The Intel Xeon E-2288G is destined to be a highly impactful product. This processor is the first in Intel’s “Entry” line of Xeons that has eight cores. The Entry Xeon line for the past decade has focused on providing fewer but higher clock speed cores and minimal expansion capabilities. With the Intel Xeon E-2288G the line crosses into new territory competing directly with some of the lower-end Intel Xeon Silver 4208 market, yet with more performance. For edge server deployments, moving to Xeon E means short depth chassis and lower power consumption with potentially lower latency transactions. In our review, we are going to show why this CPU launch is a big deal in the market.
Key stats for the Intel Xeon E-2288G: 8 cores / 16 threads with a 3.7GHz base clock and 5.0GHz turbo boost. There is 16MB of onboard cache. The CPU features a 95W TDP. These are $539 list price parts.
Here is what the lscpu output looks like for an Intel Xeon E-2288G:
Before we get to our benchmarks, here is the key stat to keep in mind. The Intel Xeon E-2288G has a base clock of 3.7GHz for its eight cores while the Intel Xeon Silver 4208 has a maximum turbo clock of 3.2GHz. They may both be eight cores, but you will see the Xeon E is more like a Silver 4210 in our benchmarks. It is also crossing into the performance space, and beyond the AMD EPYC 7232P.
This is the first generation where core counts will reach eight in this segment. Typically the Intel Xeon E series is popular in installations for dedicated web hosting, some NAS units, and edge servers. Beyond the server use-cases that are being recognized at the end of October 2019, the chips are also designed for corporate workstations. Here, the “G” designates that the Xeon E-2288G has an integrated GPU. That means that one can use the CPUs without a PCIe GPU lowering BOM costs and system power consumption. Although the chips are based on the same lineage as the Intel Core series with features like ECC memory support and vPro, designating them as Xeon also allows Intel’s partners to differentiate pricing Xeon E systems versus Core systems for business markets and contracts.
We are primarily going to focus on the server use case here instead of the workstation side since we are waiting for the server launch to publish this review. Make no mistake, in this segment, this chip is a big deal.
Test Configuration
Here is our basic configuration for this class of CPU:
- Motherboard: Supemicro X11SCA-F
- CPU: Intel Xeon E-2288G
- RAM: 4x 8GB DDR4-2666 ECC UDIMMs
- SSD: Intel DC S3710 400GB
- SATADOM: Supermicro 32GB SATADOM
The CPU itself supports up to 128GB of RAM, in a 4x 32GB configuration. We see these platforms using 32-64GB or less given cost sensitivities. Again, we wish that we could use ECC RDIMMs for higher memory capacity. Even the Intel Atom C3000 Series now supports ECC RDIMMs.
There are going to be folks who want to point to AMD alternatives. As of this writing, there are really no alternatives in this space because while AMD may have competitive CPU parts, vendors have a vibrant Intel Xeon E-2100/ E-2200/ Core i3 ecosystem. AMD needs to do some work here to catch up, but it is not a focus market for them. Single socket servers in this segment are a relatively low volume area.
Next, we are going to take a look at our Intel Xeon E-2288G benchmarks, we are then going to focus on power consumption then conclude with our final words on the processors.
That’s an incredible low-end chip compared to what’s out there, but it’s a Core i9 8c at heart released a year later and almost 6mo after it’s found in workstations.
So, essentially a 9900K rebranded as a Xeon and capable of using ECC RAM? Nice! Are lots of cores at lower speeds really going to help the small office with 10-20 folks running a basic, self-hosted single file and print server?
Am I right thinking this might be a great pfSense CPU if one is trying to achieve high VPN throughput (Gigabit+) due to it’s dependence on single-thread performance and this chip’s high clock speeds?
Am I blind or there is really no remark about meltdown/spectre state of fixes in the e-22xx line or in 2288g anywhere? No in this article, nor in the original e-22xx nor in the linked e-22xx. I’d really like to have some affirmation that at least meltdown is fixed in actual silicon — which it should as rumors points out. But having a word from respectable STH about the problem would be nice to have…Thanks!
It would be fantastic if STH may add something to the Petr’s comment on https://www.servethehome.com/intel-core-i3-9100f-review-for-servers/ — e.g. what exactly is fixed in R0 silicon.
Thanks, I was looking forward to reading a review of the new Xeon E eight-core models. I am currently using a four-core Xeon E in my home workstation, and thinking about upgrading.
Shame these are unobtanium. I have only just managed to get hold of a E2100 series chip after almost a year of trying…
Unobtanium would be a good description, but unobtanium can at least be found on Pandora. The E-2288G can not be found ANYWHERE. This is a sick joke from Intel. They have now announced it TWICE and are still not selling it!
Neither is it available on the open market, but the delivery time of Fujitsu Workstations with the E-2288G are disastrous as well, so they must not be getting them either.
I just received this little baby and will install it on the HP Z2 G4 Tower, I will also install the Quadro RTX5000 on this machine and install 128GB DDR4 2666 UDIMM ram
INSTALLED NEW INTEL XEON E2288G CPU!!
I will be selling this custom built machine for $10K if anyone is interested hit me up. Specs are below.
NEWLY RELEASED FEATURE – Installed is the newest 2019 Intel release CPU, the flagship 8 CORE (5GHZ single core turbo) – Xeon E-2288G.
HP Z2 G4 WORKSTATION (SYSTEM MAXIMISED) General Features include:
3 YEARS WARRANTY!!
IN THE HP BOX!!
Windows 10 PRO 64Bit
128GB DDR4 2666 ECC UDIMM RAM
Intel Xeon E-2288G (8 Core/Released 2019 – Newest Fastest Intel single CPU on the planet)
This is currently the flagship CPU for this model HP system, the new Intel Xeon E-2288G
256GB HP Z TURBO TLC M.2 (2 x slots for M.2)
1x 1TB NVMe PCie M.2 SSD
1x 2TB SSD
12TB Ultrastar Enterprise
Nvidia Quadro RTX5000)
GC DVDRW
HP Thunderbolt 3
HP Keyboard+Mouse
@Gerald and John L: A simple google search for E-2288G and clicking “shopping” yields 2 results, although both above the 550$ price mentioned here…
What about 2278G, what is the benchmark difference?
John, we have not gotten the E-2278G but you can do a rough back-of-the-envelope calculation just looking at the clock speed delta.