Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 vs Intel Xeon W-2133 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon W-2133 wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison against the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4. Across six Cinebench tests, the W-2133 takes a clean sweep, with margins that are remarkably consistent.

In Cinebench R15, the W-2133 scores 1075 points in the multicore test versus 966 for the E5-1650 v4, a lead of 11.3%. The single-core test tells the same story: 151 points versus 136, a delta of 11%. This consistency suggests that the W-2133’s advantage is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental architectural edge.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds exactly. The W-2133 posts 4483 points in multicore, while the E5-1650 v4 manages 4028, again an 11.3% advantage. In single-core, the W-2133 scores 632 versus 568, another 11.3% delta. The fact that these percentages repeat so precisely across R15 and R20 indicates a stable performance uplift.

Cinebench R23, the most demanding test in the set, shows the same margin. The W-2133 reaches 10676 points in multicore, compared to 9592 for the E5-1650 v4, an 11.3% gap. Single-core results are 1507 versus 1354, once again 11.3% apart. No test in the database shows the E5-1650 v4 ahead, even by a fraction.

The average benchmark scores reflect this overall picture, though the gap narrows when accounting for a broader mix. The W-2133 carries an average score of 3087, while the E5-1650 v4 sits at 2978. That is a difference of roughly 3.7%, smaller than the Cinebench deltas because the E5-1650 v4’s Geekbench results (6060 multicore, 1122 single-core) are not directly compared in the head-to-head set. Still, the direction is consistent.

Both processors land at the 52nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning each sits squarely in the middle of the pack. Their nearest rivals tell a similar story. The W-2133 is effectively tied with the Intel Core i7-8700B (3086 average score, 0% delta), the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 (3082, 0.2% ahead of the W-2133), and the Intel Core i7-6850K (3079, 0.3% ahead). The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U edges it out by 0.3% at 3096. The E5-1650 v4, meanwhile, trades blows with the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5675U and Intel Xeon E-2334, both at 2988 (0.3% ahead of the E5-1650 v4), while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750U trails by 0.5% and the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL by 0.8%.

What does this mean in practice? The W-2133 delivers a solid, repeatable performance advantage in rendering workloads. An 11.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore translates directly into shorter render times for CPU-bound tasks. The single-core gains, also around 11%, matter for lightly threaded applications where clock speed and IPC dominate.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2133 scores 10676 points versus 9592 for the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4, an 11.3% advantage. The W-2133 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests.

Q: Are these two CPUs evenly matched overall?

A: Not exactly. The W-2133 has an average benchmark score of 3087, while the E5-1650 v4 averages 2978. However, both sit at the 52nd percentile among all CPUs, so they occupy the same performance tier relative to the broader market.

Q: Does the E5-1650 v4 have any win in the database?

A: No. In the head-to-head benchmark set, the W-2133 wins all six tests. The E5-1650 v4’s only additional data points are Geekbench scores (6060 multicore, 1122 single-core), which are not part of the direct comparison set.

Q: What are the closest rivals to the W-2133?

A: The Intel Core i7-8700B (average score 3086, 0% delta) is its nearest match, followed by the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 (3082, 0.2% ahead of the W-2133) and the Intel Core i7-6850K (3079, 0.3% ahead). The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U leads by 0.3%.

Q: How does the E5-1650 v4 compare to its own nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5675U and Intel Xeon E-2334 both score 2988, 0.3% ahead of the E5-1650 v4. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750U trails by 0.5%, and the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL trails by 0.8%.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the W-2133 and the E5-1650 v4 support ECC memory and use quad-channel DDR4. The W-2133 offers higher memory bandwidth at 85.3 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s.

The Verdict

The data points to one clear conclusion: the Intel Xeon W-2133 is the superior performer in every benchmark where the two are directly compared. With an 11.3% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both multicore and single-core tests, the W-2133 offers a consistent and meaningful performance advantage. Its higher memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s) reinforces that edge in memory-sensitive workloads.

The E5-1650 v4 is not a bad processor; it scores at the 52nd percentile, just like the W-2133, and its average benchmark score of 2978 places it within reach of modern mid-range parts. But in a direct matchup, it loses every recorded test. There is no workload in the head-to-head set where the E5-1650 v4 pulls ahead.

For users choosing between these two, the W-2133 is the obvious pick if raw performance is the priority. It wins on every Cinebench metric, offers more PCIe lanes (48 versus 40), and delivers higher memory bandwidth. The E5-1650 v4 does have a slight boost clock advantage (4.00 GHz versus 3.90 GHz), but that does not translate into any benchmark win.

The only caveat comes from platform considerations. The W-2133 uses Intel Socket 2066, while the E5-1650 v4 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. These are not interchangeable, so the choice of CPU effectively dictates the motherboard and system platform. If a user already owns a Socket 2011-3 board, the E5-1650 v4 might be the practical choice. But purely on the recorded performance data, the W-2133 wins outright.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The W-2133 uses the Intel Socket 2066, while the E5-1650 v4 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The W-2133 boosts to 3.90 GHz, whereas the E5-1650 v4 boosts to 4.00 GHz, a 0.10 GHz advantage for the older part. Both have a 140 W TDP and six cores with twelve threads.

Memory bandwidth differs meaningfully: the W-2133 provides 85.3 GB/s, while the E5-1650 v4 provides 76.8 GB/s. PCIe lane counts also differ, with the W-2133 offering 48 lanes (Gen 3, CPU only) versus 40 lanes for the E5-1650 v4. The L3 cache is notably different: the W-2133 has 8.25 MB shared, while the E5-1650 v4 has 15 MB shared. L2 cache also differs: 1 MB per core for the W-2133, 256 KB per core for the E5-1650 v4. Both support DDR4 memory in quad-channel configuration and both support ECC.

The launch MSRP for the W-2133 was $617. The launch MSRP for the E5-1650 v4 was $621.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap explains the benchmark results. The W-2133 is built on Skylake-W, a Skylake generation part, while the E5-1650 v4 is built on Broadwell-EP, from the Broadwell generation. Both use a 14 nm process node from Intel, but the microarchitectural improvements in Skylake deliver higher instructions per clock, which shows up in the consistent 11.3% single-core and multicore advantages.

The die sizes are very different. The W-2133 has a die size of 484 mm², while the E5-1650 v4 has a die size of 246 mm². The E5-1650 v4 is listed with 3,400 million transistors, while the W-2133 has no transistor count in the database. The smaller Broadwell die with a larger L3 cache (15 MB versus 8.25 MB) suggests a different cache hierarchy design, yet the Skylake-W still outperforms it across all tests.

The W-2133 belongs to the Xeon W series (Skylake-W codename) and is marked as a Server/Workstation part. The E5-1650 v4 belongs to the Xeon E5 series (Broadwell-EP codename) and is marked as a Desktop part. Despite the "Desktop" market segment label, the E5-1650 v4 supports ECC memory and is clearly workstation-oriented.

Neither CPU has integrated graphics, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both are end-of-life products. The W-2133 was released later, with its release date recorded as 2017-08-28, while the E5-1650 v4's release date is 2016-06-19. That year-long gap helps explain why the newer Skylake-W part holds the performance edge despite similar core counts and TDP.

In the end, the architecture difference is the story. Skylake-W over Broadwell-EP is worth roughly 11% in Cinebench performance, and that advantage appears in every single test the database records. The larger L3 cache on the E5-1650 v4 does not compensate for the older microarchitecture. For any workload that relies on CPU compute, the W-2133 is the stronger choice.