AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE vs Intel Xeon E-2126G Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2126G and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE occupy very different positions in the desktop and workstation landscape, and the recorded benchmark data reveals a fascinating split. The Xeon E-2126G, a six-core, six-thread Coffee Lake part aimed at servers and workstations, dominates in Geekbench tests, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE, a four-core, eight-thread Zen 2 part, consistently leads across all Cinebench iterations. The database shows the AMD chip wins six of the eight direct head-to-head comparisons, but the Intel chip wins the two largest single-test margins, including a 25.2% advantage in Geekbench multi-core. This creates a nuanced picture where the choice depends heavily on which workload profile matters more to the user.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split decision. For users running Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE is the stronger option, as it posts higher scores in every Cinebench test recorded. The AMD chip leads by 4.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 4.2% in R20 single-core, and 4.5% in R15 single-core, with all eight Cinebench results favoring the Ryzen part. The margins are consistent, hovering around 4% in most tests, which suggests a steady performance advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

However, the Intel Xeon E-2126G wins the Geekbench tests decisively. Its multi-core score of 5743 compared to the AMD's 4587 represents a 25.2% gap, while its single-core score of 1565 versus 1436 is a 9% lead. The Geekbench suite measures a broader set of real-world tasks, including encryption, compression, and memory operations, so this result indicates that the Xeon holds an advantage in general-purpose computing scenarios.

The production status also matters. The Intel Xeon E-2126G is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE is active. For new system builds, the AMD part offers a more future-proof platform, though the Xeon's workstation pedigree and equal ECC memory support keep it relevant for legacy deployments. The AMD chip also carries a 35 TDP versus the Intel's 80 TDP, making it significantly more power-efficient, which is a critical factor for compact or always-on systems.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical: the Xeon sits at the 51st percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Ryzen sits at the 50th. The average benchmark scores are also close, with the Intel at 2842 and the AMD at 2767. This near-parity in overall standing reinforces the idea that these are evenly matched processors with different strengths rather than one being categorically superior.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two parts is substantial. The Intel Xeon E-2126G uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake-S WS, built on Intel's 14 nm process node with a die size of 154 mm². The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE uses Zen 2, codenamed Renoir, fabricated by TSMC on a 7 nm process with a die size of 156 mm². The process node difference is significant: the AMD chip uses a newer, denser manufacturing process, which contributes to its lower power draw and higher efficiency.

The core configurations differ as well. The Intel part has 6 cores and 6 threads, meaning no hyper-threading, while the AMD part has 4 cores and 8 threads, using simultaneous multithreading to double its thread count. This explains some of the Cinebench results, where the AMD chip's extra threads help it keep pace despite having two fewer physical cores.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Intel part has 256 KB of L2 per core versus the AMD's 512 KB per core. The L3 cache tells a different story: the Intel chip has 12 MB shared, while the AMD chip has only 4 MB shared. The larger L3 on the Intel part likely contributes to its Geekbench strength, as more cached data can be accessed quickly across all cores.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Intel Xeon E-2126G includes HD Graphics P630, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE includes Radeon Vega 6. The AMD Vega solution is generally more capable for display tasks, but the database does not include graphics benchmarks, so this remains a qualitative observation.

Memory bandwidth ratings also favor the AMD chip. The Intel part is rated at 42.7 GB/s, while the AMD part is rated at 51.2 GB/s, both using dual-channel DDR4. The higher bandwidth on the AMD chip may help in bandwidth-sensitive workloads, though the Xeon's larger cache might compensate in other areas.

The AMD chip also has a much larger transistor count at 9,800 million, though the Intel part's transistor count is not recorded in the database. The foundry difference is notable: Intel produces its own silicon, while AMD uses TSMC, which reflects different manufacturing strategies.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a clear pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE scores 936 against the Intel's 896, a 4.3% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD scores 132 versus 126, a 4.5% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the AMD at 3900 versus 3734, another 4.3% gap, and R20 single-core shows 550 versus 527, a 4.2% difference. Cinebench R23 multi-core has the AMD at 9287 versus 8891, 4.3% ahead, and R23 single-core has 1311 versus 1255, 4.3% ahead. The AMD chip wins every Cinebench test by nearly the same margin, suggesting a consistent architectural advantage in this rendering workload.

