Intel Xeon Gold 5317 vs Intel Xeon W-2195 Comparison
Intel Xeon Gold 5317
Xeon W-2195
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Xeon Gold 5317 vs Intel Xeon W-2195
The Intel Xeon W-2195 and Intel Xeon Gold 5317 are both server/workstation processors, but they come from different generations and design points. The recorded Cinebench data shows the W-2195 winning all six head-to-head tests, with margins between 2.4% and 2.7%. The Gold 5317, however, brings a newer architecture, higher base clock, and substantially wider memory and PCIe interfaces. This analysis breaks down where each part leads, the architectural differences, and the benchmark results.
Where Each One Wins
In the database's head-to-head Cinebench suite, the Intel Xeon W-2195 wins every single test. It takes all six recorded benchmarks: Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, R20 multi-core and single-core, and R23 multi-core and single-core. The Gold 5317 records zero wins in these comparisons. The W-2195's advantage is consistent, ranging from 2.4% in R15 single-core to 2.7% in the other five tests.
That said, the Gold 5317 is not without its own strengths in the specification sheet. It has a higher base clock (3.00 GHz vs 2.30 GHz), a newer 10 nm process node, eight-channel memory support with 187.7 GB/s bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 4 with 64 lanes. These features are not directly measured in the Cinebench tests, but they indicate the Gold 5317 is designed for memory and I/O heavy workloads. The W-2195, by contrast, offers more cores (18 vs 12) and a higher boost clock (4.30 GHz vs 3.60 GHz), which likely explains its lead in the multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering tests.
In practical terms, the W-2195 is the stronger part for the specific Cinebench workloads recorded. The Gold 5317's advantages lie in platform capabilities that are not reflected in these CPU-only benchmarks.
Architecture Differences
The two processors are built on different architectures and sockets. The W-2195 uses Skylake-W, a 14 nm design, and fits into Intel Socket 2066. The Gold 5317 uses Ice Lake-SP, a 10 nm design, and fits into Intel Socket 4189. The process node difference is significant: 14 nm versus 10 nm, with the Gold 5317 being the newer, more power-efficient process.
Core and thread counts differ. The W-2195 has 18 cores and 36 threads, while the Gold 5317 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The W-2195 has a lower base clock (2.30 GHz) but a higher boost clock (4.30 GHz) compared to the Gold 5317's 3.00 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. TDP also differs: the W-2195 is rated at 140 W, the Gold 5317 at 150 W.
Cache layouts are similar per core: both have 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core. The shared L3 differs: the W-2195 has 24.75 MB, the Gold 5317 has 18 MB. The Gold 5317's L3 is smaller, but it is paired with a wider memory bus.
Memory support is a major differentiator. Both support DDR4, but the W-2195 uses a quad-channel bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the Gold 5317 uses an eight-channel bus with 187.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Gold 5317 also has PCIe Gen 4 with 64 lanes, versus the W-2195's PCIe Gen 3 with 48 lanes. Both support ECC memory.
Release dates and production status differ. The W-2195 was released on 2017-08-28 and is end-of-life. The Gold 5317 was released on 2021-04-05 and is active. The W-2195 has a launch MSRP of $2553; the Gold 5317 has no recorded launch MSRP.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The database records six Cinebench tests. In every one, the W-2195 comes out ahead. The margins are small but consistent.
In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the W-2195 scores 2401 against the Gold 5317's 2338, a 2.7% lead. In R15 single-core, the W-2195 scores 338 versus 330, a 2.4% lead. The single-core margin is the smallest of the set.
Moving to Cinebench R20, the W-2195 scores 10007 in multi-core, the Gold 5317 9743, again a 2.7% difference. In single-core, the W-2195 scores 1412, the Gold 5317 1375, also 2.7%.
Cinebench R23 shows the same pattern. Multi-core: W-2195 23828, Gold 5317 23199, 2.7% lead. Single-core: W-2195 3363, Gold 5317 3275, 2.7% lead.
The consistency of the 2.7% delta across most tests suggests the W-2195's higher boost clock and additional cores give it a steady advantage in these rendering workloads. The Gold 5317's higher base clock does not translate into a win in any recorded test.
The average benchmark scores also reflect this. The W-2195 has an average score of 6892, while the Gold 5317 averages 6710. The W-2195 sits at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs, the Gold 5317 at the 62nd.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has more cores?
A: The Intel Xeon W-2195 has 18 cores and 36 threads, while the Intel Xeon Gold 5317 has 12 cores and 24 threads.
Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?
A: The W-2195 boosts to 4.30 GHz, while the Gold 5317 boosts to 3.60 GHz. The Gold 5317 has a higher base clock at 3.00 GHz versus 2.30 GHz.
Q: Which processor has wider memory support?
A: The Gold 5317 supports eight-channel DDR4 with 187.7 GB/s bandwidth. The W-2195 supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth.
Q: Which processor is newer?
A: The Gold 5317 was released on 2021-04-05 and is active. The W-2195 was released on 2017-08-28 and is end-of-life.
Q: Which processor wins in the recorded Cinebench tests?
A: The W-2195 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with deltas ranging from 2.4% to 2.7%.
Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?
A: The Gold 5317 has a TDP of 150 W, while the W-2195 has a TDP of 140 W.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in several key specifications. The W-2195 has 18 cores and 36 threads; the Gold 5317 has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are 2.30 GHz for the W-2195 and 3.00 GHz for the Gold 5317. Boost clocks are 4.30 GHz and 3.60 GHz, respectively. TDP is 140 W for the W-2195 and 150 W for the Gold 5317.
Sockets differ: the W-2195 uses Intel Socket 2066, the Gold 5317 uses Intel Socket 4189. Architectures are Skylake-W (14 nm) for the W-2195 and Ice Lake-SP (10 nm) for the Gold 5317. The W-2195 has a die size of 484 mm²; the Gold 5317 has no recorded die size.
L3 cache differs: the W-2195 has 24.75 MB shared, the Gold 5317 has 18 MB shared. Both have 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core.
Memory bus width differs: quad-channel for the W-2195, eight-channel for the Gold 5317. Memory bandwidth is 85.3 GB/s for the W-2195 and 187.7 GB/s for the Gold 5317. PCIe support differs: Gen 3 with 48 lanes for the W-2195, Gen 4 with 64 lanes for the Gold 5317.
Release dates differ: 2017-08-28 for the W-2195, 2021-04-05 for the Gold 5317. Production status: end-of-life for the W-2195, active for the Gold 5317. The W-2195 has a launch MSRP of $2553; the Gold 5317 has no recorded launch MSRP. The W-2195 has a part number (SR3RX); the Gold 5317 does not.
Average benchmark scores differ: 6892 for the W-2195, 6710 for the Gold 5317. Percentile ranks are 63 for the W-2195 and 62 for the Gold 5317. Both processors are not multiplier-unlocked, both support ECC memory, and both are in the server/workstation market segment.