Intel Xeon E-2436 vs Intel Xeon Phi 7210 Comparison

Intel Xeon Phi 7210 and Intel Xeon E-2436 are two very different server processors. The Phi 7210 is a Knights Landing part with 64 cores and 256 threads, designed for highly parallel throughput. The E-2436 is a Raptor Lake based Xeon with 6 cores and 12 threads, built for high clock speeds and single-thread performance. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the Phi wins in a few specialized workloads, while the E-2436 dominates the majority of tests. This analysis breaks down where each processor wins, what the numbers mean, and who should pick which.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E-2436 is the general-purpose winner. Out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, it takes 14 victories. Its wins are massive in single-thread, physics, encryption, and prime number finding. The E-2436’s boost clock of 5.00 GHz and base clock of 2.90 GHz give it a decisive edge in latency-sensitive tasks. The data shows it leading by 66% or more in every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core. The PassMark physics test shows an 85.4% lead, and single-thread tests show an 87.1% lead. For most real-world server workloads, this is the processor to choose.

The Intel Xeon Phi 7210 wins three specific workloads: data compression, extended instructions, and integer math. Its 64 cores and 256 threads shine when the task scales with raw core count. The data compression score is 332,960, which is 34.9% ahead of the E-2436’s 246,902. Integer math is 84,874 versus 67,082, a 26.5% lead. Extended instructions show a 12.4% lead at 18,359 versus 16,334. These are narrow wins in specialized areas, but they show the Phi is not obsolete for certain HPC-style tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon Phi 7210 has 64 cores and 256 threads. The Intel Xeon E-2436 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Phi offers 58 more cores and 244 more threads.

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2436 has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel Xeon Phi 7210 has a base clock of 1.30 GHz and a boost clock of 1.50 GHz.

Q: How do they compare in single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2436 is far ahead. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 3,575 versus the Phi’s 460, a 87.1% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the E-2436 scores 2,596 versus the Phi’s 876, a 66.3% lead.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded Cinebench tests?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2436 wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests. In R15, it scores 1,853 versus 625. In R20, it scores 7,723 versus 2,608. In R23, it scores 18,389 versus 6,210.

Q: Is the Phi 7210 better at any workload?

A: Yes. The Phi 7210 wins data compression (332,960 versus 246,902), extended instructions (18,359 versus 16,334), and integer math (84,874 versus 67,082).

Q: What is the difference in memory support?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2436 supports DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Intel Xeon Phi 7210 supports DDR4 memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Xeon E-2436 dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1,853 against the Phi’s 625, a 66.3% lead. Single-core R15 is 261 versus 88, also a 66.3% lead. The pattern repeats in R20: multi-core is 7,723 versus 2,608 (66.2% lead), and single-core is 1,090 versus 367 (66.3% lead). In R23, the E-2436 scores 18,389 versus 6,210 in multi-core (66.2% lead) and 2,596 versus 876 in single-core (66.3% lead). These numbers are consistent, suggesting the E-2436’s architecture simply executes Cinebench workloads much faster, regardless of thread count.

The PassMark suite shows a more varied picture. The E-2436 wins data encryption with 13,920 versus 3,455, a 75.2% lead. It wins floating point math with 50,198 versus 29,356, a 41.5% lead. It wins physics with 1,353 versus 198, an 85.4% lead. It wins prime number finding with 84 versus 10, an 88.1% lead. It wins random string sorting with 28,363 versus 8,956, a 68.4% lead. It wins the multithread test with 21,708 versus 7,306, a 66.3% lead. It wins single-thread with 3,575 versus 460, an 87.1% lead.

The Phi 7210’s wins are narrower but real. Data compression is 332,960 versus 246,902, a 34.9% lead. Integer math is 84,874 versus 67,082, a 26.5% lead. Extended instructions is 18,359 versus 16,334, a 12.4% lead. These are the only three tests where the Phi’s massive core count overcomes the E-2436’s clock speed advantage.

