AMD Ryzen 3 5300G vs Intel Xeon D-1587 Comparison

Q: Which CPU wins the most benchmarks in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 wins all 6 head-to-head benchmarks. The Ryzen 3 5300G does not win a single test in this comparison.

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

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 has an average benchmark score of 3350, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G scores 3303. This puts the Xeon roughly 1.4% ahead on average.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in terms of core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon has four times the core count and four times the thread count.

Q: What are the differences in clock speeds?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Intel Xeon D-1587 operates at a base clock of 1.70 GHz and a boost clock of 2.30 GHz, which is significantly lower.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G does not support ECC memory.

Q: Do both CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G features Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon D-1587 has no integrated graphics listed.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon D-1587 and AMD Ryzen 3 5300G come from entirely different design philosophies. The Xeon is built on the Broadwell architecture, using a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel. Its die measures 246 mm² and contains 3,200 million transistors. The Ryzen 3 5300G uses the Zen 3 architecture (Cezanne), built on a 7 nm process node from TSMC. Its die is 180 mm² with 10,700 million transistors. Note that the Ryzen packs more than three times the transistor count into a smaller die, highlighting the density advantage of the newer process node.

Cache organization is another major architectural split. The Intel Xeon D-1587 provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 1.5 MB of L3 per core. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but doubles the L2 to 512 KB per core and offers a shared 8 MB L3 pool. The Xeon's per-core L3 design contrasts with the Ryzen's unified L3, which is typical for Zen 3's chiplet-less monolithic layout.

Memory support differs as well. The Xeon D-1587 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Ryzen 3 5300G supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, but has a specified memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Xeon's memory bandwidth is not listed. The Xeon supports ECC memory, which is absent on the Ryzen. PCIe connectivity is similar in generation (Gen 3), but the Xeon offers 24 lanes versus 16 lanes on the Ryzen.

The market segments could not be more different. The Xeon D-1587 targets server and workstation use, with a socket of Intel BGA 1667 and a multiplier that is locked. The Ryzen 3 5300G is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM4 with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. The Xeon was released in 2016, while the Ryzen arrived in 2021.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Despite the massive core-count disparity, the benchmarks tell a surprisingly close story. The Intel Xeon D-1587 wins every single test in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are narrow. Starting with Cinebench R15, the Xeon scores 1167 in multi-core versus the Ryzen's 1114, a 4.8% advantage. In single-core R15, the Xeon posts 164 against 157, a 4.5% lead.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Xeon D-1587 scores 4865 in multi-core, beating the Ryzen 3 5300G's 4645 by 4.7%. Single-core R20 sees the Xeon at 686 versus 655, again a 4.7% gap. The results are consistent, suggesting that the Xeon's advantage is not workload-specific but rather a general performance edge.

Cinebench R23 repeats the same story. In multi-core, the Xeon scores 11585, while the Ryzen achieves 11060, a 4.7% difference. Single-core R23 shows the Xeon at 1635 against the Ryzen's 1561, also 4.7%. The consistency of the 4.7-4.8% delta across all six tests is notable. It indicates that the Xeon D-1587, despite its much older architecture and lower clock speeds, holds a steady performance advantage over the Ryzen 3 5300G in Cinebench workloads.

The overall benchmark picture aligns with this. The Xeon's average benchmark score is 3350, and its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-7800X (3333, +0.5%) and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U (3369, -0.5%). The Ryzen 3 5300G's average score is 3303, placing it directly alongside the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 (3303, 0%) and the Intel Core i5-11400T (3309, -0.2%). Both CPUs sit at the 54th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they are virtually indistinguishable in average performance.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. Core count is the most obvious: 16 cores and 32 threads on the Intel versus 4 cores and 8 threads on the AMD. Clock speeds are reversed in favor of the Ryzen. The Ryzen 3 5300G runs at 4.00 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost. The Xeon D-1587 runs at 1.70 GHz base and 2.30 GHz boost, which is roughly 2.3 GHz lower on base and 1.9 GHz lower on boost.

