AMD Ryzen 3 7320U vs Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 and AMD Ryzen 3 7320U are separated by nearly a decade of silicon evolution, yet they land in the same performance tier. The data shows a 3-3 split in benchmark wins, but the nature of those wins reveals two fundamentally different processors: the aging Xeon takes multi-threaded workloads with raw core aggression, while the modern Ryzen dominates single-threaded tasks with efficiency that the Intel part cannot match. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—1925 for the Xeon versus 1916 for the Ryzen—placing both at the 43rd percentile of all CPUs. The decision between them hinges entirely on workload type, platform requirements, and power constraints.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic gap appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ryzen 3 7320U scores 162.4 against the Xeon’s 84. That is a 48.3% advantage for AMD, a massive margin that reflects the architectural leap from Haswell to Zen 2. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen repeats the pattern with a score of 1095 versus 842, a 23.1% lead. Even in Geekbench single-core, where the Xeon edges ahead at 1109 against 1103, the margin is a razor-thin 0.5%—effectively a tie, but one that shows the Xeon’s 3.80 GHz boost clock can still hold its own in legacy single-threaded tests.

Multi-core results tell a different story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen wins decisively with 790 against 601, a 23.9% advantage. However, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon reverses the trend with a commanding 5967 against 4809, a 24.1% lead. This inversion is striking: the older chip loses the older benchmark but wins the newer one. The explanation lies in test duration and thermal behavior—the Ryzen’s 15W TDP likely throttles under sustained load, while the Xeon’s 80W budget allows it to maintain higher clocks over longer runs. Geekbench multi-core also favors the Xeon, with 3939 against 3536, an 11.4% margin.

The wins are split evenly at three apiece, but the magnitudes differ. The Ryzen’s largest victory is 48.3% in R15 single-core; the Xeon’s largest is 24.1% in R23 multi-core. This asymmetry suggests the Ryzen is a sprinter, while the Xeon is a marathon runner.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is the clear choice for short-duration, single-threaded tasks. Its 48.3% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 23.1% lead in R23 single-core demonstrate that Zen 2’s IPC advantage over Haswell is substantial. Applications that rely on quick, bursty single-thread performance—such as basic office work, web browsing, or light coding—will feel noticeably snappier on the Ryzen. Its 4.10 GHz boost clock, compared to the Xeon’s 3.80 GHz, provides the raw frequency headroom that shows up in these tests. Additionally, the Ryzen’s integrated Radeon 610M graphics mean it can handle display output without a discrete GPU, a critical advantage for compact or mobile systems.

The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 wins where sustained multi-threaded performance matters. Its 24.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 11.4% lead in Geekbench multi-core indicate that the 80W TDP allows it to push all four cores at high clocks for extended periods. For workloads like video rendering, batch processing, or server-side compilation, the Xeon’s ability to maintain throughput over time is the deciding factor. Its 8 MB of shared L3 cache—double the Ryzen’s 4 MB—also helps in cache-sensitive multi-threaded scenarios. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Ryzen, making it suitable for error-sensitive workstation or server environments.

The Ryzen wins in efficiency by a landslide. Its 15W TDP versus the Xeon’s 80W is a 5.3x difference that cannot be overstated. For mobile or fanless designs, the Ryzen is the only viable option. The Xeon’s 25.6 GB/s memory bandwidth is dwarfed by the Ryzen’s 88.0 GB/s, a 3.4x advantage that benefits memory-intensive workloads despite the Ryzen’s smaller cache.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent starkly different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22nm process from Intel’s own foundry, with 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. It is built for the Intel Socket 1150 platform, supporting DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Xeon is a server/workstation part, released in 2014, and is now end-of-life. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3.

The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U uses the Zen 2 architecture on a 6nm process from TSMC, with a smaller 100 mm² die and no transistor count listed. It targets the mobile segment with an AMD Socket FT6, supports LPDDR5 memory in dual-channel, and is currently active production. Its cache design differs significantly: 64 KB of L1 per core (same as Intel), but 512 KB of L2 per core (double the Xeon’s 256 KB), and only 4 MB of shared L3 (half the Xeon’s 8 MB). The larger L2 helps the Ryzen in single-threaded access patterns, while the smaller L3 may hurt in heavily shared workloads.

The PCIe support differs dramatically: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ryzen offers only Gen 3 with 4 CPU lanes. This makes the Xeon far more capable for multi-GPU or high-bandwidth expansion, while the Ryzen is limited to basic connectivity. The Ryzen includes integrated Radeon 610M graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. The Ryzen does not support ECC memory, while the Xeon does.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, compared to the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3’s 3.80 GHz.

Q: How do their TDPs compare?

A: The Xeon has an 80W TDP, while the Ryzen has a 15W TDP—a 5.3x difference in favor of AMD for power efficiency.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 supports ECC memory; the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Ryzen 3 7320U offers 88.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Xeon E3-1231 v3 provides 25.6 GB/s—a 3.4x advantage for AMD.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has integrated graphics (Radeon 610M). The Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 has none.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 if your workload demands sustained multi-threaded performance. The data is unambiguous: it leads by 24.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and by 11.4% in Geekbench multi-core. Its 8 MB of L3 cache, 16 PCIe lanes, and ECC support make it the superior choice for server, workstation, or any always-on compute role. The 80W TDP is a cost, but it buys the headroom needed to keep all four cores at high clocks under load. If you need a reliable workhorse for rendering, compilation, or data processing, the Xeon is the verdict.

Pick the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U if efficiency and single-threaded responsiveness are priorities. Its 48.3% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 23.1% lead in R23 single-core make it the better choice for interactive, latency-sensitive tasks. The 15W TDP enables fanless or ultra-portable designs that the Xeon could never support. Its 88.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and integrated Radeon 610M graphics create a complete, low-power platform. For a mobile or compact system where burst performance and battery life matter more than sustained throughput, the Ryzen is the clear winner.

The tie in overall wins (3-3) is misleading. The Ryzen wins by larger margins in the tests it takes, but the Xeon’s wins are in the workloads that typically define a processor’s long-term value. If the platform allows for the Xeon’s power draw and discrete GPU requirement, it is the more capable all-rounder. If power is at a premium, the Ryzen is the only rational choice.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3 | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U |

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

| Architecture | Haswell | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Haswell-WS | Mendocino |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 6 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 100 mm² |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not listed |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 80W | 15W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket FT6 |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | LPDDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 88.0 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes | Gen 3, 4 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon 610M |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2014-05-10 | 2022-09-19 |

| Launch MSRP | $250 | Not listed |