CPU Comparison

Both the Intel Xeon E-2378G and the AMD EPYC 7262 are 8-core, 16-thread server processors that land in the same performance percentile, yet the benchmark data shows a clear, consistent edge for the Intel part across every tested workload. In the head-to-head Cinebench results, the Intel Xeon E-2378G wins all six benchmarks, with margins ranging from 1.6% to 1.8% over the EPYC 7262. The average benchmark scores reinforce this: the Xeon E-2378G posts a 5199 average against the EPYC 7262's 5109, a difference that places the Intel chip 1.8% ahead in overall compute performance. However, the EPYC 7262 counters with substantially higher memory bandwidth and PCIe lane counts, making the choice between them a matter of workload priorities rather than raw processing power alone.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Xeon E-2378G’s advantage is narrow but absolute in the six Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 17,974 against the EPYC's 17,662, a 1.8% lead. Single-core R23 results show a similar pattern: 2,537 for Intel versus 2,493 for AMD, again a 1.8% difference. The consistency of these margins across all tests suggests a fundamental clock-speed advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The gap persists in older Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, Intel leads 7,549 to 7,418 (1.8%), and in R20 single-core, Intel posts 1,065 versus AMD's 1,047 (1.7%). R15 results are tighter but still favor Intel: multi-core shows 1,811 to 1,780 (1.7%), while single-core lands at 255 to 251 (1.6%). The Intel chip wins every category, but the margins are small enough that real-world application differences could easily flip the perceived performance.

The EPYC 7262 does not win a single head-to-head benchmark in this suite, yet its average score of 5,109 places it within 0.2% of the Intel Core i9-7900X (5,120) and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i7-11850HE (5,095). The Intel Xeon E-2378G, meanwhile, sits just 0.2% below the Core i5-13400T (5,210) and 1% below the Core i5-14401E (5,253). Both CPUs occupy the 60th percentile of all tested processors, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall compute capability despite Intel's consistent per-test wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E-2378G uses the Rocket Lake-E architecture on a 14 nm process from Intel, with a die size of 276 mm². It runs on the Intel Socket 1200 platform with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The chip draws 80 W TDP and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

The AMD EPYC 7262, by contrast, is built on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Rome) using a 7 nm process from TSMC. It packs 15,200 million transistors across four 74 mm² dies. It fits into the AMD Socket SP3 platform, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of only 3.40 GHz. The EPYC features 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a massive 128 MB of total L3 cache (32 MB per die). Its TDP is 155 W, nearly double the Intel part, and it supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, four times the Intel's memory throughput.

The EPYC also provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, compared to just 20 lanes on the Intel Xeon. The Intel chip includes integrated UHD Graphics P750, while the EPYC has no integrated graphics. Both support ECC memory, and both are currently active production parts. The Intel processor launched on 2021-09-07, while the EPYC 7262 debuted earlier on 2019-08-06.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2378G wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 1,811 in R15 multi-core, 7,549 in R20 multi-core, and 17,974 in R23 multi-core, versus 1,780, 7,418, and 17,662 respectively for the EPYC 7262. The margins are 1.7-1.8% in each case.

Q: Does the AMD EPYC 7262 have any performance advantage over the Intel Xeon E-2378G?

A: In the provided benchmark suite, no. The EPYC 7262 loses all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. However, its 128 MB of total L3 cache, 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth are architectural advantages that the benchmarks do not directly measure.

Q: How do these processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2378G leads in every single-core test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 255 to the EPYC's 251 (1.6% lead). In R20, it scores 1,065 to 1,047 (1.7% lead). In R23, it scores 2,537 to 2,493 (1.8% lead). The Intel chip's 5.10 GHz boost clock versus the EPYC's 3.40 GHz explains this consistent edge.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 7262 has significantly more L3 cache: 128 MB total, organized as 32 MB per die. The Intel Xeon E-2378G has only 16 MB of shared L3 cache. This eight-fold difference could benefit cache-sensitive workloads, though the Cinebench results do not reflect an advantage for AMD.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth capabilities of each processor?

A: The EPYC 7262 supports eight-channel DDR4 memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Intel Xeon E-2378G supports dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The EPYC offers four times the memory bandwidth, which is critical for memory-bound server applications.

Q: Are both processors currently in production?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E-2378G and the AMD EPYC 7262 have a production status of Active. Both are classified as Server/Workstation market segments. The Intel part was released on 2021-09-07, while the AMD part was released on 2019-08-06.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear verdict: choose the Intel Xeon E-2378G if your priority is raw Cinebench compute performance, and choose the AMD EPYC 7262 if your workload demands massive memory bandwidth or PCIe expansion. The Intel chip wins every benchmark in this comparison, but the EPYC's architectural features, 128 MB L3 cache, eight-channel memory, and 128 PCIe lanes, make it a more capable platform for specific server roles.

The Intel Xeon E-2378G offers a 1.8% lead in the most demanding multi-core test (Cinebench R23) and a 1.6% lead in the oldest single-core test (R15). These are small but consistent margins. The EPYC 7262, however, provides 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus Intel's 51.2 GB/s, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes versus Intel's 20 lanes. For a database server, virtualization host, or high-performance computing node that moves large datasets, the EPYC's platform advantages likely outweigh its minor compute deficit.

Both processors sit in the 60th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores (5,199 vs 5,109) differ by only 1.8%. The Intel part is newer (2021 vs 2019) and consumes less power (80 W TDP vs 155 W), which may be decisive for dense server deployments. The EPYC, with its superior memory subsystem and expansion capability, is the better foundation for memory-hungry or I/O-intensive workloads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2378G | AMD EPYC 7262 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.80 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 80 W | 155 W |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 15,200 million |

| Die Size | 276 mm² | 4x 74 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 128 MB (total) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Eight-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 204.8 GB/s |

| PCIe Lanes | 20 (Gen 4) | 128 (Gen 4) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics P750 | None |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket SP3 |

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

| Launch MSRP | $494 | $575 |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E-2378G wins in every benchmark category tested: multi-core and single-core across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. Its 5.10 GHz boost clock provides a significant single-thread advantage, and its lower 80 W TDP makes it more power-efficient per unit of compute. The integrated UHD Graphics P750 eliminates the need for a separate GPU in basic display or transcoding tasks. The Xeon's 16 MB L3 cache, while smaller, is sufficient for many general server workloads.

The AMD EPYC 7262 wins in platform capability. Its 128 MB total L3 cache, 204.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes are unmatched by the Intel part. The EPYC's eight-channel memory architecture can feed data to cores far faster than Intel's dual-channel design, which is critical for in-memory databases, data analytics, and virtualization. The 128 PCIe lanes enable massive NVMe storage arrays or multiple high-speed network adapters without additional switch chips. The EPYC also uses a more advanced 7 nm process with 15,200 million transistors, offering a denser and potentially more scalable design.

For single-socket servers running compute-heavy but memory-light tasks, such as web serving, application hosting, or software compilation, the Intel Xeon E-2378G's higher clock speeds deliver better performance per watt. For enterprise workloads that saturate memory or require extreme I/O, such as large-scale virtualization, big data processing, or high-frequency trading, the AMD EPYC 7262's platform features provide the necessary headroom, even if its core performance lags slightly.