Process node and foundry are also different. Intel uses its own 14 nm process for the Xeon, while AMD relies on TSMC's 7 nm node for the Ryzen. Transistor counts differ dramatically: 3,200 million for the Xeon versus 10,700 million for the Ryzen. Die sizes are 246 mm² for Intel and 180 mm² for AMD. Cache levels differ in L2 and L3: the Xeon has 256 KB L2 per core and 1.5 MB L3 per core, while the Ryzen has 512 KB L2 per core and 8 MB shared L3.

Memory support is a split decision. The Xeon handles both DDR3 and DDR4; the Ryzen only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but only the Ryzen lists a memory bandwidth figure (51.2 GB/s). ECC memory is supported on the Xeon but not the Ryzen. PCIe lanes favor the Xeon at 24 lanes versus 16, both Gen 3. Integrated graphics are present only on the Ryzen (Radeon Vega 6). The Xeon has no iGPU listed.

Form factor and platform differ. The Xeon uses Intel BGA 1667, while the Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4. The Xeon's multiplier is locked; the Ryzen's is unlocked. The Xeon launched in 2016 with a launch MSRP of $1549. The Ryzen launched in 2021 with no launch MSRP listed. The Xeon's part number is SR2M1, and the Ryzen's is 100-000000253.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but counterintuitive picture. The Intel Xeon D-1587 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head, yet the margins are small and the average scores are nearly identical. Both CPUs sit at the 54th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores differ by only 47 points out of roughly 3300. This is not a lopsided victory; it is a statistical tie broken by the Xeon's consistent edge in Cinebench workloads.

The Xeon D-1587 is the pick for anyone prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput in server or workstation contexts. Its 16 cores and 32 threads, combined with ECC memory support and 24 PCIe lanes, make it a plausible choice for a low-power (65 W TDP) server board. The fact that it edges out the Ryzen in every Cinebench test, despite a 2+ GHz clock disadvantage, speaks to the scaling of its many cores.

The Ryzen 3 5300G is the pick for desktop builders who need integrated graphics and an unlocked multiplier. Its 4 cores and 8 threads are far fewer, but it clocks much higher and includes Radeon Vega 6 graphics, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU. It also benefits from a newer 7 nm process and a smaller die. For single-core-heavy tasks, the Ryzen is not far behind—less than 5% in all single-core tests—so the practical difference is minimal.

There is no scenario where the Ryzen wins outright in the head-to-head data. However, the Xeon's win count of 6 versus 0 does not tell the full story. The Ryzen's lack of ECC, lower PCIe lane count, and absence of server-grade features make it unsuitable for the Xeon's intended market. Conversely, the Xeon's lack of integrated graphics and BGA socket make it a poor fit for a typical desktop build.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1587 wins in every measured benchmark, but its real advantages lie in platform features. It wins on core count (16 vs 4), thread count (32 vs 8), PCIe lanes (24 vs 16), and memory flexibility (DDR3 and DDR4 support). It is also the only one of the two with ECC memory support, which is critical for error-sensitive workloads like data integrity in servers. The Xeon's 65 W TDP matches the Ryzen's, so power draw is not a differentiator. Its average benchmark score of 3350 places it slightly ahead of the Ryzen's 3303, and it edges out the Intel Core i7-7800X in the nearest rivals list.

The AMD Ryzen 3 5300G wins on clock speed, with a base clock more than double the Xeon's (4.00 GHz vs 1.70 GHz) and a boost clock nearly double (4.20 GHz vs 2.30 GHz). It wins on process node efficiency, using 7 nm versus 14 nm, and it has a much higher transistor count (10,700 million vs 3,200 million). The Ryzen also has integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 6), which the Xeon lacks entirely. Its unlocked multiplier gives overclocking headroom that the locked Xeon cannot offer. The Ryzen's memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is explicitly listed, whereas the Xeon's is not. In the nearest rivals comparison, the Ryzen matches the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 exactly at 3303 average score, showing it is a solid mid-range desktop performer.

For use-case guidance: choose the Xeon D-1587 for multi-threaded server workloads, ECC-dependent applications, or memory flexibility. Choose the Ryzen 3 5300G for a compact desktop build with integrated graphics, higher clock speeds, or overclocking ambitions. The benchmark data shows the Xeon is slightly faster in Cinebench, but the Ryzen's feature set and platform are better suited to consumer desktop use.