CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2386G and the Intel Xeon W-1290E are two server/workstation processors that land in the same performance tier, yet they achieve that status through different means. The data shows the E-2386G wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are remarkably slim, with the largest difference being just 0.5%. This makes the choice between them less about raw speed and more about which specific architectural trade-offs matter for a given workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The E-2386G takes a clean sweep of all six Cinebench tests, but the victories are narrow. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the E-2386G scores 16592 against the W-1290E’s 16510, a 0.5% lead. The single-core result in the same test is equally tight: 2342 versus 2330, again a 0.5% advantage for the E-2386G. This pattern repeats across the older Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the E-2386G posts 6968 while the W-1290E manages 6934, another 0.5% gap. The R20 single-core test shows 983 versus 978, and R15 multi-core comes in at 1672 versus 1664. The R15 single-core result is the closest of all, with 235 against 234, a mere 0.4% difference.

These numbers tell a clear story: the E-2386G is consistently ahead, but never by a meaningful margin. The benchmark results indicate that these two chips are effectively performance equals in Cinebench workloads. The average benchmark score for the E-2386G is 4799, while the W-1290E sits at 4775, a difference of just 24 points. Both processors land in the 59th percentile against all CPUs, reinforcing that they occupy the same performance bracket.

The nearest-rival data paints a similar picture. The E-2386G’s closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X with an average score of 4807, a delta of -0.2%, meaning the E-2386G trails by a hair. The W-1290E’s closest rival is the Intel Core i5-1350P at 4776, a 0% difference. When compared directly to each other, the E-2386G shows a +0.5% delta over the W-1290E, and the W-1290E shows a -0.5% delta in the reverse comparison. These are statistical noise-level differences, not performance tiers.

Where Each One Wins

The E-2386G wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set, so technically it wins everywhere. However, the margins are so thin that the practical advantage is negligible. The E-2386G’s wins come from its higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz compared to the W-1290E’s 4.80 GHz. This explains the consistent single-core advantages, though they never exceed 0.5%. For multi-threaded workloads, the E-2386G’s 6 cores and 12 threads somehow edge out the W-1290E’s 10 cores and 20 threads, which is counterintuitive but supported by the data. The E-2386G’s newer Rocket Lake architecture and larger per-core L2 cache (512 KB per core versus 256 KB) likely compensate for its core deficit.

The W-1290E’s strengths are not reflected in the Cinebench scores. It offers 10 cores and 20 threads, which is 67% more cores and 67% more threads than the E-2386G. It also has a larger shared L3 cache at 20 MB versus 12 MB. These specifications suggest the W-1290E should win heavily in heavily-threaded applications, but the benchmark data does not confirm this. The W-1290E also has a larger die size at 206 mm², though this is not a performance metric. Its memory bandwidth is listed as 46.9 GB/s, lower than the E-2386G’s 51.2 GB/s, which may offset some of its core advantage in memory-sensitive workloads.

The E-2386G wins on memory bandwidth, PCIe generation, and integrated graphics. It supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the W-1290E is limited to Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The E-2386G’s UHD Graphics P750 is a newer integrated GPU compared to the W-1290E’s UHD Graphics P630. These differences matter for systems that rely on the CPU’s I/O capabilities or need newer graphics features, even if they don’t show up in Cinebench.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E-2386G is the faster processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all six Cinebench tests, albeit by margins of 0.4% to 0.5%. If the choice is based purely on benchmark scores, the E-2386G is the pick. It also offers newer architecture (Rocket Lake versus Comet Lake), faster memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s), and PCIe Gen 4 support, which future-proofs a system better than the W-1290E’s Gen 3 interface.

However, the W-1290E is not without merit. Its 10-core, 20-thread configuration gives it a theoretical advantage in workloads that scale beyond 6 cores, even if Cinebench doesn’t show it. The larger 20 MB L3 cache could benefit certain database or virtualization workloads. The W-1290E also has a launch MSRP of $552, while the E-2386G has a launch MSRP of $450.

For a buyer who prioritizes raw multi-threaded capability from the specification sheet, the W-1290E might seem appealing. But the benchmark results indicate that the E-2386G’s architectural efficiency overcomes the core count disadvantage in Cinebench. The E-2386G is the safer recommendation for anyone who trusts measured performance over paper specifications. The W-1290E only makes sense if the specific workload is known to benefit from more cores and larger L3 cache, and even then, the data does not guarantee a win.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2386G scores 2342 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Xeon W-1290E scores 2330, giving the E-2386G a 0.5% advantage.

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

A: The Intel Xeon E-2386G has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Xeon W-1290E has 10 cores and 20 threads.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2386G has an average benchmark score of 4799, while the Intel Xeon W-1290E has an average score of 4775, a difference of 24 points in favor of the E-2386G.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E-2386G and the Intel Xeon W-1290E support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2386G has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Xeon W-1290E’s 4.80 GHz.

Q: What PCIe generation does each processor support?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2386G supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Intel Xeon W-1290E supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations. The Intel Xeon E-2386G is based on Rocket Lake, with the specific codename Rocket Lake-E, and belongs to the Xeon E-2300 series. The Intel Xeon W-1290E is based on Comet Lake, with the codename Comet Lake, and belongs to the general Xeon line. Both are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node and fabricated by Intel, but the die sizes differ. The E-2386G has a die size of 276 mm², while the W-1290E has a smaller die at 206 mm².

The cache hierarchies are notably different. The E-2386G has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the W-1290E has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is where the W-1290E takes the lead, offering 20 MB shared versus the E-2386G’s 12 MB shared. This means the E-2386G has more per-core cache, while the W-1290E has more total cache for the whole chip.

Integrated graphics also differ. The E-2386G comes with UHD Graphics P750, while the W-1290E has Intel UHD Graphics P630. The memory controller is similar in that both support DDR4 in dual-channel mode, but the E-2386G has a higher rated memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s for the W-1290E. Both processors are unlocked multipliers, meaning neither can be overclocked, and both are marked as Active in production status.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the Intel Xeon E-2386G and the Intel Xeon W-1290E:

• Cores: 6 (E-2386G) versus 10 (W-1290E)
• Threads: 12 (E-2386G) versus 20 (W-1290E)
• Boost Clock: 5.10 GHz (E-2386G) versus 4.80 GHz (W-1290E)
• Architecture: Rocket Lake (E-2386G) versus Comet Lake (W-1290E)
• Codename: Rocket Lake-E (E-2386G) versus Comet Lake (W-1290E)
• Die Size: 276 mm² (E-2386G) versus 206 mm² (W-1290E)
• L1 Cache: 80 KB per core (E-2386G) versus 64 KB per core (W-1290E)
• L2 Cache: 512 KB per core (E-2386G) versus 256 KB per core (W-1290E)
• L3 Cache: 12 MB shared (E-2386G) versus 20 MB shared (W-1290E)
• Memory Bandwidth: 51.2 GB/s (E-2386G) versus 46.9 GB/s (W-1290E)
• PCIe: Gen 4, 20 Lanes (E-2386G) versus Gen 3, 16 Lanes (W-1290E)
• Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics P750 (E-2386G) versus Intel UHD Graphics P630 (W-1290E)
• Release Date: 2021-09-07 (E-2386G) versus 2020-05-12 (W-1290E)
• Launch MSRP: $450 (E-2386G) versus $552 (W-1290E)
• Part Number: SRKN0 (E-2386G) versus SRJFB (W-1290E)