CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2286M and Intel Xeon Silver 4116 are both server-class processors, yet the benchmark data reveals a surprisingly consistent outcome: the Silver 4116 wins every single head-to-head test, albeit by a razor-thin margin of just 0.5%. Despite the E-2286M’s much higher boost clock and lower TDP, the Silver 4116’s additional four cores and 8 threads give it a slight, uniform edge across all Cinebench versions tested. The E-2286M holds its own in single-core performance, but it never manages to convert its clock advantage into a single victory, making this a clear, if narrow, sweep for the older Skylake-SP part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 wins all six benchmark comparisons, but the margins are negligible. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Silver 4116 scores 1301 against the E-2286M’s 1295, a delta of -0.5%. The single-core R15 test tells the same story, with the Silver 4116 edging out a 183 to 182 win. This pattern repeats itself in every subsequent test, making the Silver 4116’s victory more about consistency than dominance.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Silver 4116 posts a multicore score of 5421 versus the E-2286M’s 5396, again a -0.5% difference. The single-core results are equally tight: 765 for the Silver 4116 against 761 for the E-2286M. The trend continues into the latest Cinebench R23, where the Silver 4116 scores 12908 in multicore and 1822 in single-core, while the E-2286M trails with 12848 and 1813 respectively. Across all six tests, the deltaPct is a constant -0.5%, indicating that the performance gap is entirely consistent.

In absolute terms, the largest numerical gap is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where the Silver 4116 leads by 60 points. The smallest gap is in R15 single-core, where the difference is just one point. The E-2286M’s 5.00 GHz boost clock versus the Silver 4116’s 3.00 GHz does not translate into a single benchmark win, suggesting that the extra cores of the Silver 4116 outweigh the clock speed advantage in these multi-threaded and even single-threaded workloads. The data shows a clean sweep: six wins for the Silver 4116, zero for the E-2286M.

Where Each One Wins

Given the benchmark results, the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 wins in every measured category, but the practical significance depends on the workload. In multi-threaded rendering tasks, the Silver 4116’s 12 cores and 24 threads provide a tangible, albeit small, advantage over the E-2286M’s 8 cores and 16 threads. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12908 versus 12848 confirms that the Silver 4116 is the better choice for heavily parallel workloads like video encoding or 3D rendering, even if the margin is only 0.5%.

For single-threaded tasks, the E-2286M’s higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz should theoretically give it an edge, yet the data shows the Silver 4116 winning those tests too. The Silver 4116’s single-core scores of 183, 765, and 1822 across R15, R20, and R23 are all marginally higher than the E-2286M’s 182, 761, and 1813. This suggests that the Skylake-SP architecture’s per-core efficiency is comparable to, or slightly better than, Coffee Lake-H in these specific benchmarks, despite the lower clock speed.

The E-2286M does have one clear advantage in its integrated graphics, featuring UHD Graphics P630, whereas the Silver 4116 has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the E-2286M a more flexible option for systems that need a display output without a discrete GPU. However, for pure compute performance, the Silver 4116 is the winner across the board, making it the better pick for server racks where graphics are handled by dedicated cards.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures despite sharing the same 14 nm process node. The Intel Xeon E-2286M is based on Coffee Lake-H, part of the Xeon E-2200 series, and features a die size of 180 mm². In contrast, the Silver 4116 uses the Skylake-SP architecture, part of the Xeon Silver family, and packs 8,000 million transistors into a larger, unlisted die. This architectural split explains the core count difference: the E-2286M has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Silver 4116 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Cache configurations also diverge significantly. The E-2286M offers 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a 16 MB shared L3 cache. The Silver 4116 has the same 64 KB L1 per core but a much larger 1 MB L2 per core, and its L3 cache is slightly larger at 16.5 MB shared. The larger per-core L2 cache on the Silver 4116 likely contributes to its consistent benchmark wins, as it can hold more working data per core.

Memory support is another differentiator. Both support DDR4 and ECC memory, but the E-2286M specifies a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the Silver 4116 does not list memory bus or bandwidth details. The E-2286M also includes 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Silver 4116 has no PCIe information listed. Socket compatibility is completely different: the E-2286M uses Intel BGA 1440, a soldered mobile socket, while the Silver 4116 uses Intel Socket 3647, a scalable server socket. The E-2286M also has integrated UHD Graphics P630, while the Silver 4116 has none.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2286M has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 has a boost clock of 3.00 GHz.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The E-2286M has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Silver 4116 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore performance?

A: The Intel Xeon Silver 4116 wins with a score of 12908, compared to the E-2286M’s 12848, a delta of -0.5%.

Q: Does the E-2286M have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the E-2286M features UHD Graphics P630, while the Silver 4116 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The E-2286M has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Silver 4116 has a TDP of 85 watts.

Q: Are both processors based on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but they use different architectures: Coffee Lake-H for the E-2286M and Skylake-SP for the Silver 4116.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is clear: the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 is the better performer, winning all six head-to-head tests by a consistent 0.5% margin. Its 12 cores and 24 threads give it a structural advantage in multi-threaded workloads, and its larger L2 cache (1 MB per core versus 256 KB) helps it edge out the E-2286M even in single-threaded tests. For users who prioritize raw compute throughput in server or workstation environments, the Silver 4116 is the data-backed choice.

However, the E-2286M is not without merit. Its 45-watt TDP is nearly half the Silver 4116’s 85-watt TDP, making it a more power-efficient option for compact or thermally constrained systems. The inclusion of UHD Graphics P630 means it can drive displays without a discrete GPU, which is a significant feature for smaller form-factor workstations. Its 5.00 GHz boost clock also makes it a strong candidate for lightly threaded tasks, even if the benchmarks show the Silver 4116 still wins those tests.

The launch MSRP of the E-2286M is $623, though no price is listed for the Silver 4116. Ultimately, the Silver 4116 is the right pick for users who need maximum multi-core performance and can accommodate its higher power draw. The E-2286M appeals to those who need integrated graphics, lower power consumption, and a compact BGA socket, accepting a small performance deficit in exchange.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2286M | Intel Xeon Silver 4116 |

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

| Series | Xeon E-2200 series | Not listed |

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Threads | 16 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 85 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 3647 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Skylake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-H | Skylake-SP |

| Generation | Xeon E (Coffee Lake) | Xeon Silver (Skylake-SP) |

| Transistors | Not listed | 8,000 million |

| Die Size | 180 mm² | Not listed |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 16.5 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not listed |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not listed |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics P630 | None |

| Release Date | 2019-05-28 | 2017-07-10 |

| Launch MSRP | $623 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SRFCZ | SR3HQBX806734116CD8067303567200 |