The overall win count is 14 for the E-2436 and 3 for the Phi 7210. The E-2436’s wins are typically by large margins (many over 66%), while the Phi’s wins are by smaller margins (12.4% to 34.9%). The average benchmark score also favors the E-2436: 28,530 versus 29,245 for the Phi, a small difference. The percentile rankings are close too, with the E-2436 at 80 and the Phi at 81.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every core specification. The Intel Xeon Phi 7210 has 64 cores and 256 threads. The Intel Xeon E-2436 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Phi’s base clock is 1.30 GHz, and its boost clock is 1.50 GHz. The E-2436’s base clock is 2.90 GHz, and its boost clock is 5.00 GHz.

Thermal design power differs significantly. The Phi 7210 has a TDP of 215 watts. The E-2436 has a TDP of 65 watts. The Phi consumes over three times the power budget.

The sockets are not compatible. The Phi 7210 uses Intel Socket 3647. The E-2436 uses Intel Socket 1700.

Cache configurations are different. The Phi 7210 has 32 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. It has no L3 cache listed. The E-2436 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache.

Memory support differs. The Phi 7210 supports DDR4 memory. The E-2436 supports DDR5 memory with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. Both support ECC memory.

The E-2436 has a listed PCIe specification: Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Phi 7210 has no PCIe specification listed.

Release dates are far apart. The Phi 7210 was released on 2016-06-19. The E-2436 was released on 2023-12-13.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon Phi 7210 uses the Knights Landing architecture, built on a 14 nm process node. It has 8,000 million transistors. The die size is not listed. Its generation is listed as "Xeon Phi (Knights Landing)". This is an older, specialized HPC architecture designed for massively parallel workloads.

The Intel Xeon E-2436 uses the Raptor Lake architecture, built on a 10 nm process node. Its die size is 163 mm². Its generation is listed as "Xeon E (Raptor Lake)". This is a modern, general-purpose server architecture based on the same core design as Intel’s mainstream desktop processors.

The Phi 7210’s cache design is per-core: 32 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. With 64 cores, this adds up to a large total cache, but there is no shared L3. The E-2436 has a more conventional design: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and a shared 18 MB L3 cache.

The E-2436’s Raptor Lake architecture is designed for high clock speeds and efficient single-thread execution. The Phi 7210’s Knights Landing architecture is designed for throughput, with many simpler cores running at lower clocks. The process node difference (10 nm for Raptor Lake versus 14 nm for Knights Landing) also explains part of the clock speed and efficiency gap.

The production status reflects this: the E-2436 is listed as "Active", while the Phi 7210 has no production status listed. The E-2436 also has a launch MSRP of $331, which can be stated once. The Phi 7210 has no launch MSRP listed.

The Verdict

The Intel Xeon E-2436 is the right choice for nearly all server workloads. It wins 14 of 17 benchmarks, and its victories are decisive. The single-thread performance is 87.1% ahead in PassMark, and the Cinebench multi-core scores are 66% higher. It also has a much lower TDP at 65 watts versus 215 watts, which means lower cooling requirements and operating costs. The E-2436 supports modern DDR5 memory with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, and it has a shared 18 MB L3 cache. It is the newer, more efficient, and more versatile processor.

The Intel Xeon Phi 7210 is only worth considering for specific workloads. It wins data compression, integer math, and extended instructions. The data compression lead is 34.9%, which could matter for compression-focused servers. The integer math lead is 26.5%, which could help in certain scientific or financial applications. Its 64 cores and 256 threads are its main asset, but those cores run at just 1.30 GHz base and 1.50 GHz boost. The benchmark data shows that this clock speed disadvantage outweighs the core count advantage in almost every test.

The verdict is clear. For general server use, database work, virtualization, or anything that benefits from high clock speeds, pick the Intel Xeon E-2436. For a narrow set of compression and integer-heavy workloads where raw thread count matters more than clock speed, the Intel Xeon Phi 7210 has a measurable edge. The data does not support choosing the Phi for any other purpose. The E-2436’s 66.3% lead in multi-threaded Cinebench R23 (18,389 versus 6,210) is particularly telling, as it shows that even a 6-core processor can outperform a 64-core processor when its architecture is more modern and its clock speed is over three times higher.