AMD Athlon PRO 300U vs Intel Xeon D-1527 Comparison
AMD Athlon PRO 300U
Xeon D-1527
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: AMD Athlon PRO 300U vs Intel Xeon D-1527
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The recorded Cinebench data shows a consistent and decisive advantage for the Intel Xeon D-1527 across every workload tested. In the five shared benchmark runs, the Xeon D-1527 wins all five, with the AMD Athlon PRO 300U failing to secure a single victory. The margin is remarkably uniform, hovering near 20% in every comparison.
Starting with multi-threaded performance, the Xeon D-1527 scores 420 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, against 349 for the Athlon PRO 300U. That is a 20.3% lead. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Intel part scores 1753 versus 1456, a 20.4% advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon D-1527 reaches 4176, while the Athlon PRO 300U manages 3468, again a 20.4% gap.
Single-threaded results follow the same trajectory. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon D-1527 posts 247, compared to 205 for the Athlon PRO 300U, a 20.5% difference. The Cinebench R23 single-core run shows 589 against 489, a 20.4% lead. The consistency of these margins, all between 20.3% and 20.5%, points to a systematic performance advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.
The overall average benchmark score reinforces this picture. The Xeon D-1527 has an average score of 1207, while the Athlon PRO 300U sits at 1193. In terms of global ranking, the Xeon D-1527 lands in the 34th percentile of all CPUs, and the Athlon PRO 300U is just one point behind at the 33rd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Xeon D-1527 include the Intel Xeon D-1520 with a nearly identical average score of 1209, and the Intel Core i3-8121U at 1209. For the Athlon PRO 300U, the closest competitors are the Intel Core i3-4170 at 1193 and the Intel Core i7-8665UE at 1193, both with a delta of 0%.
The Verdict
From the data alone, the Intel Xeon D-1527 is the faster processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head comparisons, with a consistent 20% margin in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The average benchmark score of 1207 exceeds the Athlon PRO 300U's 1193, and the Intel part holds a slightly higher percentile ranking at 34 versus 33.
Buyers who prioritize raw compute performance, particularly in threaded workloads such as rendering or server-side processing, should select the Intel Xeon D-1527. Its 20.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 4176 versus 3468, is a substantial gap for heavily parallel tasks. The Intel part also wins single-core comparisons, making it the better choice for lightly threaded applications as well.
The AMD Athlon PRO 300U does offer advantages in other dimensions, but not in benchmark performance. It has a lower TDP of 15 watts compared to 35 watts for the Intel part, and it includes integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics, which the Xeon D-1527 lacks entirely. However, for users whose decision hinges on Cinebench scores, the Xeon D-1527 is the clear winner. The Athlon PRO 300U is the choice only when power consumption or integrated graphics are the overriding factors, as its benchmark results are uniformly lower.
Architecture Differences
The two processors come from different design philosophies and target different market segments. The Intel Xeon D-1527 is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE generation, and is aimed at the server and workstation space. It uses a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. The AMD Athlon PRO 300U uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge 2, and is a mobile part. It also uses a 14 nm process node, but the foundry is GlobalFoundries rather than Intel.
Core and thread counts differ sharply. The Xeon D-1527 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Athlon PRO 300U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Intel part doubles the thread count, which contributes directly to its multi-core advantage.
Cache configuration also differs. The Xeon D-1527 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 1.5 MB of L3 cache per core. The Athlon PRO 300U has 128 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part relies on per-core L3, while the AMD part uses a shared pool.
Memory support diverges as well. The Xeon D-1527 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, with a dual-channel bus and ECC support enabled. The Athlon PRO 300U supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, but does not support ECC memory. This makes the Intel part suitable for error-correcting memory configurations in server environments.
The Xeon D-1527 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes from the CPU. The Athlon PRO 300U does not have a listed PCIe configuration in the recorded data. The Intel part has no integrated graphics, while the AMD part includes Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics. The Xeon D-1527 uses an Intel BGA 1667 socket, and the Athlon PRO 300U uses an AMD Socket FP5. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance?
A: The Intel Xeon D-1527 wins all multi-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4176 versus 3468 for the AMD Athlon PRO 300U, a 20.4% advantage. It also leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core with 420 versus 349, a 20.3% lead.
Q: Does the AMD Athlon PRO 300U win any benchmark?
A: No. In the five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the Intel Xeon D-1527 wins all five. The Athlon PRO 300U has zero wins in the recorded data.
Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?
A: The Intel Xeon D-1527 leads in single-core tests as well. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 247 versus 205, a 20.5% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 589 versus 489, a 20.4% lead.
Q: What are the power consumption differences?
A: The AMD Athlon PRO 300U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Xeon D-1527 has a TDP of 35 watts. The AMD part consumes less power, but this comes with lower benchmark scores.
Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?
A: The Intel Xeon D-1527 supports ECC memory. The AMD Athlon PRO 300U does not support ECC memory.
Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?
A: The AMD Athlon PRO 300U includes Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon D-1527 has no integrated graphics.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Xeon D-1527 wins in every measured performance category. It leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core (420 versus 349), Cinebench R20 multi-core (1753 versus 1456), Cinebench R20 single-core (247 versus 205), Cinebench R23 multi-core (4176 versus 3468), and Cinebench R23 single-core (589 versus 489). Its average benchmark score of 1207 is higher than the Athlon PRO 300U's 1193, and it holds a 34th percentile ranking versus the AMD part's 33rd.
The AMD Athlon PRO 300U wins in areas outside raw compute benchmarks. It has a significantly lower TDP at 15 watts, making it more suitable for power-constrained mobile designs. It also offers integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics, eliminating the need for a separate GPU in basic display tasks. The Athlon PRO 300U supports DDR4 memory only, while the Xeon D-1527 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, but the AMD part does not support ECC memory. For workloads that rely on Cinebench scores, the Xeon D-1527 is the stronger choice. For low-power systems or those requiring integrated graphics, the Athlon PRO 300U has the edge.
Specification Differences
The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The Intel Xeon D-1527 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Athlon PRO 300U has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.20 GHz for the Intel part and 2.40 GHz for the AMD part. Boost clocks are 2.70 GHz and 3.30 GHz, respectively.
The Xeon D-1527 has a TDP of 35 watts, and the Athlon PRO 300U has a TDP of 15 watts. The Intel part uses an Intel BGA 1667 socket, while the AMD part uses an AMD Socket FP5. The Xeon D-1527 is built on Broadwell architecture with a 14 nm process from Intel, and the Athlon PRO 300U uses Zen architecture on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries.
Cache layouts differ: the Xeon D-1527 has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 1.5 MB L3 per core. The Athlon PRO 300U has 128 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The Intel part supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory with ECC, while the AMD part supports only DDR4 without ECC. The Xeon D-1527 has PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes, and the Athlon PRO 300U has no listed PCIe configuration. The Intel part has no integrated graphics, while the AMD part has Radeon Vega 3. The Xeon D-1527 has a launch MSRP of $213, and the Athlon PRO 300U has no recorded launch MSRP. Both processors are currently active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.