The Geekbench results flip the script. The Intel Xeon E-2126G scores 5743 in multi-core versus the AMD's 4587, a massive 25.2% lead. In single-core, the Intel scores 1565 versus 1436, a 9% advantage. These are the largest deltas in the entire comparison, and they indicate that the Intel part handles the diverse workload mix in Geekbench much better than the AMD part, despite losing in pure rendering tests.

The overall win count favors the AMD chip at 6 wins to 2, but the magnitude of the Intel wins is much larger. The AMD wins are all clustered around 4%, while the Intel wins are 25.2% and 9%. This means a user who runs primarily Cinebench-style workloads would see modest gains from the AMD chip, while a user who runs Geekbench-style workloads would see substantial gains from the Intel chip.

The average benchmark scores place the Intel at 2842 and the AMD at 2767, a difference of about 2.7% in favor of Intel. The nearest rivals in the database confirm the positioning: the Intel Xeon E-2126G sits 0.1% above the Intel Core i7-6800K and 0.2% above the Intel Core i5-10600, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE sits 0.1% above the AMD Ryzen 3 5400U and 0.3% below the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350G. Both chips are firmly in the mid-range of the database's performance distribution.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2126G has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel part has more physical cores, but the AMD part has more total threads due to simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Does the AMD chip outperform the Intel chip in all benchmarks?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE wins all six Cinebench tests, but the Intel Xeon E-2126G wins both Geekbench tests, including a 25.2% lead in multi-core and a 9% lead in single-core.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2126G has a TDP of 80, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE has a TDP of 35. The AMD chip draws less than half the power, which makes it more suitable for compact or energy-efficient builds.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Both processors support ECC memory. The database lists ECC memory support as true for both the Intel Xeon E-2126G and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE.

Q: What is the release timeline for these chips?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2126G was released on 2018-07-11 and is marked as end-of-life. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE was released on 2020-07-20 and is marked as active.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2126G has an average benchmark score of 2842, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE has an average score of 2767. The Intel part is about 2.7% higher on average, and both sit near the 50th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE is the winner for rendering and multi-threaded productivity workloads that resemble Cinebench. Its consistent 4% advantage across every Cinebench test, from R15 to R23, indicates that the Zen 2 architecture with 8 threads handles these tasks efficiently. The lower 35 TDP also makes it the better choice for systems where cooling is limited or power draw is a concern. The active production status means it remains available for new builds, and the higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s could benefit certain data-intensive applications.

The Intel Xeon E-2126G is the winner for general-purpose computing that resembles Geekbench. Its 25.2% multi-core lead and 9% single-core lead in that suite are substantial, and the larger 12 MB L3 cache likely plays a role in its ability to handle diverse workloads. The 6 physical cores may also provide an advantage in workloads that scale with core count rather than thread count. The end-of-life status is a drawback, but for existing systems or legacy deployments, the Xeon's workstation segment positioning and its verified ECC support make it a solid choice for server or workstation tasks.

The choice ultimately depends on the workload mix. The data shows the AMD chip winning more tests, but the Intel chip winning the tests with the largest margins. Users who value consistent rendering performance and power efficiency should lean toward the AMD part, while those who prioritize general-purpose compute and have the cooling headroom for an 80 TDP chip should consider the Intel part.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specification fields. The Intel Xeon E-2126G has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clock is 3.30 GHz on the Intel chip versus 3.50 GHz on the AMD chip, while the boost clock is 4.50 GHz on the Intel versus 4.00 GHz on the AMD. The TDP is 80 for Intel and 35 for AMD, a major difference in power efficiency.

The socket types are incompatible: the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4. The architecture and process node differ, with Intel using Coffee Lake on 14 nm and AMD using Zen 2 on 7 nm. The foundry is Intel for the Xeon and TSMC for the Ryzen, and the AMD chip has 9,800 million transistors while the Intel transistor count is not recorded.

The cache configuration differs in L2 and L3 sizes. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, but the Intel chip has 256 KB of L2 per core versus 512 KB on the AMD. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared on Intel versus 4 MB shared on AMD. Memory bandwidth is rated at 42.7 GB/s for Intel and 51.2 GB/s for AMD, with both supporting dual-channel DDR4.

The integrated graphics differ, with Intel offering HD Graphics P630 and AMD offering Radeon Vega 6. The market segment is server/workstation for Intel and desktop for AMD. The production status is end-of-life for Intel and active for AMD, and the release dates are 2018-07-11 for Intel and 2020-07-20 for AMD. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $255, while the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and both support ECC memory, DDR4, and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.