AMD Ryzen 3 2200G vs Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3 and the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G are both quad-core, four-thread processors, but they target fundamentally different segments. The Xeon is a server/workstation part from the Haswell-EP generation, designed for longevity and platform stability, while the Ryzen is a desktop APU built for mainstream efficiency and integrated graphics. The benchmark data shows a clear performance separation, with the Ryzen 3 2200G winning both shared head-to-head tests, yet the Xeon still holds relevance in specific legacy workstation contexts.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G is the outright performance winner in every benchmark where both processors were tested. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 577 against the Xeon’s 422, a delta of -26.9% from the Xeon’s perspective, meaning the Ryzen is 36.7% faster. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: 145.55 versus 59, a delta of -59.5%, which translates to the Ryzen being roughly 2.5 times faster in single-threaded Cinebench R15 work. The Ryzen also holds a slight advantage in average benchmark score (1202 vs 1212, a difference of less than 1%), and both chips sit at the 34th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they are statistically equivalent in overall standing despite the Ryzen’s superior multi-core and single-core results.

The Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3 wins in platform-level attributes rather than raw compute. It supports ECC memory, which the Ryzen does not, and it offers a quad-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s compared to the Ryzen’s dual-channel 46.9 GB/s. The Xeon also provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) versus the Ryzen’s 8 lanes (CPU only), making it the better choice for systems requiring extensive expansion cards, high-capacity memory configurations, or error-correcting memory. Its 10 MB of shared L3 cache dwarfs the Ryzen’s 4 MB, which can help in certain server workloads that repeatedly access large datasets. The Xeon’s market segment is Server/Workstation, and its production status is End-of-life, but its memory and PCIe capabilities remain its defining advantages.

The Verdict

For anyone building a new system today, the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G is the clear choice based purely on performance data. It wins both head-to-head benchmarks decisively, has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 3.10 GHz) and a boost clock (3.70 GHz) that the Xeon lacks entirely, and it includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, which the Xeon does not have. The Ryzen is also actively in production, has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and carries a launch MSRP of $99, while the Xeon has no launch MSRP listed and is end-of-life. The Ryzen’s 14 nm process node and 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die are more modern than the Xeon’s 22 nm node with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die, further reinforcing its efficiency advantage.

The Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3 is only advisable for someone specifically maintaining or building a legacy Socket 2011-3 workstation that requires ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, or 40 PCIe lanes. Its 422 multi-core score and 59 single-core score in Cinebench R15 are far below the Ryzen’s 577 and 145.55, so no performance-driven buyer should choose it. The data does not support picking the Xeon for any compute task where the Ryzen is available. The Ryzen wins 2-0 in head-to-head benchmarks, and its average benchmark score of 1202 is within 0.8% of the Xeon’s 1212, meaning the Xeon’s only numerical edge is a negligible 10-point average score, which is well within the margin of error given rival deltas of 0.1-0.5%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a 36.7% advantage for the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G. The Ryzen scores 577, while the Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3 scores 422. This is a substantial margin for two processors with the same core and thread count, indicating that the Ryzen’s Zen architecture extracts significantly more throughput per core than the Haswell-EP design. The Xeon’s lower 3.10 GHz base clock and lack of boost capability likely contribute to this deficit, as the Ryzen can reach 3.70 GHz under load.

The single-core Cinebench R15 result is even more lopsided. The Ryzen 3 2200G scores 145.55, while the Xeon E5-1607 v3 manages only 59, a delta of -59.5% from the Xeon’s side, which equates to the Ryzen being 146.7% faster. This massive gap suggests that the Xeon’s architecture, despite its server pedigree, is severely outdated for single-threaded performance. The Ryzen’s 3.50 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost clocks, combined with a newer 14 nm process, allow it to dominate in lightly threaded workloads that are common in everyday desktop use and many professional applications.

Beyond the shared tests, the Ryzen also has a Geekbench multi-core score of 3086 and a single-core score of 1001, while the Xeon has no Geekbench results listed. The Xeon does have Cinebench R20 and R23 scores (1761 and 248 single-core; 4193 and 591 single-core, respectively), which the Ryzen lacks. These additional benchmarks show the Xeon’s absolute performance ceiling, but they do not change the head-to-head outcome: the Ryzen wins both tests where data exists for both, and its single-core superiority is so large that no Xeon score can compensate.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G scores 577 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, compared to the Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3’s 422, making the Ryzen 36.7% faster in this test.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200G scores 145.55 in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the Xeon E5-1607 v3 scores 59, meaning the Ryzen is 146.7% faster in single-threaded performance.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E5-1607 v3 has ECC memory support, while the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G does not.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3 provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), whereas the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G provides only 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only).

Q: Is the Ryzen 3 2200G’s integrated graphics a factor?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 3 2200G includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics, while the Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3 has no integrated graphics at all.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth differences?

A: The Xeon E5-1607 v3 supports quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen 3 2200G supports dual-channel memory with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3 is built on the Haswell-EP architecture, codenamed Haswell-EP, using a 22 nm process node from Intel’s own foundry. It packs 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. Its cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon supports DDR4 memory via a quad-channel bus, provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), and includes ECC memory support. It belongs to the Server/Workstation market segment and is already end-of-life, with a release date of September 2014.

The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G uses the Zen architecture, specifically the Raven Ridge codename, fabricated on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. It contains 4,950 million transistors on a smaller 210 mm² die, which is more than the Xeon’s transistor count despite the smaller physical area. Its cache configuration is 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache, which is less than half the Xeon’s L3. The Ryzen supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus, offers only 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), and does not support ECC memory. It includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics, has an unlocked multiplier, and is actively in production, having been released in February 2018.

These architectural differences explain the performance gap. The Ryzen’s newer 14 nm process and higher transistor count allow for better instruction-level parallelism and higher clock speeds, while the Xeon’s larger L3 cache and quad-channel memory interface are designed for server workloads that benefit from memory bandwidth rather than raw core speed. The Xeon’s 140 W TDP is more than double the Ryzen’s 65 W TDP, indicating that the Xeon consumes significantly more power to achieve its lower performance, a direct consequence of its older process node and server-oriented design.

Specification Differences

The most significant specification difference is the TDP: the Intel Xeon E5-1607 v3 draws 140 W, while the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G draws only 65 W. The Ryzen has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus the Xeon’s 3.10 GHz, and it also has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, which the Xeon lacks entirely. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform, while the Ryzen uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform. The Ryzen’s process node is 14 nm from GlobalFoundries, compared to the Xeon’s 22 nm from Intel, and the Ryzen has more transistors (4,950 million vs 2,600 million) on a smaller die (210 mm² vs 356 mm²).

Memory support differs in channel count and bandwidth. The Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen supports dual-channel DDR4 with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the Ryzen does not. PCIe lane counts also diverge sharply: the Xeon offers 40 Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen offers 8 Gen 3 lanes (CPU only). The Ryzen includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics, the Xeon has none. The Ryzen’s multiplier is unlocked for overclocking, the Xeon’s is not. The Ryzen is marked as Active in production, while the Xeon is End-of-life. The Ryzen has a listed launch MSRP of $99, while the Xeon has no launch MSRP field. The Ryzen’s cache is larger per core (96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2) but smaller in total L3 (4 MB vs 10 MB). Finally, the Ryzen’s part number is YD2200C5M4MFBYD2200C5FBBOXYD2200C5FBMPK, while the Xeon’s is QGDASR20M.