AMD EPYC 7252 vs Intel Xeon E-2356G Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark results create an unusually one-sided picture. Across every single head-to-head test in the database, the AMD EPYC 7252 comes out ahead. There is no workload category in the measured data where the Intel Xeon E-2356G takes a win, whether the test is single-threaded or multi-threaded, or whether it uses an older or newer Cinebench version.

For single-threaded workloads, the EPYC 7252 leads consistently. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 234 against 222 for the Xeon, a 5.1% advantage. That gap widens slightly in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the EPYC scores 978 versus 926, a 5.3% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 2329 against 2206, again a 5.3% margin. The consistency of this delta across all three Cinebench generations is notable, it suggests a stable architectural advantage rather than a test-specific quirk.

Multi-threaded performance follows the same pattern. The EPYC 7252 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 1662 points versus 1575, a 5.2% edge. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 6929 against 6565, a 5.3% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC reaches 16499 points while the Xeon manages 15632, a 5.3% difference. Again, the margins are strikingly uniform, hovering near 5.2% to 5.3% regardless of the test version.

The use-case split is therefore simple: for any workload captured by these Cinebench tests, the AMD part is the stronger performer. The Intel Xeon E-2356G does have an integrated GPU, the UHD Graphics P750, which the EPYC 7252 lacks entirely. That makes the Xeon the only option in this pairing for systems requiring a built-in display output or GPU acceleration without a discrete card. But for raw CPU compute as measured here, the EPYC 7252 wins every round.

It is also worth noting the broader context. The EPYC 7252 sits at the 59th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Xeon E-2356G sits at the 58th percentile. The average benchmark score for the EPYC is 4772, compared to 4548 for the Xeon. These aggregate figures reinforce the head-to-head results, the AMD part is ranked slightly higher overall, and its average score is about 4.9% higher.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E-2356G is built on Rocket Lake, specifically the Rocket Lake-E variant, using Intel's 14 nm process. The AMD EPYC 7252 uses Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Rome, fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process. That process gap is significant, the AMD chip uses a smaller node manufactured by a different foundry, which typically enables better transistor density and power efficiency.

Core counts differ as well. The Xeon has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the EPYC has 8 cores and 16 threads. That is a 33% advantage in core count for the AMD part, and a 33% advantage in thread count. The EPYC also has a larger cache hierarchy. Its L1 cache is 64 KB per core, its L2 is 512 KB per core, and it has 32 MB of L3 per die, totaling 64 MB of L3 across the package. The Xeon has 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and only 12 MB of shared L3. The EPYC's total L3 cache is more than five times larger.

Clock speeds tell a more nuanced story. The Xeon has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The EPYC has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of only 3.20 GHz. The Xeon's boost ceiling is dramatically higher, which might suggest a single-thread advantage, but the benchmark data shows the opposite. The EPYC wins single-core tests despite its much lower boost clock, which points to architectural efficiency differences that are not visible from clock speeds alone.

Memory architecture also diverges sharply. The Xeon supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The EPYC supports eight-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. That is a 67% bandwidth advantage for the AMD part. Both support ECC memory, which is expected for server/workstation segments. PCIe connectivity differs too, the Xeon offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the EPYC offers Gen 4 with 128 lanes. The EPYC's lane count is more than six times higher.

The Xeon includes integrated graphics, the UHD Graphics P750, while the EPYC has no integrated GPU. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1200, the EPYC uses AMD Socket SP3. The EPYC's die is listed as 2x 74 mm², while the Xeon's die is 276 mm². The EPYC also has a transistor count of 7,600 million, while the Xeon's transistor count is not recorded. The EPYC was released on 2019-08-06, while the Xeon came later on 2021-09-07. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $311, while the EPYC's launch MSRP is $475.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six head-to-head Cinebench results are remarkably consistent in their margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7252 scores 1662 against the Xeon's 1575, a 5.2% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC scores 234 against 222, a 5.1% lead. The near-identical margins in both R15 tests suggest that the AMD part's advantage is not tied to core count scaling alone, it wins single-threaded tests too.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. Multi-core sees the EPYC at 6929 versus 6565, a 5.3% lead. Single-core sees the EPYC at 978 versus 926, also a 5.3% lead. The delta is essentially unchanged from R15. This consistency across test versions indicates that the relative performance gap is stable, not an artifact of a particular benchmark revision.

Cinebench R23 repeats the same story. Multi-core: EPYC 16499, Xeon 15632, a 5.3% lead for AMD. Single-core: EPYC 2329, Xeon 2206, a 5.3% lead. Every single one of the six recorded tests shows the AMD EPYC 7252 winning by a margin between 5.1% and 5.3%. There are no outliers, no tests where the Xeon closes the gap or takes a lead.

Looking at the Geekbench results, which are only recorded for the Xeon, the Intel part scores 7213 in multi-core and 2044 in single-core. There is no corresponding Geekbench score for the EPYC in the database, so a direct comparison cannot be made using that test. However, the Cinebench data alone is sufficient to establish the performance hierarchy.

The average benchmark scores place this in context. The EPYC 7252 has an average of 4772, while the Xeon E-2356G has an average of 4548. The EPYC's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W-1290E at 4775 (0.1% higher) and the Intel Xeon E-2386G at 4799 (0.6% higher). The Xeon E-2356G's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-10700KF at 4547 (0.0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 at 4532 (0.4% higher). These rival comparisons show that both chips sit in a crowded mid-range performance band, but the EPYC sits slightly above the Xeon within that band.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the recorded data.

| Field | Intel Xeon E-2356G | AMD EPYC 7252 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 80 W | 120 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket SP3 |

| Architecture | Rocket Lake | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Rocket Lake-E | Rome |

| Process node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 7,600 million |

| Die size | 276 mm² | 2x 74 mm² |

| L1 cache | 80 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 12 MB shared | 32 MB per die, 64 MB total |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 85.3 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 lanes | Gen 4, 128 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics P750 | None |

| Release date | 2021-09-07 | 2019-08-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $311 | $475 |

| Part number | SRKN2 | 100-000000080 |

The two chips share several features: both support DDR4 memory, both have ECC memory support, both have 512 KB of L2 per core, both are locked (multiplier not unlocked), and both target the server/workstation market segment. Both are listed as Active in production status. The EPYC has a higher TDP at 120 W versus 80 W, which is consistent with its higher core count and eight-channel memory controller.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 7252 wins every recorded single-threaded test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2329 against the Xeon E-2356G's 2206, a 5.3% lead. It also wins R15 single-core (234 vs 222) and R20 single-core (978 vs 926).

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E-2356G have any advantage in cache size?

A: No. The Xeon has 80 KB of L1 per core, which is larger than the EPYC's 64 KB per core, but its L3 cache is only 12 MB shared. The EPYC has 32 MB of L3 per die, totaling 64 MB, which is more than five times the Xeon's L3 capacity.

Q: Can the AMD EPYC 7252 be used in a system without a discrete GPU?

A: No, because the EPYC 7252 has no integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E-2356G includes UHD Graphics P750, so it can output video without a separate graphics card.

Q: How do the two compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The EPYC 7252 supports eight-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. The Xeon E-2356G supports dual-channel DDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The EPYC provides roughly 67% more memory bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD EPYC 7252 has 128 Gen 4 lanes from the CPU. The Intel Xeon E-2356G has 20 Gen 4 lanes. The EPYC's lane count is over six times higher.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The EPYC 7252 has an average benchmark score of 4772, while the Xeon E-2356G has an average of 4548. The EPYC's score is about 4.9% higher, and it ranks at the 59th percentile of all CPUs versus the Xeon's 58th percentile.