AMD Ryzen 3 7320U vs Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U and the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 represent two very different eras of processor design, separated by seven years of architectural evolution. The Ryzen 3 7320U is a modern, power-sipping mobile part built on a 6 nm process, while the Xeon E3-1285 v4 is a legacy, high-TDP server/workstation chip from 2015 built on a 14 nm process. Despite their shared core and thread counts, the benchmark data reveals a complex picture where the older Intel part wins heavily in one major workload, but the newer AMD part dominates in others.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has an average benchmark score of 1916, while the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 scores 1908. The difference is negligible, at roughly 0.4%, placing both processors in the 43rd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the most significant performance difference in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest delta is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U scores 162.4 against the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4's 93, a massive 74.6% advantage for AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 6596 compared to the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U's 4809, a 27.1% lead for Intel.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U supports LPDDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s, which is significantly higher than the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4's DDR3 support with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s.

Q: What are the power consumption characteristics of these chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has a TDP of 15 watts, whereas the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 has a TDP of 95 watts. This indicates a major difference in thermal and power design.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U does not.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is stark. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is built on the modern Zen 2 architecture, specifically the Mendocino codename, and is manufactured on a 6 nm process at TSMC. In contrast, the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 uses the older Broadwell architecture (Broadwell-DT) on Intel's 14 nm process. This generational leap is reflected in the die sizes: the AMD chip measures 100 mm², while the Intel chip is significantly larger at 182 mm².

Cache configurations also differ notably. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, double the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4's 256 KB per core. However, the Intel part has a larger shared L3 cache at 6 MB, compared to the AMD's 4 MB shared L3 cache. These differences suggest AMD's design prioritizes faster per-core access, while Intel's design has a larger pool of shared memory for workload distribution.

The memory support is another key differentiator. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U uses LPDDR5 memory, which is a low-power standard designed for mobile devices, enabling its 88.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 uses DDR3, an older standard with a significantly lower 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD part also features the Radeon 610M integrated graphics, while the Intel part comes with Intel Iris Pro P6300. The Xeon E3-1285 v4, being a server/workstation part, supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the mobile-focused Ryzen.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results tell a story of contrasting strengths. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U scores 790, defeating the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4's 664 by a solid 19%. This is an impressive result for a 15-watt mobile chip against a 95-watt server part. The story becomes even more lopsided in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U's 162.4 score crushes the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4's 93, translating to a 74.6% advantage. This huge delta highlights the massive IPC (instructions per clock) improvements AMD achieved with the Zen 2 architecture compared to the older Broadwell design.

However, the tables turn dramatically in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. Here, the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 scores 6596, beating the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U's 4809 by 27.1%. This is a surprising inversion, suggesting that the Intel part's higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and larger L3 cache allow it to sustain performance in this particular sustained multi-threaded workload. Yet, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U reclaims its dominance, scoring 1095 against the Intel's 931, a 17.6% lead.

Overall, the head-to-head results show the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U winning three out of four benchmarks. The data indicates that for most tasks, particularly those that are single-threaded or latency-sensitive, the AMD chip is substantially faster. The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4's single victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core is notable, but it does not offset the AMD chip's decisive wins in the other tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification category. The process node is a major divider: the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U uses a 6 nm process, while the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 uses a 14 nm process. This leads to differences in die size (100 mm² vs 182 mm²) and TDP (15 W vs 95 W). The base clock is higher on the Intel chip at 3.50 GHz versus the AMD's 2.40 GHz, but the boost clock is higher on the AMD chip at 4.10 GHz versus the Intel's 3.80 GHz.

The socket types are completely different, with the AMD using AMD Socket FT6 and the Intel using Intel Socket 1150. Memory support differs fundamentally: the AMD chip uses LPDDR5 with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel chip uses DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory support is present only on the Intel chip. The PCIe configuration also differs, with the AMD chip providing Gen 3 with 4 lanes, while the Intel chip provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics are Radeon 610M on the AMD and Intel Iris Pro P6300 on the Intel. The market segment is Mobile for AMD and Server/Workstation for Intel, which aligns with the production status of Active for AMD and End-of-life for Intel. The release date shows the AMD chip launched in September 2022, while the Intel chip launched in June 2015.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is the superior processor for the vast majority of computing tasks. Its decisive wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core (19% ahead), Cinebench R15 single-core (74.6% ahead), and Cinebench R23 single-core (17.6% ahead) demonstrate a fundamental performance advantage in both lightly-threaded and typical multi-threaded workloads. The benchmark results indicate that the AMD chip's modern Zen 2 architecture, combined with its high boost clock and faster memory, delivers a far more responsive and capable experience for everyday use and professional single-threaded applications.

The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4's only advantage lies in one specific scenario: sustained multi-core rendering, as evidenced by its 27.1% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core. This suggests that for workloads that can fully saturate all cores for extended periods, the Intel part's higher sustained clock speeds and larger L3 cache can be beneficial. However, this single victory is not enough to recommend the Intel chip for general use, especially when considering its 95-watt TDP compared to the AMD's 15 watts.

For a mobile or low-power system, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is the clear choice. It offers superior performance per watt by a massive margin, and its benchmark wins cover the most common usage patterns. The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4, being end-of-life, is only relevant for specific legacy server/workstation applications that require ECC memory support and can leverage its sustained multi-core throughput. The data suggests that anyone choosing the Intel chip would be doing so for a narrow, specialized use case, while the AMD chip is the better all-around performer.