Intel Xeon E-2388G vs Intel Xeon W-2170B Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2170B and Intel Xeon E-2388G represent two distinct approaches to workstation processing, separated by nearly four years of architectural evolution. The W-2170B, a 14-core Skylake-W part from late 2017, emphasizes raw core count and memory bandwidth, while the E-2388G, an 8-core Rocket Lake-E chip from 2021, counters with higher clock speeds and a more modern platform. Benchmark data reveals a surprisingly consistent performance hierarchy across Cinebench tests, with the older, wider chip maintaining a narrow but decisive lead.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head Cinebench results show a uniform victory for the Intel Xeon W-2170B across all six workload tests. In the multicore tests, the W-2170B scores 2085 in Cinebench R15, 8691 in R20, and 20693 in R23. The E-2388G posts 2009, 8374, and 19939 respectively. The deltaPct is a steady 3.8% in favor of the W-2170B in every multicore test. This consistency suggests that the 14-core, 28-thread configuration provides a modest throughput advantage over the 8-core, 16-thread part, even when the newer chip's higher boost clock is factored in.

Single-core results mirror this pattern, albeit with slightly different margins. The W-2170B achieves 294 in Cinebench R15 single-core, 1226 in R20, and 2921 in R23. The E-2388G trails with 283, 1181, and 2814 respectively. The deltaPct for single-core tests is 3.9% for R15 and 3.8% for both R20 and R23. This is notable because the E-2388G has a significantly higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz compared to the W-2170B's 4.30 GHz. The data indicates that the older Skylake architecture's IPC, combined with its 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per-core caches, is sufficient to overcome a 800 MHz clock disadvantage in these particular workloads.

The average benchmark score provides additional context. The W-2170B holds an average score of 5985, while the E-2388G sits at 5805, a 3.1% gap that aligns with the head-to-head results. However, the E-2388G has a distinct advantage in the broader Geekbench suite, where it scores 9615 multicore and 2227 singlecore—results not available for the W-2170B, which lacks Geekbench entries in the data. This absence means the overall performance picture is incomplete, but the Cinebench family shows a clear, if narrow, pattern.

Both processors occupy the 61st percentile among all CPUs, indicating that despite their generational differences, they compete in a similar performance tier. The W-2170B's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-9920X with a deltaPct of 1.1% and the AMD EPYC 7501 at -2.3%, while the E-2388G sits close to the AMD EPYC 7401P at -0.2% and the Intel Xeon W-2175 at 0.6%. These proximity values reinforce that the two chips are effectively peer products in average performance, with the W-2170B's 6 wins out of 6 head-to-head matchups being the primary differentiator.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Xeon W-2170B is the superior choice for multi-threaded Cinebench workloads. Its 3.8% lead in R20 and R23 multicore tests, while modest, is consistent and reproducible. Systems running rendering, video encoding, or any software that scales across 28 threads will see a measurable benefit from the W-2170B's higher core count. The single-core advantage of 3.8-3.9% is equally unexpected given the clock speed disparity, suggesting that per-thread performance is not a weakness for the older part.

The Intel Xeon E-2388G, however, offers a different value proposition. It is an active production part with a launch MSRP of $539, whereas the W-2170B is end-of-life. The E-2388G's platform advantages, including PCIe Gen 4 support and integrated UHD Graphics P750, make it a more practical modern system component. Its lower 95W TDP compared to the W-2170B's 140W indicates lower thermal and power requirements, which can translate into smaller cooling solutions and lower operating costs in dense server environments.

For a user prioritizing raw Cinebench throughput and willing to adopt a legacy platform, the W-2170B is the data-backed winner. For a user needing an active, lower-power part with integrated graphics and a more recent socket, the E-2388G is the preferred option. The performance delta is real but small; neither chip dominates the other in a way that would justify ignoring platform compatibility or power constraints. The verdict hinges on workload priorities: core-heavy parallel tasks favor the W-2170B, while platform longevity and efficiency favor the E-2388G.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is significant. The W-2170B uses Skylake-W, a 14 nm design from Intel with a die size of 484 mm². The E-2388G is built on Rocket Lake-E, also at 14 nm, but with a die size of 276 mm²—roughly 43% smaller. This size difference reflects Intel's shift from a monolithic high-core-count design to a more efficient, higher-frequency layout. The W-2170B employs a 14-core, 28-thread configuration, while the E-2388G uses 8 cores and 16 threads.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The W-2170B provides 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 19.25 MB L3 cache. The E-2388G offers 80 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 16 MB L3. The per-core L2 reduction from 1 MB to 512 KB is a notable trade-off for the newer chip, though the larger L1 and higher clocks partially compensate. The W-2170B's larger aggregate cache (19.25 MB L3 vs 16 MB L3) gives it an edge in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory architecture is another key divergence. The W-2170B supports quad-channel DDR4 with a theoretical memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, while the E-2388G is dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s. This 67% bandwidth advantage for the W-2170B is a major factor in its multicore performance, particularly in memory-intensive tasks. Both support ECC memory, but the platform sockets differ: Socket 2066 for the W-2170B and Socket 1200 for the E-2388G. The E-2388G also includes integrated UHD Graphics P750, which the W-2170B lacks entirely.

PCIe capabilities favor the newer chip. The E-2388G provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while the W-2170B is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 48 lanes. The older chip offers more total lanes, but the newer standard doubles the per-lane bandwidth. This makes the E-2388G more suitable for modern high-speed NVMe storage and GPUs that benefit from Gen 4, despite the lane count reduction.

Specification Differences

The core specification differences between the two processors are clear. The W-2170B has 14 cores and 28 threads with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. 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. The E-2388G's clocks are substantially higher, offering a 28% higher base and 18.6% higher boost, but the W-2170B's additional 6 cores and 12 threads provide the multicore edge.

Thermal design power differs notably: the W-2170B is rated at 140W, while the E-2388G is 95W. This 45W difference means the newer chip generates significantly less heat, enabling more compact cooling solutions. The memory bus is quad-channel on the W-2170B versus dual-channel on the E-2388G, with corresponding bandwidth figures of 85.3 GB/s and 51.2 GB/s. The socket types are incompatible: Intel Socket 2066 for the W-2170B, Intel Socket 1200 for the E-2388G.

Production status separates the two significantly. The W-2170B is end-of-life with a release date of December 2017, while the E-2388G is active with a September 2021 release. The E-2388G has a launch MSRP of $539; the W-2170B has no MSRP data. The part numbers are SR3W3 for the W-2170B and SRKMZ for the E-2388G. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both target the server/workstation market segment.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2170B wins with a score of 20693, compared to the E-2388G's 19939, a 3.8% advantage.

Q: Does the E-2388G have a higher boost clock than the W-2170B?

A: Yes, the E-2388G boosts to 5.10 GHz, while the W-2170B reaches 4.30 GHz, a difference of 800 MHz.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two processors?

A: The W-2170B supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the E-2388G is dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s. The W-2170B offers 34.1 GB/s more theoretical bandwidth.

Q: Does the E-2388G include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the E-2388G features UHD Graphics P750, while the W-2170B has no integrated graphics capability.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The E-2388G has a 95W TDP, which is 45W lower than the W-2170B's 140W TDP.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The W-2170B has an average score of 5985, while the E-2388G averages 5805, a difference of 180 points or roughly 3.1%.