Intel Xeon E-2278GEL socket: LGA 1151
The Intel Xeon E-2278GEL uses the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards with C242 or C246. It is a low power eight core embedded chip with UHD Graphics 630 and ECC at 35 W.
- Socket
- LGA 1151 (revision 2)
- Launched
- June 2019
- Cores and threads
- 8 and 16
- Base power
- 35 W
- Codename
- Coffee Lake-S WS
- Segment
- Embedded
- Family
- Intel Xeon E
- Clocks
- 2.0 / 3.9 GHz
Intel Xeon E-2278GEL specifications
| Cores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 16 |
| Core architecture | Coffee Lake-S cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 2.0 GHz base, up to 3.9 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 |
| Cache | 16 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 35 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4-2666 ECC, two channels, up to 128 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 (350 MHz to 1.2 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| ECC memory | Supported |
| Package | FCLGA1151 (37.5 by 37.5 mm) |
| Launch price | $519 manufacturer recommended price |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Xeon E-2278GEL needs a motherboard with a LGA 1151 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| C240 series: C242 and C246 | C246, C242 | Works out of the box |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1151.
LGA 1151 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,151 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 37.5 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | August 2015 |
| Memory | DDR4 on most boards (some early boards use DDR3L). DDR4 only on the second revision |
| Cooler mounting holes | 75 × 75 mm |
What the Xeon E-2278GEL is
The Xeon E-2278GEL squeezes eight cores with Hyper-Threading into a 35 W embedded envelope. It launched in June 2019 with a 2.0 GHz base and up to 3.9 GHz boost. Intel targets fanless and sealed edge boxes that need many threads without much heat.
Sixteen megabytes of Smart Cache support logging and inference helpers across sixteen threads. The low base clock stretches efficiency, while boost still reaches 3.9 GHz for control bursts. Sixteen threads let one node replace several smaller controllers.
UHD Graphics 630 from 350 MHz to 1.2 GHz covers local display for setup and status. The process is 14 nm and the multiplier is locked. ECC memory suits remote sites where visits are costly. The $519 manufacturer price matches the higher power GE twin for supply simplicity.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The E-2278GEL fits LGA 1151 on revision 2 embedded boards only. Low power C246 boards with passive heatsinks pair ECC UDIMMs with locked firmware for dusty plants. Active cooling may be minimal or absent by design.
Thermal design must cover 35 W continuous in the deployment ambient, not lab air. Revision 1 boards never post. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers generation rules.
Single socket sealed nodes are the unit of scale. There is no second socket, so fleets grow by adding nodes.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
DDR4-2666 ECC UDIMMs in two channels up to 128 GB suit edge logging with error protection. Lower clocks reduce memory pressure versus 80 W twins. Choose wide temperature DIMMs where enclosures bake in summer.
Sixteen Gen3 CPU lanes can hold a single NIC or capture card while integrated graphics show status locally. Many sealed builds use no expansion at all and rely on chipset networking. Power savings leave headroom for radios and sensors.
Cooling uses the 75 mm LGA 1151 pattern from the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide with a passive-rated heatsink. Keep fins free of dust mats where filters are absent. Mount orientation should aid convection in vertical cabinets.
Upgrade paths
On the same socket, the Intel Xeon E-2278GE raises clocks to 3.3 GHz base at 80 W for ventilated cabinets with the same eight cores. The Intel Xeon E-2226GE drops to six cores at 80 W for lower cost control. Both need requalification for sealed use.
Workstation G SKUs with P630 graphics suit offices rather than sealed plants. They lack low power tuning and embedded supply terms.
Past LGA 1151 low power embedded generations need newer sockets. The E-2278GEL covers dense edge threads where 35 W with ECC must run unattended.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL use?
It uses LGA 1151 on revision 2 embedded boards with C242 or C246.
How many cores does the E-2278GEL have?
Eight cores with Hyper-Threading give sixteen threads. Base is 2.0 GHz with boost to 3.9 GHz.
What does the L suffix mean on the E-2278GEL?
The L suffix marks low power 35 W tuning for sealed boxes. The GE twin runs 80 W with higher clocks.
Does the E-2278GEL include integrated graphics?
Yes, UHD Graphics 630 from 350 MHz to 1.2 GHz.
What memory does the E-2278GEL support?
DDR4-2666 ECC UDIMMs in two channels up to 128 GB.
Sources and verification
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .