AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 vs Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 sweeps every benchmark in this comparison, taking all six recorded Cinebench tests against the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3. That makes the use-case split unusually straightforward: the AMD part is the pick for both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, with no category where the Intel chip manages to pull ahead.

For single-core tasks, the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 leads by a narrow but consistent margin. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a 1.5% advantage, while the R20 and R23 single-core runs show 1.4% and 1.7% leads respectively. This matters for older software, lightly threaded applications, and any workload where responsiveness depends on one thread doing most of the work.

Multi-threaded performance tells the same story with slightly larger gaps. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result favors the AMD part by 1.7%, and both R20 and R23 multi-core tests show a 1.6% edge. Rendering, video encoding, and compilation workloads that scale across all four threads will see a small but repeatable benefit from the Ryzen part.

The Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 does retain some advantages outside raw Cinebench scores, but those are not reflected in the recorded benchmark data. It offers integrated graphics via the Intel HD P4600, while the AMD part has no integrated GPU at all. Systems built around the Xeon can therefore drive a display without a discrete graphics card, which is a meaningful feature for basic server or workstation configurations where a separate GPU is unnecessary.

The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 counters with a more modern platform. It uses DDR4 memory rather than DDR3, and it has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Xeon's multiplier is locked. The AMD chip is also still marked as Active in production status, whereas the Intel part is End-of-life. For new system builds, the AMD processor offers a platform with a longer expected lifespan.

In short, the performance crown belongs to AMD across all measured metrics. The Xeon wins only on the feature of integrated graphics and the older platform's established ecosystem. Users who need a GPU-free display output and are willing to sacrifice a few percent of Cinebench performance might prefer the Intel part; everyone else should lean toward the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 scores 4767 versus 4692 for the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3, a 1.6% advantage in the R23 multi-core test.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel HD P4600. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required for display output on that platform.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has an unlocked multiplier, so it can be overclocked. The Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 has a locked multiplier and cannot be overclocked.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 supports DDR4, while the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 supports DDR3. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in single-core Cinebench R20?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 scores 282, and the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 scores 278. That is a 1.4% lead for the AMD part.

Q: What are the production statuses of these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is listed as Active, while the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 is End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 across all six Cinebench tests. The margins are small, ranging from 1.4% to 1.7%, but they are consistent in every single run.

The largest delta appears in two places: Cinebench R15 multi-core and Cinebench R23 single-core, both at 1.7%. In R15 multi-core, the AMD part scores 480 versus 472 for the Xeon. In R23 single-core, the AMD part scores 673 versus 662. These are the two biggest wins for the Ryzen chip, and they neatly illustrate that the AMD advantage holds at both ends of the threading spectrum.

The R20 multi-core test shows the AMD part at 2002 against 1970 for the Intel chip, a 1.6% difference. The R23 multi-core test is nearly identical in percentage terms, with 4767 versus 4692, also 1.6%. The R15 single-core result gives the AMD part a 1.5% lead, with 67 points versus 66. The smallest margin is the R20 single-core test, where 282 beats 278 by just 1.4%.

It is importantly the absolute score differences are tiny. Four points in R15 single-core, four points in R20 single-core, eight points in R15 multi-core, 32 points in R20 multi-core, and 75 points in R23 multi-core. In percentage terms, these are all sub-2% gaps, which means the two CPUs are closely matched in raw rendering throughput. However, the AMD part wins every recorded test, and there is no counterbalancing Intel victory anywhere in the benchmark suite.

For context, the AMD chip's average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 1379, while the Intel chip averages 1357. That puts the Ryzen at the 36th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with the Xeon also at the 36th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD part include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2300U and AMD Opteron 6366 HE, both with identical average scores of 1379, as well as the Intel Core i7-3740QM at 1378 and the Intel Core i7-3615QE at 1381. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-6500T and Intel Core i5-8365UE, both at 1362, the Intel Xeon W-2104 at 1350, and the Intel Core i5-7400T at 1348.

In every benchmark category, the recorded data favors the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200. The wins are modest, but they are universal across R15, R20, and R23, and across both single-core and multi-core variants.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification areas. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 has a higher base clock of 3.30 GHz and a higher boost clock of 3.70 GHz. Despite the clock disadvantage, the AMD part still wins all benchmarks, which points to architectural efficiency differences.

Thermal design power differs substantially. The AMD chip is rated at 65 watts, while the Intel chip is rated at 84 watts. The AMD part delivers better benchmark results while consuming less thermal headroom, which is a notable efficiency advantage.

The sockets are incompatible. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 uses Intel Socket 1150. Any system build must match the motherboard to the correct platform.

Memory support differs by generation. The AMD part uses DDR4, and the Intel part uses DDR3. Both run dual-channel memory, but the recorded memory bandwidth figures differ significantly. The AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 4256 MB/s, while the Intel part lists 25.6 GB/s. That is a large discrepancy in the specification sheets, though it does not translate into a Cinebench disadvantage for the AMD part.

The Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 includes integrated graphics with Intel HD P4600, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has no integrated graphics. The Intel part is also a server or workstation segment product, whereas the AMD part is a desktop segment product.

The launch MSRP of the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 was $213. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Zen, and specifically part of the Ryzen 3 Summit Ridge generation. It uses a 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. The Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 is built on the Haswell architecture, codenamed Haswell-WS, and uses a 22 nm process node from Intel.

Transistor counts and die sizes differ considerably. The AMD chip packs 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The Intel chip has 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The AMD part uses a much denser process and integrates far more transistors, which helps explain its efficiency advantage despite the larger physical die.

Cache layouts differ in the per-core allocations. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and also 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, while the L3 totals match at 8 MB.

Both CPUs have four cores and four threads, so the threading model is identical. Both support ECC memory, and both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part does not. The AMD processor is part of the 1000 series and remains in active production, while the Intel Xeon E3-1226 v3 is end-of-life.

The architectural gap between Zen on 14 nm and Haswell on 22 nm shows up in the benchmark results. The newer AMD design achieves higher Cinebench scores at lower clocks and lower TDP. The Intel part compensates with higher clock speeds, but the older architecture cannot fully close the gap. The result is a consistent, if modest, AMD victory across every recorded workload.