Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 vs Intel Xeon W-2133 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a remarkably consistent picture across the entire Cinebench suite: the Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 wins every single head-to-head comparison, though by margins that are almost uniformly narrow. In the six recorded tests, the older 12-core Haswell part edges out the 6-core Skylake-W processor by between 2.4% and 2.6% in every discipline.

The largest single-core victory comes in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the E5-2676 v3 scores 155 against the W-2133's 151, a 2.6% advantage. The R20 single-core test shows a 2.5% gap (648 vs 632), and the R23 single-core test narrows slightly to 2.4% (1543 vs 1507). These margins are small enough to suggest that per-thread performance is broadly comparable, with the E5-2676 v3 holding a slight but consistent edge.

Multi-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the E5-2676 v3 records 1102 points versus 1075 for the W-2133, a 2.5% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows 4592 against 4483, a 2.4% difference, and R23 multi-core repeats that exact 2.4% delta with 10935 points against 10676. What is notable here is that the E5-2676 v3 achieves these wins despite having double the core count of its rival. The W-2133's higher clock speeds close much of that structural gap, but not all of it.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story at a broader level. The E5-2676 v3 posts an average score of 3163, placing it in the 53rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The W-2133 averages 3087, good for the 52nd percentile. The delta between the two average scores works out to roughly 2.5% in favor of the E5-2676 v3, which aligns almost perfectly with the individual test margins.

For context, the E5-2676 v3 sits in a cluster of rivals that includes the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U at 3162 (a 0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE at 3160 (0.1% behind), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5850U at 3159 (0.1% behind), and the Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 at 3154 (0.3% behind). The W-2133, meanwhile, is bracketed by the Intel Core i7-8700B at 3086 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 at 3082 (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i7-6850K at 3079 (0.3% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U at 3096 (0.3% ahead of the W-2133). Both processors therefore occupy very similar competitive territory, surrounded by chips within a fraction of a percent of their respective scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 wins all six recorded head-to-head tests. It takes the Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core and single-core tests, with deltas ranging from 2.4% to 2.6%. The Intel Xeon W-2133 does not win a single test.

Q: How large is the performance gap between the two processors?

A: The gap is consistently narrow. Every head-to-head test shows the E5-2676 v3 ahead by either 2.4%, 2.5%, or 2.6%. The overall average benchmark scores differ by roughly 2.5% as well, with 3163 for the E5-2676 v3 and 3087 for the W-2133.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Intel Xeon W-2133 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The E5-2676 v3 therefore offers double the core count and double the thread count of its rival.

Q: How do the clock speeds compare between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2133 has the higher clock speeds, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 runs at a 2.40 GHz base clock and a 3.00 GHz boost clock. Despite the W-2133's clock advantage, the E5-2676 v3 still leads in every benchmark.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings of the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2133 has the higher TDP at 140 watts. The Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 is rated at 120 watts. The W-2133 draws more power while delivering lower benchmark scores.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking in the database?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 ranks in the 53rd percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Xeon W-2133 ranks in the 52nd percentile. This one-percentile difference reflects the E5-2676 v3's consistent, if modest, benchmark advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 wins in every measured benchmark category, so the use-case split is less about outright victories and more about the nature of the workload and platform requirements.

For multi-threaded rendering workloads, the E5-2676 v3 is the stronger choice. Its 12 cores and 24 threads give it a structural advantage in heavily parallel tasks, and the recorded data confirms this: it leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1102 vs 1075), R20 multi-core (4592 vs 4483), and R23 multi-core (10935 vs 10676). The margins are not large, but they are consistent across every generation of the Cinebench test.

For single-threaded workloads, the E5-2676 v3 also comes out ahead, despite the W-2133's substantially higher clock speeds. The W-2133's 3.60 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost clocks do not translate into a single-core win in any test. The E5-2676 v3 leads by 2.6% in R15 single-core, 2.5% in R20 single-core, and 2.4% in R23 single-core. This suggests the Haswell architecture's per-clock efficiency, combined with the database's recorded results, keeps it ahead even where clock speed would seem to favor the newer chip.

The W-2133's case rests on platform and feature advantages rather than benchmark wins. It supports DDR4 memory exclusively, offers 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and has a higher memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. It also has a higher TDP of 140 watts, which indicates a more aggressive power envelope. For workloads that depend on memory bandwidth or PCIe lane count, the W-2133 may be the more practical option, even if the raw Cinebench scores favor the E5-2676 v3.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 uses 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Xeon W-2133 uses 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds also diverge sharply: the E5-2676 v3 has a 2.40 GHz base and 3.00 GHz boost, whereas the W-2133 runs at 3.60 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost.

Thermal design power differs as well, with the E5-2676 v3 rated at 120 watts and the W-2133 at 140 watts. The sockets are incompatible: the E5-2676 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3, while the W-2133 uses Intel Socket 2066. Memory support also varies, with the E5-2676 v3 accepting both DDR3 and DDR4, while the W-2133 supports DDR4 only. Both use quad-channel memory buses, but the memory bandwidth figures differ, with the E5-2676 v3 rated at 68.3 GB/s and the W-2133 at 85.3 GB/s.

PCIe configurations are another point of difference. The E5-2676 v3 provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), while the W-2133 provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes (CPU only). The E5-2676 v3 has a part number of SR1Y5, while the W-2133 is designated SR3LL. The W-2133 has a recorded release date of August 28, 2017, while the E5-2676 v3 has no release date listed in the database. Both processors are end-of-life, neither has integrated graphics, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The W-2133 has a launch MSRP of $617.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is significant. The Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 is built on the Haswell architecture with the codename Haswell-EP, while the Intel Xeon W-2133 uses the Skylake architecture with the codename Skylake-W. The manufacturing process also differs: the E5-2676 v3 uses a 22 nm node, while the W-2133 uses a 14 nm node. Both are fabricated by Intel.

Cache layouts are notably different. The E5-2676 v3 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The W-2133 also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but its L2 cache jumps to 1 MB per core, and its shared L3 cache is much smaller at 8.25 MB. The die sizes reflect the different designs: the E5-2676 v3 measures 356 mm² with 2,600 million transistors, while the W-2133 measures 484 mm² with no transistor count recorded in the database.

The generational labels in the database further distinguish them: the E5-2676 v3 belongs to the Xeon E5 (Haswell-EP) generation, while the W-2133 belongs to the Xeon W (Skylake-W) generation. Both support ECC memory, both are classified as Server/Workstation parts, and neither includes integrated graphics. The W-2133's newer 14 nm process and larger die do not translate into benchmark superiority in this comparison; the E5-2676 v3's higher core count and larger shared L3 cache appear to carry the day in the recorded Cinebench results.