon E-2434 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The E-2286M scores 12848, ahead of the E-2434's 12823, a 0.2% margin.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the E-2286M and the E-2434 have ECC memory support.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The E-2434 supports DDR5 with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The E-2286M supports DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The E-2286M includes UHD Graphics P630. The E-2434 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The E-2286M is end-of-life. The E-2434 is active.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures. The E-2286M uses Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-H codename, built on a 14 nm process with a die size of 180 mm². The E-2434 uses Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-S, built on a 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². The E-2286M belongs to the Xeon E-2200 series, while the E-2434 belongs to the Xeon E-2400 series.

The core and cache layouts differ substantially. The E-2286M has 8 cores with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The E-2434 has 4 cores with 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The E-2434's per-core L2 is much larger, which helps explain how a 4-core part keeps pace with an 8-core part in the recorded tests.

Memory and I/O also differ. The E-2286M uses DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s of bandwidth. The E-2434 uses DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 76.8 GB/s. The E-2286M provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes; the E-2434 provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The E-2286M has integrated UHD Graphics P630, while the E-2434 has no integrated graphics. Both support ECC memory.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following recorded specifications. The E-2286M has 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.40 GHz, a TDP of 45 W, and uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket. The E-2434 has 4 cores and 8 threads, a base clock of 3.40 GHz, a TDP of 55 W, and uses the Intel Socket 1700. Both have a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

The E-2286M is built on 14 nm with a die size of 180 mm²; the E-2434 is built on 10 nm with a die size of 163 mm². The E-2286M has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 16 MB shared L3; the E-2434 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core with 12 MB shared L3. The E-2286M supports DDR4 at 42.7 GB/s; the E-2434 supports DDR5 at 76.8 GB/s. The E-2286M has PCIe Gen 3, 16 lanes; the E-2434 has PCIe Gen 5, 16 lanes. The E-2286M has UHD Graphics P630; the E-2434 has none.

The E-2286M is end-of-life and was released on 2019-05-28, with part number SRFCZ. The E-2434 is active and was released on 2023-12-13, with part number SRMXC. The launch MSRP of the E-2286M is $623. The launch MSRP of the E-2434 is $293. The E-2286M has an average benchmark score of 3822; the E-2434's is 3709. Both sit at the 56th percentile of all CPUs in the database.