AMD Ryzen 3 7330U vs Intel Xeon E-2278GE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U and the Intel Xeon E-2278GE are two very different processors that happen to land near each other in aggregate benchmark scores. The data shows both chips holding the 57th percentile among all CPUs, with the Ryzen 3 7330U posting an average benchmark score of 3958 and the Xeon E-2278GE scoring 3939. That places the AMD part 0.5% ahead of the Intel part in the aggregate, a margin that is effectively a statistical tie. But look at the individual tests and the picture changes dramatically, because the two chips are built for entirely different workloads and power envelopes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the data is Cinebench R23 multi-core, and the result is not close. The Intel Xeon E-2278GE scores 13619, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U scores 6230. That is a 54.3% gap in favor of the Xeon. To put that in perspective, the Xeon's score is more than double the Ryzen's, which makes sense given that the Xeon has 8 cores and 16 threads versus the Ryzen's 4 cores and 8 threads. In heavily threaded rendering workloads, the Xeon is the clear winner, and the deltaPct of -54.3 for the AMD part means it delivers less than half the multi-core performance of the Intel chip.

However, the aggregate benchmark scores tell a different story. The Ryzen 3 7330U averages 3958 across all its tested benchmarks, while the Xeon E-2278GE averages 3939. This means that in the broader benchmark suite, the Ryzen actually edges out the Xeon by a hair, despite losing the Cinebench R23 multi-core test by a wide margin. The Ryzen's other benchmark results—Geekbench multi-core at 4131 and Geekbench single-core at 1514—are not directly comparable to any of the Xeon's results in the fact pack, since the Xeon only has Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 scores listed. But the aggregate numbers suggest the Ryzen compensates for its multi-core deficit with stronger results in other test categories.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each chip reinforces the point that these are comparable in overall performance, but through very different means. The Ryzen 3 7330U's closest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3, which scores 3959 on average—a 0% delta. The Intel Xeon E-2278GE's closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, which scores 3924 on average, putting the Xeon 0.4% ahead. Interestingly, each chip lists the other as a nearest rival: the Xeon E-2278GE is -0.5% relative to the Ryzen 3 7330U's average score, and the Ryzen 3 7330U is -0.5% relative to the Xeon E-2278GE's average score. This mutual proximity confirms that despite the massive Cinebench multi-core gap, the overall performance profiles are similar when averaged across all benchmarks.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: pick the Intel Xeon E-2278GE if your priority is raw multi-threaded compute, and pick the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U if you need a low-power mobile chip that holds its own in general-purpose tasks. The Xeon wins the only head-to-head benchmark with a 54.3% margin, and it does so with 8 cores and 16 threads versus the Ryzen's 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon also has a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz and a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz, compared to the Ryzen's 2.30 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. That clock advantage, combined with double the cores, explains the Cinebench R23 multi-core result.

But the Ryzen 3 7330U is not a loser in aggregate. Its average benchmark score of 3958 is 0.5% higher than the Xeon's 3939, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-6900K and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U, both of which score within 0.3% of the Ryzen. The Ryzen achieves this with a 15W TDP versus the Xeon's 80W TDP, making it a far more efficient part for mobile or compact systems. The Xeon, on the other hand, is end-of-life and was designed for server/workstation use, which explains its higher power draw and larger multi-core capability.

For a builder deciding between these two, the choice comes down to the system's purpose. If you are assembling a workstation or server that will sit on a desk and chew through rendering or virtualization workloads, the Xeon E-2278GE is the data-backed pick. If you are outfitting a laptop or a low-power mini PC that needs to handle everyday tasks and occasional multi-core work without melting the chassis, the Ryzen 3 7330U is the sensible option. The Xeon's 16 threads will crush multi-threaded jobs, but the Ryzen's 8 threads are enough for many real-world scenarios, and it does so at a fraction of the power draw.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E-2278GE wins in multi-core rendering, as demonstrated by the Cinebench R23 multi-core result. Its 13619 score versus the Ryzen's 6230 is a 54.3% advantage, and that gap will translate directly to faster completion times in 3D rendering, video encoding, and other fully threaded workloads. The Xeon also wins on paper in clock speed, with a 4.70 GHz boost versus the Ryzen's 4.30 GHz, and it has double the L3 cache at 16 MB shared versus the Ryzen's 8 MB shared. For any application that scales with core count and cache size, the Xeon is the clear winner.

