Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 vs Intel Xeon Silver 4116 Comparison
Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3
Xeon Silver 4116
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 vs Intel Xeon Silver 4116
The Intel Xeon Silver 4116 and Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 are both 12-core, 24-thread server processors from Intel, but they belong to different generations and architectures. The database records six Cinebench benchmarks for each, and the results show a consistent advantage for the Silver 4116 across all tests. This analysis walks through the architectural differences, specification gaps, and benchmark outcomes to clarify which processor holds the performance edge.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?
A: The Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz, while the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 has a base clock of 2.10 GHz.
Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?
A: The E5-2678 v3 has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Silver 4116 has 16.5 MB of shared L3 cache.
Q: Which processor is built on a smaller process node?
A: The Silver 4116 uses a 14 nm process, while the E5-2678 v3 uses a 22 nm process.
Q: Which processor has a higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?
A: The Silver 4116 scores 1822, while the E5-2678 v3 scores 1761, a 3.5% difference.
Q: Which processor supports DDR3 memory?
A: The E5-2678 v3 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the Silver 4116 supports only DDR4.
Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?
A: The Silver 4116 has an average benchmark score of 3733, while the E5-2678 v3 has 3608.
Architecture Differences
Both processors share the same core and thread count: 12 cores and 24 threads. The underlying designs, however, are from different eras. The Silver 4116 is based on the Skylake-SP architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process with 8,000 million transistors. The E5-2678 v3 uses the Haswell-EP architecture on a 22 nm process with 2,600 million transistors and a die size of 356 mm². The cache hierarchy differs as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache per core is 1 MB on the Silver 4116 versus 256 KB on the E5-2678 v3. The L3 cache is larger on the E5-2678 v3: 30 MB shared versus 16.5 MB shared on the Silver 4116. Memory support also diverges. The Silver 4116 supports DDR4 only, while the E5-2678 v3 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, with a quad-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The E5-2678 v3 also lists PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), while the Silver 4116 has no PCIe data recorded. The sockets are different: Intel Socket 3647 for the Silver 4116 and Intel Socket 2011-3 for the E5-2678 v3. The Silver 4116 has a release date of 2017-07-10, while the E5-2678 v3 has no release date in the database. The E5-2678 v3 is marked as end-of-life, while the Silver 4116 has no production status listed.
The transistor count difference is notable: the Silver 4116 packs 8,000 million transistors on a 14 nm node, while the E5-2678 v3 uses 2,600 million on a 22 nm node. This reflects a more modern design, though the database does not include power efficiency measurements. The E5-2678 v3 compensates with a larger L3 cache and higher clock speeds, but as the benchmark section will show, these advantages do not translate into Cinebench wins.
The Verdict
The benchmark data is decisive. The Intel Xeon Silver 4116 wins all six Cinebench tests recorded in the database, with deltas ranging from 3.4% to 3.5%. The E5-2678 v3, despite having a higher base clock (2.50 GHz vs 2.10 GHz) and boost clock (3.30 GHz vs 3.00 GHz), and a larger L3 cache (30 MB vs 16.5 MB), trails in every measured workload. The Silver 4116 also has a higher average benchmark score (3733 vs 3608) and a slightly higher percentile rank (56 vs 55). For users choosing between these two server/workstation processors, the data points to the Silver 4116 as the stronger performer in Cinebench workloads. The E5-2678 v3 does offer quad-channel memory and DDR3 support, but these features do not appear in the benchmark results. Given that the E5-2678 v3 is also marked as end-of-life, the Silver 4116 is the more future-proof option based on the recorded data.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Silver 4116 has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz, while the E5-2678 v3 has 2.50 GHz and 3.30 GHz respectively. The TDP is 85 W for the Silver 4116 and 120 W for the E5-2678 v3. The socket is Intel Socket 3647 for the Silver 4116 and Intel Socket 2011-3 for the E5-2678 v3. The architecture is Skylake-SP for the Silver 4116 and Haswell-EP for the E5-2678 v3. The process node is 14 nm for the Silver 4116 and 22 nm for the E5-2678 v3. Transistor count is 8,000 million for the Silver 4116 and 2,600 million for the E5-2678 v3. The E5-2678 v3 has a die size of 356 mm², while the Silver 4116 has no recorded die size. L2 cache per core is 1 MB for the Silver 4116 and 256 KB for the E5-2678 v3. L3 cache is 16.5 MB shared for the Silver 4116 and 30 MB shared for the E5-2678 v3. Memory support: the Silver 4116 supports DDR4 only, while the E5-2678 v3 supports DDR3 and DDR4. The E5-2678 v3 lists quad-channel memory and a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Silver 4116 has no memory bus or bandwidth data. The E5-2678 v3 lists PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), while the Silver 4116 has no PCIe data. The E5-2678 v3 is marked as end-of-life, while the Silver 4116 has no production status. The release date for the Silver 4116 is 2017-07-10, while the E5-2678 v3 has no release date. Part numbers differ: SR3HQBX806734116CD8067303567200 for the Silver 4116 and SR20Z for the E5-2678 v3.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The database records six Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Silver 4116 scores 1301 against 1257 for the E5-2678 v3, a 3.5% lead. In R15 single-core, the Silver 4116 scores 183 against 177, a 3.4% lead. In R20 multi-core, the Silver 4116 scores 5421 against 5239, a 3.5% lead. In R20 single-core, the Silver 4116 scores 765 against 739, a 3.5% lead. In R23 multi-core, the Silver 4116 scores 12908 against 12474, a 3.5% lead. In R23 single-core, the Silver 4116 scores 1822 against 1761, a 3.5% lead. The consistency of the delta across tests is notable. The Silver 4116 wins all six head-to-head matchups, giving it a 6-0 record in the database.
The margins are small but uniform. Every multi-core test shows a 3.5% advantage for the Silver 4116, and the single-core tests show either 3.4% or 3.5%. This suggests a systematic performance edge rather than a workload-specific anomaly. The E5-2678 v3 never closes the gap, even in tests that might favor its higher clock speeds or larger cache.
Where Each One Wins
Based on the recorded benchmarks, the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 wins in every tested category. All six Cinebench tests, covering both multi-core and single-core workloads across R15, R20, and R23, show the Silver 4116 ahead by roughly 3.5%. The E5-2678 v3 does not register a single win in the head-to-head data. However, the E5-2678 v3 does have specifications that could matter in other contexts. It has a higher base and boost clock, a larger L3 cache, and quad-channel memory with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. It also supports DDR3 memory, which may be relevant for legacy systems. But in the measured Cinebench performance, the Silver 4116 is consistently faster. The average benchmark score also favors the Silver 4116: 3733 versus 3608. The percentile rank is 56 for the Silver 4116 and 55 for the E5-2678 v3. For users prioritizing raw Cinebench performance, the Silver 4116 is the clear choice. For those who need DDR3 support or higher memory bandwidth, the E5-2678 v3 offers those features, but the database does not include benchmarks that would quantify their impact.