Intel Xeon E-2386G vs Intel Xeon Gold 5315Y Comparison

The Intel Xeon Gold 5315Y and Intel Xeon E-2386G are both active server/workstation processors from Intel, yet they target distinctly different platform tiers. The Gold 5315Y is an 8-core Ice Lake-SP part built for the scalable 4189 socket, while the E-2386G is a 6-core Rocket Lake-E part for the mainstream 1200 socket. Benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, performance advantage for the Gold 5315Y across every tested workload, despite the E-2386G's higher boost clock. This analysis examines the head-to-head results, architectural divergences, and specification differences to determine which processor suits which deployment scenario.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably uniform: the Intel Xeon Gold 5315Y wins all six head-to-head comparisons, but by a margin that never exceeds 3%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Gold 5315Y scores 1716 against the E-2386G's 1672, a 2.6% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a slightly larger gap, with the Gold 5315Y at 242 and the E-2386G at 235, a 3% difference. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the Gold 5315Y posts 7151 multicore and 1009 single-core, versus 6968 and 983 for the E-2386G — again a 2.6% delta in both cases.

The most recent Cinebench R23 results continue the trend. The Gold 5315Y achieves 17027 multicore and 2403 single-core, while the E-2386G reaches 16592 and 2342, respectively. The delta remains fixed at 2.6% for both tests. This consistency across all three Cinebench versions suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific. Notably, the E-2386G has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 3.20 GHz) and a significantly higher boost clock (5.10 GHz vs 3.60 GHz), yet it still loses every single-core test. This indicates that the Gold 5315Y's architectural efficiency from the newer 10 nm Ice Lake design more than compensates for its lower clock speeds.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head picture. The Gold 5315Y has an average score of 4887, while the E-2386G sits at 4799. Both processors occupy the 59th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall standing. The Gold 5315Y's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750G (deltaPct 0.2%) and Intel Xeon W-1290 (deltaPct -0.9%), while the E-2386G's rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X (deltaPct -0.2%) and Intel Core i5-1350P (deltaPct 0.5%). These proximity scores confirm that neither processor dramatically outperforms its peer group.

For the E-2386G, the data shows a processor that is remarkably close to the Gold 5315Y in raw throughput, despite having two fewer cores and four fewer threads. The 2.6% deficit in multicore tests is surprisingly small given the core count disadvantage. This is largely attributable to the E-2386G's 5.10 GHz boost clock, which helps it close the gap in lightly threaded and fully loaded scenarios alike. However, the Gold 5315Y's eight-channel memory bus and larger L2 cache (1 MB per core vs 512 KB per core) likely contribute to its consistent edge.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different architectural generations. The Gold 5315Y is built on Ice Lake-SP, using Intel's 10 nm process node, while the E-2386G is a Rocket Lake-E part on the older 14 nm node. This process advantage gives the Gold 5315Y a smaller transistor footprint and higher power efficiency per core, although the E-2386G compensates with a smaller die size of 276 mm² (the Gold 5315Y's die size is not listed). The process node difference is a primary driver of the Gold 5315Y's ability to match or exceed the E-2386G's clock-for-clock performance.

Core and cache configurations also diverge sharply. The Gold 5315Y offers 8 cores and 16 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core. The E-2386G has 6 cores and 12 threads, with 80 KB of L1 cache per core but only 512 KB of L2 cache per core. Both share a 12 MB L3 cache, but the Gold 5315Y's larger per-core L2 allocation is a notable advantage for workloads that exhibit high data locality. The Gold 5315Y's L1 cache is smaller per core, but its overall cache hierarchy appears better balanced for multithreaded scaling.

Memory support represents another major architectural fork. The Gold 5315Y features an eight-channel DDR4 memory bus with a peak bandwidth of 187.7 GB/s, while the E-2386G is limited to dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. This 3.7x difference in memory bandwidth is enormous and likely explains why the Gold 5315Y maintains a lead in multicore tests despite the E-2386G's higher clock speeds. For memory-intensive server workloads, the Gold 5315Y's bandwidth advantage would become even more pronounced than what Cinebench shows. The E-2386G does include integrated UHD Graphics P750, whereas the Gold 5315Y has no integrated graphics listed.

Platform support further separates the two. The Gold 5315Y uses Intel Socket 4189 and offers 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), while the E-2386G uses Intel Socket 1200 with 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The Gold 5315Y's 3.2x lane advantage supports far more expansion cards, NVMe drives, and accelerators. The E-2386G, however, has a lower TDP of 95W versus the Gold 5315Y's 140W, making it a more power-conscious choice for single-socket systems where memory bandwidth is not the bottleneck.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 5315Y wins every single-core benchmark. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2403 versus 2342 for the E-2386G, a 2.6% advantage. This is notable because the E-2386G has a 5.10 GHz boost clock versus the Gold 5315Y's 3.60 GHz.

Q: How do their multicore scores compare?

A: The Gold 5315Y leads in all multicore tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 17027 versus 16592, a 2.6% difference. The Gold 5315Y has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the E-2386G has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Gold 5315Y supports eight-channel DDR4 with 187.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the E-2386G uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. This is a 3.7x difference in theoretical peak memory throughput.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon Gold 5315Y and the Intel Xeon E-2386G support ECC memory, as expected for Xeon-class server processors.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Gold 5315Y has an average benchmark score of 4887, compared to 4799 for the E-2386G. Both sit at the 59th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What are the socket and PCIe lane differences?

A: The Gold 5315Y uses Intel Socket 4189 with 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the E-2386G uses Intel Socket 1200 with 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The Gold 5315Y provides significantly more expansion capability.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon Gold 5315Y | Intel Xeon E-2386G |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 4189 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Ice Lake | Rocket Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | Not listed | 276 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 187.7 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 64 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics P750 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $450 |

The Verdict

The data presents a clear, if narrow, performance hierarchy. The Intel Xeon Gold 5315Y is the faster processor in every benchmark category, winning all six head-to-head tests with deltas between 2.6% and 3%. Its advantages stem from a more modern 10 nm Ice Lake architecture, an eight-channel memory bus with 187.7 GB/s bandwidth, and double the L2 cache per core. For workloads that are sensitive to memory bandwidth or that scale with core count, the Gold 5315Y is the superior choice, despite its higher 140W TDP and need for the larger Socket 4189 platform.

The Intel Xeon E-2386G, however, is not a poor performer. Its 5.10 GHz boost clock is exceptionally high for a Xeon, and it comes within 2.6% of the Gold 5315Y in multicore tests while using only 6 cores. Its dual-channel memory bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth are severe limitations for memory-heavy server tasks, but its 95W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics P750 make it a more self-contained, power-efficient option for single-socket systems. The E-2386G also has a listed launch MSRP of $450, whereas the Gold 5315Y's pricing is not provided.

Users with multi-GPU, high-memory-throughput, or heavy virtualization workloads should choose the Gold 5315Y. Its 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes and eight-channel memory subsystem provide a level of platform headroom that the E-2386G cannot match. Conversely, users building compact, power-sensitive servers that prioritize single-threaded responsiveness and do not require massive memory bandwidth will find the E-2386G sufficient, as its benchmark scores trail by only 2.6% to 3% across the board. The Gold 5315Y is the stronger engineering solution; the E-2386G is the more practical one for constrained environments.