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Intel Xeon E-2186M

Intel Xeon E-2186M: Power for Professionals in a Mobile Format

Relevance in 2025: Is this Processor Worth Considering?

Architecture and Process: Coffee Lake in Detail

The Intel Xeon E-2186M processor, released in 2018, is based on the Coffee Lake architecture and a 14nm manufacturing process. Despite its age, it remains in demand in the mobile workstation segment due to its reliability and specific features.

- 6 cores, 12 threads: Hyper-Threading enables efficient task distribution. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with a maximum turbo frequency of 4.8 GHz (single-core) or 4.3 GHz (all cores).

- Integrated Intel UHD P630 graphics: 24 Execution Units (EUs), frequencies of up to 1.2 GHz. Supports 4K@60Hz via DisplayPort, hardware decoding of HEVC and VP9. Optimizations for CAD applications are enabled for professional use.

Xeon Feature: Support for ECC memory, critical for workstations where data errors are unacceptable (e.g., engineering calculations).

Power Consumption and TDP: Balancing Power and Heat

The processor's TDP is 45W, but under peak loads (e.g., rendering), consumption can reach 80–90W. This requires an advanced cooling system.

- Thermal Limitations: In thin laptops (e.g., Dell Precision 5530), the processor often throttles (reduces frequencies) during prolonged workloads. In bulkier models (HP ZBook 17 G5), thermal performance is more stable.

- Energy Efficiency: By 2025 standards, the 14nm process lags behind modern 5nm (Apple M3) or 4nm (AMD Zen 4) chips in terms of power consumption per watt.

Performance: Real-World Tasks and Turbo Mode

Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core: 1310 (comparable to Ryzen 5 5600H);

- Multi-Core: 5116 (close to Core i7-11800H).

Use Cases:

1. Office Work: In Microsoft Office, with a browser holding 50+ tabs, the processor operates smoothly.

2. Multimedia:

- 4K video encoding in HandBrake: 6-core rendering is 30% faster than that of the 4-core Core i7-8750H.

- Working in Adobe Premiere: Smooth editing when using a discrete GPU (Nvidia Quadro).

3. Gaming:

- Integrated P630 graphics: Only light projects (CS:GO — 40–50 FPS on low settings).

- With a discrete graphics card (Nvidia RTX 3000/4000): Current games on high settings (Cyberpunk 2077 — 60+ FPS at FHD).

Turbo Boost: In short tasks (application launches, code compilation), the frequency can rise to 4.8 GHz, but under sustained loads (over 5 minutes), it stabilizes at 3.8–4.0 GHz.

Use Cases: Who is the E-2186M Suitable For?

- Engineers and Designers: SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Revit with ECC memory support.

- Data Analysts: Handling large datasets in Excel, Python.

- Creative Professionals: Video editing, 3D rendering (in conjunction with a discrete GPU).

- Gamers: Only in combination with a powerful graphics card.

Not Suitable For:

- Users who require over 6 hours of battery life.

- Those seeking ultraportable devices (thickness typically starts from 20mm).

Battery Life: The Cost of Performance

With a TDP of 45W, battery life for office tasks is around 4–6 hours (e.g., Dell Precision 7530 with a 97Wh battery).

Power-Saving Technologies:

- Intel Speed Shift: Dynamic frequency adjustments to reduce latency.

- C-States: Disabling unused cores.

Advice: To extend battery life, choose the "Power Saver" mode in power settings and limit processor frequency to 2.5 GHz.

Comparison with Competitors

1. AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX (2022):

- 8 cores/16 threads, 6nm, TDP 45W.

- Better multi-core performance (+25% in Cinebench R23), but lacks ECC memory.

2. Apple M2 Pro (2023):

- 10–12 cores, 5nm, TDP 30W.

- Up to 18 hours of battery life, but limited compatibility with Windows applications.

3. Intel Core i9-11980HK (2021):

- 8 cores/16 threads, 14nm, TDP 65W.

- Higher performance in gaming, but generates more heat.

Prices: Laptops with the Xeon E-2186M in 2025 are from $1500 (used from $700). New devices are rare, mainly leftover stock.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- ECC memory support for enhanced reliability.

- Stable operation under prolonged loads.

- Compatibility with professional software (ISV certification).

Weaknesses:

- High power consumption by modern standards.

- Lack of PCIe 4.0 (only PCIe 3.0).

- Price: New devices are more expensive than Ryzen 5/7 equivalents.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

- Device Type: Workstation (Dell Precision, HP ZBook) or gaming laptop (rare, e.g., MSI WS Series).

- What to Pay Attention to:

- Cooling system: At least two fans, copper heat pipes.

- Upgrade options: 2 DDR4 slots, 2 NVMe drives.

- Screen: For professional tasks — 4K with 100% sRGB coverage.

Examples of Models in 2025:

- Dell Precision 5580 (2024): Xeon E-2186M, 32GB DDR4 ECC, Quadro RTX 3000 — from $2200.

- HP ZBook Fury 17 G8: Similar configuration — from $2400.

Final Conclusion: Who is the Xeon E-2186M Suitable For?

This processor is a good choice if you:

- Work with professional software that requires ECC memory.

- Need a mobile workstation with guaranteed reliability.

- Are not ready to transition to ARM architecture (Apple Silicon) due to compatibility issues.

Alternatives for 2025:

- For battery life — Apple M3/M4.

- For multi-threaded tasks — AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS.

- For gaming — Intel Core i7-14700HX.

Key Benefit of the E-2186M: An ideal balance for professionals where stability and compatibility are more important than the latest technologies.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

April 2018

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

E-2186M

Code Name

Coffee Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

2.90 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.80 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1440

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

45 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2666 | LPDDR3-2133

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

64 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

41.8 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

Yes

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® UHD Graphics P630

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.20 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@30Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

N/A

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

12 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1310

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

5116

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1107

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

4912

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2551

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

11499

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i7-10700T

1387 +5.9%

Core i7-1185G7E

1353 +3.3%

Xeon E-2186M

1310

Core i5-9300H

1268 -3.2%

Xeon E3-1280 v3

1226 -6.4%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core Ultra 5 236V

5743 +12.3%

Ryzen 5 5625U

5452 +6.6%

Xeon E-2186M

5116

Ryzen 5 2600

4832 -5.6%

Xeon E5-2650 v2

4542 -11.2%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i5-4690K

1154 +4.2%

Xeon Platinum 8358

1121 +1.3%

Xeon E-2186M

1107

Ryzen Threadripper 2950X

1084 -2.1%

Core i5-6600K

1063 -4%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E5-2650L v3

5391 +9.8%

Ryzen 3 3300X

5117 +4.2%

Xeon E-2186M

4912

Xeon Silver 4208

4665 -5%

Core i7-1265UL

4425 -9.9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon W-3365

2625 +2.9%

Core i5-10300H

2579 +1.1%

Xeon E-2186M

2551

Core i7-6700K

2508 -1.7%

Core i7-4790K

2465 -3.4%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Ryzen 3 210

12996 +13%

Xeon E5-2667 v2

12258 +6.6%

Xeon E-2186M

11499

Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G

10958 -4.7%

Core i3-1210U

10513 -8.6%