Xeon Gold 5117 vs Xeon E-2278G
Xeon Gold 5117
Xeon E-2278G
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 5117
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E-2278G
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5117 | Xeon E-2278G |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S WS (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 5117 | Xeon E-2278G |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($300) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Gold 5117 and Xeon E-2278G
Xeon Gold 5117
The Xeon Gold 5117 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 14 cores and 28 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 19.25 MB. L2 cache: 14 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 16,897 points. Launch price was $800.
Xeon E-2278G
The Xeon E-2278G is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 May 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S WS (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 16,825 points. Launch price was $494.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 5117 packs 14 cores / 28 threads, while the Xeon E-2278G offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Gold 5117 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon Gold 5117 versus 5 GHz on the Xeon E-2278G — a 56.4% clock advantage for the Xeon E-2278G (base: 2 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Xeon Gold 5117 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E-2278G uses Coffee Lake-S WS (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 5117 scores 16,897 against the Xeon E-2278G's 16,825 — a 0.4% lead for the Xeon Gold 5117. L3 cache: 19.25 MB on the Xeon Gold 5117 vs 16 MB (total) on the Xeon E-2278G.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5117 | Xeon E-2278G |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 28+75% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 5 GHz+79% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.4 GHz+70% |
| L3 Cache | 19.25 MB+20% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 14 MB+5500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Coffee Lake-S WS (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 16,897 | 16,825 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 5117 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E-2278G uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2400 on the Xeon Gold 5117 versus DDR4-2666 on the Xeon E-2278G — the Xeon Gold 5117 supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Gold 5117 supports up to 768 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 142.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 6 (Xeon Gold 5117) vs 2 (Xeon E-2278G). PCIe lanes: 48 (Xeon Gold 5117) vs 16 (Xeon E-2278G) — the Xeon Gold 5117 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: C621 (Xeon Gold 5117) and C242,C246 (Xeon E-2278G).
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5117 | Xeon E-2278G |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2400+59900% | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 | 128 GB+17476167% |
| RAM Channels | 6+200% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 48+200% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Gold 5117 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 5117) vs VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Xeon E-2278G). The Xeon E-2278G includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics P630), while the Xeon Gold 5117 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Xeon E-2278G targets Server. Direct competitor: Xeon Gold 5117 rivals Xeon Silver 4114.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 5117 | Xeon E-2278G |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel UHD Graphics P630 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x / VT-d / EPT |
| Target Use | — | Server |
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