AMD Athlon Gold 3150G vs Intel Xeon E-2124 Comparison

The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G and Intel Xeon E-2124 are both quad-core, quad-thread desktop and workstation processors, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Athlon Gold 3150G, a 12 nm Picasso part from AMD, targets the entry desktop segment with integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics and an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon E-2124, a 14 nm Coffee Lake-S WS chip from Intel, is a server and workstation processor with ECC memory support and a higher boost clock. Across six Cinebench workloads, the AMD part wins every single test, though by a narrow margin. This page examines what the recorded data reveals about these two chips, their architectural choices, and the implications for potential users.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock?

A: The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E-2124 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz. The AMD chip runs 200 MHz faster at stock settings.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2124 has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, which is 400 MHz higher than the 3.90 GHz boost clock of the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G. This gives the Intel part a clear single-thread frequency advantage in theory.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E-2124 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G does not. This is a notable distinction for workstation and server reliability applications.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2124 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part offers double the last-level cache capacity.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G is listed as Active, while the Intel Xeon E-2124 is listed as End-of-life. This suggests the AMD chip remains in production, whereas the Intel part has been discontinued.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G has an average benchmark score of 1701, while the Intel Xeon E-2124 has an average score of 1658. The AMD chip leads by 43 points, which is approximately 2.6 percent.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge sharply in their underlying designs. The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G uses the Zen+ architecture, specifically the Picasso codename, built on a 12 nm process node at GlobalFoundries. It contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E-2124 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS codename, built on a 14 nm process node at Intel. Its die size is 126 mm², with transistor count not recorded in the database.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD chip provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, plus 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD design offers larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations, while the Intel design compensates with a larger shared L3 pool. This tradeoff suggests different optimization priorities: AMD favors faster access to recently used data per core, while Intel favors a larger pool of shared data across all four cores.

Memory support and platform features also differ. Both processors support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G has a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon E-2124 has 42.7 GB/s. The AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 4, while the Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD part includes integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics, while the Intel part includes UHD Graphics P630. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel processor is locked. The AMD part uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1151. The AMD chip does not support ECC memory, whereas the Intel chip does.

The release dates are also distinct. The Intel Xeon E-2124 was released on July 11, 2018, with a launch MSRP of $198. The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G was released on July 20, 2020, with no launch MSRP recorded. This two-year gap explains the architectural differences and the production status disparity: the Intel chip is end-of-life, while the AMD chip remains active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded Cinebench results show a consistent pattern: the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G wins all six tests, but by a narrow margin. The largest delta is 2.7 percent in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the AMD part scores 348 versus 339 for the Intel Xeon E-2124. The smallest delta is 2.5 percent in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD part scores 83 versus 81 for the Intel part.

In multi-core workloads, the AMD chip maintains a similar edge. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows the AMD part at 592 versus 577 for the Intel part, a 2.6 percent advantage. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 2470 versus 2408, also a 2.6 percent advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 5883 versus 5734, again a 2.6 percent advantage. The consistency of these deltas across both single and multi-core tests indicates that the AMD chip's performance lead is uniform, not workload-dependent.

Single-core results follow the same trend. Cinebench R23 single-core shows the AMD part at 830 versus 809 for the Intel part, a 2.6 percent advantage. This is notable because the Intel chip has a higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz versus 3.90 GHz for the AMD chip. Despite the 400 MHz frequency deficit, the AMD part still wins single-core tests. This suggests that the Zen+ architecture's instructions-per-clock efficiency and larger L1 cache per core offset the frequency gap.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G averages 1701, while the Intel Xeon E-2124 averages 1658. The AMD chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 at 1709 (0.5 percent ahead of the AMD part), the Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4 at 1709 (0.5 percent ahead), the Intel Core i7-980 at 1693 (0.5 percent behind), and the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H at 1690 (0.6 percent behind). The Intel Xeon E-2124's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-4770HQ at 1660 (0.1 percent ahead), the Intel Core i5-4670K at 1656 (0.2 percent behind), the AMD Ryzen 5 3550H at 1653 (0.3 percent behind), and the Intel Core i5-7600T at 1664 (0.4 percent ahead). Both processors sit at the 40th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they occupy similar performance tiers relative to the broader market.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but modest outcome. The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons and has a higher average benchmark score. The deltas range from 2.5 to 2.7 percent, so the performance gap is real but small. Users seeking maximum Cinebench throughput in this quad-core class should choose the AMD part based on the recorded measurements.

However, the Intel Xeon E-2124 retains advantages that are not reflected in Cinebench scores. It supports ECC memory, which is critical for error-sensitive workloads in servers and workstations. It has double the L3 cache at 8 MB versus 4 MB. It has a much higher boost clock at 4.30 GHz versus 3.90 GHz, which could benefit lightly threaded tasks that are not captured in these specific benchmarks. The Intel chip also has a smaller die at 126 mm² versus 210 mm², potentially indicating lower manufacturing complexity.

The production status is a decisive factor for long-term availability. The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G is Active, while the Intel Xeon E-2124 is End-of-life. For new system builds, the AMD part offers an ongoing supply chain, whereas the Intel part may be limited to existing inventory or used markets. The AMD chip also has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, while the Intel chip is locked.

The percentile placement at 40 for both processors confirms they perform similarly in the broader CPU landscape. Neither chip is a standout by global standards, but within their class, the AMD part edges ahead. For users who prioritize Cinebench scores and active production status, the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G is the data-backed choice. For users who require ECC memory support and a larger L3 cache, the Intel Xeon E-2124 remains the only option.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Athlon Gold 3150G | Intel Xeon E-2124 |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 71 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Zen+ | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Picasso | Coffee Lake-S WS |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 126 mm² |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB per core | 256 KB per core |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB shared | 8 MB shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 3 | UHD Graphics P630 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2020-07-20 | 2018-07-11 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $198 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Athlon Gold 3150G wins every recorded benchmark comparison, making it the clear choice for Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 workloads, both single and multi-core. Its higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and larger per-core L1 and L2 caches contribute to this consistent advantage. The unlocked multiplier allows users to push performance further, potentially widening the gap beyond the recorded deltas. The active production status ensures availability for new builds. The higher memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s and PCIe Gen 4 support also give the AMD part a platform-level edge for newer storage and graphics devices.

The Intel Xeon E-2124 wins in specific non-benchmark areas. It supports ECC memory, making it suitable for error-correcting workloads in servers, workstations, and financial or scientific computing. Its 8 MB L3 cache doubles the AMD part's capacity, potentially benefiting workloads with large shared data sets that exceed the smaller cache. The higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz could provide an advantage in short, bursty single-threaded tasks, even though Cinebench single-core results show the AMD part ahead. The smaller die size of 126 mm² may indicate lower power density, though the TDP is actually higher at 71 W versus 65 W. The server and workstation market segment designation reflects Intel's positioning for professional environments, and the launch MSRP of $198 provides a reference point for its original market placement.

For users who prioritize pure benchmark scores, the AMD Athlon Gold 3150G is the winner. For users who need ECC memory support or a larger L3 cache, the Intel Xeon E-2124 holds the advantage. The choice ultimately depends on whether the workload demands error correction and shared cache capacity or maximum Cinebench throughput and current production status. The recorded data gives the performance edge to AMD, but the Intel part remains relevant for specialized professional use cases.