Intel Xeon E-2124

Intel Xeon E-2124 is a 4-core, 4-thread server/workstation processor from the Coffee Lake-S WS generation, released on July 11, 2018. It runs at a 3.30 GHz base clock and a 4.30 GHz boost clock, with 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache. It uses Intel Socket 1151 and has a launch MSRP of $198. The aggregate benchmark data gives it an average score of 1698 and places it at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Cinebench results show a processor built around a small number of fast cores. In Cinebench R23, the E-2124 scores 828 in single-core and 5871 in multi-core. In Cinebench R20, the equivalent results are 347 and 2465. In Cinebench R15, they are 83 and 591. In every version, the multi-core score is higher than the single-core score, but the core count is four and the thread count is also four, so parallel work is limited to four hardware threads.

This split has a clear practical meaning. Single-threaded code receives the full benefit of the 4.30 GHz boost clock and the Coffee Lake architecture, while multi-threaded code cannot expand beyond what four cores can deliver. The 8 MB shared L3 cache is part of that design, but the workload impact is most visible in the difference between the R23 single-core score of 828 and the multi-core score of 5871. The gap reflects a quad-core processor with four threads rather than a high-core-count design. For real workloads, this profile favors latency-sensitive tasks that depend on one or two responsive threads and limits tasks that scale across many cores.

The single-core side is the stronger side of the processor. The R23 single-core score of 828, the R20 score of 347, and the R15 score of 83 are all produced with the same 3.30 GHz base clock and 4.30 GHz boost clock. The multi-core side, by contrast, is bounded by the four-thread ceiling. Applications that spread work across more than four threads will see no additional scaling from this CPU, and the benchmark data indicates that the multi-core throughput is modest relative to higher-core-count processors in the database.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals data places the E-2124 in an extremely tight cluster. Against the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G, the E-2124 has an average benchmark score of 1698 versus 1701, with a deltaPct of -0.2. That is a negligible performance gap; the two chips are effectively tied in the aggregate data.

Against the Intel Core i7-990X, the average score is 1708 and the deltaPct is -0.6. The E-2124 is 0.6% behind, again within the noise of a benchmark aggregate. Against the Intel Core i7-5850HQ, the average score is 1688 and the deltaPct is +0.6. This is the only nearest rival that the Xeon leads, and it does so by 0.6%. Against the Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4, the average score is 1709 and the deltaPct is -0.7. The E-2124 sits 0.7% behind.

Overall, all four nearest rivals are within 0.7% of the E-2124. The comparative picture is one of near-equivalence rather than a clear win or loss. No rival separates itself by even a full percentage point in the aggregate score, so the E-2124 is positioned inside a dense performance neighborhood.

Benchmark Performance

The aggregate score of 1698 corresponds to a 42nd percentile rank. That means the database contains many CPUs with higher aggregate scores, but the nearest rival scores are all within a small band. The individual Cinebench results reinforce the same conclusion. The multi-core R15 score is 591, the multi-core R20 score is 2465, and the multi-core R23 score is 5871. On the single-core side, the R15 score is 83, the R20 score is 347, and the R23 score is 828.

These numbers indicate that the E-2124 is not a high-throughput part. The multi-core R23 score of 5871 shows the practical ceiling of a four-thread processor. The exact deltas to its nearest rivals show how close the competition is: -0.2% versus the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G, -0.6% versus the Intel Core i7-990X, +0.6% versus the Intel Core i7-5850HQ, and -0.7% versus the Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4. In percentile terms, a 42nd percentile rank means the processor sits in the lower-middle portion of the CPU distribution.

The single-core results are a more useful strength. The R23 single-core score of 828 demonstrates solid per-thread performance, and the 4.30 GHz boost clock is the highest clock figure in the data. The multi-core results are the limiting factor for any workload that scales across threads. The average benchmark score of 1698, combined with the nearest rival deltas, shows a CPU that competes on single-thread behavior and stays competitive only because the comparison set is very close in aggregate terms.

Who Should Consider It

Given the 4-core/4-thread layout and the single-core benchmark scores, the E-2124 fits workloads where responsiveness and per-thread speed matter more than raw parallel throughput. Office-style productivity, lightly threaded applications, and tasks that run primarily on one or two cores align with the R23 single-core score of 828 and the 4.30 GHz boost clock. For gaming, the single-core numbers are encouraging because game workloads often include a substantial single-threaded component. However, the four-thread limit and the Cinebench multi-core scores indicate that games or other software that spread work across more than four threads cannot be fully supported.

The server/workstation market segment and ECC memory support make the platform more interesting for workstation builds where data integrity is important. The integrated UHD Graphics P630 means a discrete GPU is not strictly necessary for display output, which is useful for basic office or server-style operation. For creation workloads that are heavily threaded, such as rendering or other multi-core computing, the multi-core R23 score of 5871 is a serious constraint. These workloads generally scale with additional threads, and the E-2124 only has four threads.

Users whose primary applications are single-threaded or lightly threaded will see the most benefit. Users whose primary applications are multi-threaded will find the nearest rivals equally limited, since all are within 0.7% in average score, but the E-2124 is not a multi-threaded strong performer. The intended user is someone with lightly threaded primary applications and a need for ECC memory in a compact four-core platform.

Power and Thermals

The E-2124 has a TDP of 71 W. This is a moderate power draw and sets expectations for cooling: a capable air cooler should be sufficient for a workstation chassis, even under sustained load. The processor is built on Intel's 14 nm process with a 126 mm² die, so the heat density is moderate for a 2018 product. The multiplier is locked, meaning there is no overclocking headroom to plan for; a thermal solution that handles the stock 71 W TDP should keep the processor within its intended envelope.

The integrated UHD Graphics P630 adds display capability but does not change the TDP class. The data does not include actual thermal measurements, so the TDP is the primary reference for selecting a cooling tier. The 71 W figure places the E-2124 in a class that does not demand exotic cooling, and the locked multiplier keeps the thermal requirements predictable.

Platform and Compatibility

The E-2124 uses Intel Socket 1151 and belongs to the Coffee Lake-S WS generation. It has four cores, four threads, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache, and it is manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process. The memory controller supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported, which aligns with the server/workstation market segment.

On the PCIe side, the CPU provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU only, so add-in cards such as discrete GPUs or storage controllers draw from those lanes. The integrated UHD Graphics P630 provides onboard display output. The part number is SR3WQ. The processor was released on July 11, 2018, and the production status is end-of-life. For upgrade path, the data does not list compatible chipsets or alternative processors on this socket. The end-of-life status means the platform is not expanding; any upgrade would be constrained to Socket 1151 options, but no such alternatives are specified in the benchmark data.