Intel Xeon E-2388G vs Intel Xeon W-1290P Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E-2388G wins all eight recorded head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Xeon W-1290P. The E-2388G leads by 4.8% to 4.9% across the Cinebench suite, with a much larger 8.6% margin in Geekbench multi-core and a dominant 30.8% advantage in Geekbench single-core. The W-1290P never takes a single test. The E-2388G also carries a higher average benchmark score of 5805 versus 5443 for the W-1290P, and it sits at the 61st percentile of all CPUs compared to the W-1290P's 60th percentile. The verdict is simple: for anyone choosing between these two, the E-2388G is the stronger performer in every measured workload. The W-1290P retains relevance only for scenarios that favor its higher core count, but the recorded data does not show any benchmark where that advantage translates into a win.

Where Each One Wins

The E-2388G wins every single benchmark category recorded. In single-threaded performance, the lead is substantial: Cinebench R15 single-core shows 283 versus 270, Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1181 versus 1126, Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2814 versus 2683, and Geekbench single-core shows 2227 versus 1703. The Geekbench single-core gap of 30.8% is the largest delta in the entire dataset, indicating a clear architectural efficiency advantage for the E-2388G. Multi-threaded workloads also favor the E-2388G, but by smaller margins: Cinebench R15 multi-core is 2009 versus 1915, R20 multi-core is 8374 versus 7983, R23 multi-core is 19939 versus 19008, and Geekbench multi-core is 9615 versus 8852. The W-1290P does not win anywhere. Even with 10 cores and 20 threads versus the E-2388G's 8 cores and 16 threads, the W-1290P cannot overcome the E-2388G's per-core efficiency. The data shows that the E-2388G is the better choice for both lightly threaded and heavily threaded applications.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures. The E-2388G is built on Rocket Lake-E, part of the Xeon E-2300 series, while the W-1290P uses Comet Lake. The process nodes differ: the E-2388G is on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 276 mm², while the W-1290P is listed on a 10 nm process with a die size of 206 mm². Core configurations differ as well: the E-2388G has 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the W-1290P has 10 cores and 20 threads with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Despite the W-1290P's higher core count and clock speeds, the E-2388G wins all benchmarks, which points to per-core IPC advantages in the Rocket Lake design.

Cache hierarchies differ in capacity and organization. The E-2388G has 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The W-1290P has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. The E-2388G's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches likely contribute to its single-core dominance, while the W-1290P's larger shared L3 does not compensate in the recorded tests. Memory support is DDR4 for both, with dual-channel buses, but the E-2388G has a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s for the W-1290P. Both support ECC memory. PCIe capabilities differ: the E-2388G offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the W-1290P offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the E-2388G includes UHD Graphics P750, while the W-1290P includes UHD Graphics P630. The E-2388G was released on September 7, 2021, while the W-1290P was released on May 12, 2020. Both have a launch MSRP of $539, are unlocked in terms of multiplier (both are false), and remain in active production. Both use Intel Socket 1200.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2388G wins all four recorded single-core tests. Geekbench single-core shows 2227 for the E-2388G versus 1703 for the W-1290P, a 30.8% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2814 versus 2683, R20 single-core shows 1181 versus 1126, and R15 single-core shows 283 versus 270.

Q: Does the W-1290P's higher core count give it a multi-core advantage?

A: No. Despite having 10 cores and 20 threads versus the E-2388G's 8 cores and 16 threads, the W-1290P loses every multi-core benchmark. Cinebench R23 multi-core is 19939 for the E-2388G versus 19008 for the W-1290P, a 4.9% gap. Geekbench multi-core is 9615 versus 8852, an 8.6% gap. The E-2388G's per-core efficiency overcomes the core count deficit.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest delta is in Geekbench single-core, where the E-2388G scores 2227 against the W-1290P's 1703, a 30.8% difference. The smallest gaps are the Cinebench tests, all at 4.8% or 4.9%.

Q: How do their cache configurations compare?

A: The E-2388G has 80 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3. The W-1290P has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 20 MB shared L3. The E-2388G's larger per-core caches are paired with lower total L3, yet it still wins all tests.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket and process node?

A: Both use Intel Socket 1200, but they differ in other specifications. The E-2388G is on a 14 nm process with a 276 mm² die, while the W-1290P is on a 10 nm process with a 206 mm² die. Their architectures also differ: Rocket Lake-E for the E-2388G and Comet Lake for the W-1290P.

Q: Which processor has better memory bandwidth and PCIe support?

A: The E-2388G has higher memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus 46.9 GB/s for the W-1290P. The E-2388G also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the W-1290P supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E-2388G. Starting with the Cinebench R15 suite, the E-2388G scores 2009 in multi-core versus 1915 for the W-1290P, a 4.9% lead. In R15 single-core, the E-2388G posts 283 against 270, a 4.8% advantage. The Cinebench R20 results follow the same pattern: multi-core is 8374 for the E-2388G versus 7983, and single-core is 1181 versus 1126, both at 4.9%. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 19939 versus 19008, again a 4.9% gap, and R23 single-core shows 2814 versus 2683, also 4.9%. These consistent deltas across the Cinebench family suggest that the E-2388G's architectural efficiency is uniform across rendering workloads of varying intensity.

The Geekbench results reveal a different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the E-2388G scores 9615 against the W-1290P's 8852, an 8.6% advantage. That is nearly double the Cinebench multi-core margin, indicating that the E-2388G scales better in the mixed integer and floating-point workloads that Geekbench presents. The single-core Geekbench test produces the most dramatic result: the E-2388G scores 2227 versus 1703, a 30.8% lead. This is by far the largest performance gap in the entire comparison. The W-1290P's higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz versus 5.10 GHz does not help it here; the E-2388G's Rocket Lake-E architecture delivers substantially better single-threaded throughput in this benchmark.

Looking at the average benchmark scores, the E-2388G records 5805 across its benchmark suite, while the W-1290P records 5443. The nearest rivals in the database further contextualize these numbers. The E-2388G sits within 0.2% of the AMD EPYC 7401P, within 0.6% of the Intel Xeon W-2175, 1.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X, and 1.7% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7351. The W-1290P, by contrast, is 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920, 0.5% behind the AMD EPYC 7351P, 1.9% ahead of the Intel Core i9-13900TE, and 2.0% behind the Intel Core i9-10900X. These rival deltas show that both processors occupy a similar performance tier overall, but the E-2388G sits slightly higher in the database's distribution, reflected in its 61st percentile versus the W-1290P's 60th.

The wins tally confirms the sweep: the E-2388G wins 8 head-to-head tests, and the W-1290P wins 0. The data offers no scenario where the W-1290P's additional two cores and four threads, higher base and boost clocks, or larger shared L3 cache translate into a benchmark victory. The W-1290P does have a smaller die at 206 mm² versus 276 mm², and it is listed on a 10 nm process, but these physical characteristics do not produce better results in any recorded test. For users prioritizing raw performance across every available benchmark, the E-2388G is the definitive choice.