The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U wins in the aggregate benchmark average, scoring 3958 versus the Xeon's 3939. That 0.5% margin is small, but it indicates the Ryzen performs competitively in the broader benchmark suite, likely due to its more modern Zen 3 architecture and higher memory bandwidth. The Ryzen's memory bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s versus the Xeon's 42.7 GB/s, which can benefit memory-sensitive workloads that are not purely multi-threaded. The Ryzen also wins on power efficiency, with a 15W TDP versus the Xeon's 80W TDP, making it suitable for fanless or battery-powered designs where the Xeon would require substantial cooling.

The Ryzen also wins on process technology, using a 7 nm process from TSMC versus the Xeon's 14 nm process from Intel. This architectural advantage allows the Ryzen to deliver competitive performance at a fraction of the power, which is why it can match the Xeon in aggregate benchmarks despite having half the cores. For single-threaded responsiveness, the Ryzen's Geekbench single-core score of 1514 is the only single-core result in the fact pack, and while there is no direct Xeon comparison, the Ryzen's boost clock of 4.30 GHz suggests it can hold its own in lightly threaded tasks like web browsing and office applications.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GE is significantly faster in multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Xeon scores 13619 versus the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U's 6230, a 54.3% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: Do these two CPUs have similar overall performance?

A: Yes, the aggregate benchmark scores are nearly identical. The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U has an average benchmark score of 3958, while the Intel Xeon E-2278GE scores 3939, putting the Ryzen 0.5% ahead.

Q: Which CPU is more power-efficient?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U is far more power-efficient, with a TDP of 15W compared to the Intel Xeon E-2278GE's 80W TDP. The Ryzen also uses a 7 nm process from TSMC versus the Xeon's 14 nm process from Intel.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2278GE has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Xeon has double the core and thread count.

Q: Which CPU has more cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GE has more L3 cache, with 16 MB shared versus the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U's 8 MB shared. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Xeon has 256 KB of L2 per core versus the Ryzen's 512 KB per core.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Both CPUs support ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U and the Intel Xeon E-2278GE both have ECC memory support listed in their specifications.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from fundamentally different architectural lineages. The AMD Ryzen 3 7330U is based on Zen 3 architecture, specifically the Barcelo-R codename, and is built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It is part of the Ryzen 3 generation under the Zen 3 (Cezanne) family, and it uses the AMD Socket FP6. The Intel Xeon E-2278GE, by contrast, is based on Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS codename, and is built on a 14 nm process at Intel. It belongs to the Xeon E generation under the Coffee Lake family, and it uses the Intel Socket 1151.

The process node difference is significant: 7 nm versus 14 nm. This explains why the Ryzen can deliver competitive aggregate performance at a 15W TDP, while the Xeon needs 80W to achieve its higher multi-core scores. The transistor count reflects this as well, with the Ryzen listing 10,700 million transistors versus no transistor count listed for the Xeon. Both chips have the same die size of 180 mm², which is notable given the different process nodes and transistor densities. The Ryzen's cache layout uses 512 KB of L2 per core, while the Xeon uses 256 KB of L2 per core, but the Xeon makes up for it with double the L3 cache at 16 MB shared versus 8 MB shared.

The integrated graphics also differ. The Ryzen 3 7330U features Radeon Graphics (Vega 4), while the Xeon E-2278GE features UHD Graphics P630. Both are integrated solutions, but they target different markets: the Ryzen is designed for mobile use, while the Xeon is aimed at server and workstation platforms. The production status also differs, with the Ryzen listed as Active and the Xeon listed as End-of-life. The release dates reflect this, with the Ryzen launching on 2023-01-03 and the Xeon launching on 2019-06-10.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious difference: the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2278GE has 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds also favor the Xeon, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, versus the Ryzen's 2.30 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost. The TDP difference is dramatic: 15W for the Ryzen versus 80W for the Xeon, reflecting the mobile versus workstation design goals.

Memory bandwidth differs as well, with the Ryzen offering 51.2 GB/s versus the Xeon's 42.7 GB/s, despite both using dual-channel DDR4 memory. The L2 cache is larger per core on the Ryzen at 512 KB versus 256 KB on the Xeon, but the Xeon has double the L3 cache at 16 MB shared versus 8 MB shared. The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP6 for the Ryzen and Intel Socket 1151 for the Xeon. The market segments are also different, with the Ryzen classified as Mobile and the Xeon as Server/Workstation. Finally, the Xeon E-2278GE has a launch MSRP of $519, while the Ryzen 3 7330U has no launch MSRP listed in the data.