AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE vs Intel Xeon W-2125 Comparison

The Intel Xeon W-2125 and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they target entirely different segments of the market. The Xeon is a workstation part built for the Intel Socket 2066 platform, while the Ryzen is a low-power desktop APU on AMD Socket AM4. Benchmark results show the AMD part winning all six head-to-head tests, but the data also reveals a close contest overall, with the Xeon holding its own in some areas despite its older architecture.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. The margins are consistent across the board, hovering around the 5.5–5.8% range. In Cinebench R15, the Ryzen scores 904 in multi-core against the Xeon's 852, a 5.8% advantage. The single-core test shows a similar story: 127 vs 120, a 5.5% lead for AMD. This pattern repeats in newer Cinebench versions.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Ryzen posts 3769 in multi-core versus 3551 for the Intel, again a 5.8% difference. The single-core gap is identical at 5.8%, with scores of 532 and 501 respectively. The R23 results reinforce the trend: 8975 vs 8455 in multi-core and 1267 vs 1193 in single-core, both showing the same 5.8% delta. Notably, the Geekbench multi-core test is the only one where the Intel part doesn't face a direct comparison in the head-to-head set, but its score of 4988 is close to the Ryzen's average benchmark score of 2596.

The average benchmark scores tell a more nuanced story. The Xeon W-2125 averages 2623 across all tests, while the Ryzen averages 2596. That puts the Intel part 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i7-8850H, while the AMD part is 0.3% behind that same chip. Both processors land in the 49th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they perform similarly in the broader landscape. The Xeon's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-1195G7 at 2638 (just 0.6% higher), while the Ryzen's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon E-2174G at 2588 (0.3% lower).

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE wins on raw performance in every tested workload. It leads by 5.8% in multi-threaded Cinebench tests, which suggests it handles parallel rendering tasks like video encoding or 3D scene compilation slightly better. The single-core wins are equally consistent at 5.5–5.8%, so the AMD chip also has the edge in lightly-threaded applications like office productivity or web browsing.

The Xeon W-2125's advantages are not in benchmark scores but in platform capabilities. It supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, compared to the Ryzen's dual-channel 51.2 GB/s. This makes the Xeon better suited for memory-intensive workloads like large database operations or scientific computing that scale with memory throughput. The Xeon also provides 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, versus 16 lanes on the Ryzen, enabling more expansion cards, NVMe drives, or GPU configurations.

The Ryzen counters with its integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely. For a compact desktop build without a discrete GPU, the Ryzen is the only one of the two that can output video without an add-in card. The Ryzen also consumes far less power, with a 35W TDP versus the Xeon's 120W, making it suitable for small form factor or low-noise systems.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is substantial. The Xeon W-2125 uses Intel's Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process, fabricated in-house. It has a die size of 484 mm², which is large for a 4-core chip. The Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE is built on AMD's Zen 2 architecture, specifically the Renoir revision, using a 7 nm process from TSMC. Its die is just 156 mm², and the chip packs 9,800 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ significantly. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Xeon offers 1 MB of L2 per core, while the Ryzen has 512 KB per core. The L3 cache is where the gap widens: the Xeon has 8.25 MB shared, while the Ryzen has only 4 MB shared. Despite having half the L3 cache, the Ryzen still outperforms the Xeon, highlighting the efficiency of the Zen 2 design.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The Xeon uses quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, which is important for workstation reliability. The Xeon's PCIe implementation offers 48 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, compared to 16 lanes on the Ryzen, making the Intel platform more expandable.

The Ryzen integrates Radeon Vega 6 graphics, a feature the Xeon lacks. The Xeon is a server/workstation part aimed at professional workloads, while the Ryzen is a desktop APU designed for everyday computing with basic graphics output. The Xeon was released in 2017 and is now end-of-life, while the Ryzen launched in 2022 and remains active, giving it a more modern feature set.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE wins all single-core tests. It scores 127 in Cinebench R15, 532 in R20, and 1267 in R23, compared to the Xeon's 120, 501, and 1193 respectively. The margins are 5.5% in R15 and 5.8% in R20 and R23.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon W-2125 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE also supports ECC memory, so both are suitable for reliability-critical workloads.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Xeon has a 120W TDP, while the Ryzen has a 35W TDP. This makes the Ryzen more than three times more power-efficient on paper, which can translate to lower cooling requirements and quieter operation.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Xeon provides 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen offers 16 lanes. This gives the Xeon a significant advantage for multi-GPU setups or high-density storage arrays.

Q: Can the Ryzen output video without a discrete GPU?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE includes integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics. The Xeon W-2125 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a separate graphics card for display output.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Xeon has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 2623, compared to the Ryzen's 2596. However, this is within 1% and the Ryzen wins every head-to-head test, so the difference is negligible.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE is the clear performance winner, taking all six head-to-head benchmarks with a consistent 5.8% lead in most tests. If you need the fastest 4-core CPU for Cinebench-style workloads, the Ryzen is the choice. Its 35W TDP also makes it ideal for compact or energy-conscious builds, and the integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems.

The Intel Xeon W-2125 is a different proposition. It loses on raw compute but wins on platform features. The quad-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth and 48 PCIe lanes make it a better fit for workstation applications that need more memory throughput or expansion capacity. If you're building a system around specific PCIe cards, multiple GPUs, or memory-bandwidth-hungry tasks, the Xeon's architecture is the better foundation despite its slower core performance.

The production status also matters. The Xeon is end-of-life, so availability may be limited to used or refurbished units. The Ryzen is active, meaning new stock and ongoing support. Both are 4-core, 8-thread parts, but they serve different masters. Pick the Ryzen for efficiency and raw speed in standard desktop tasks. Pick the Xeon for a workstation platform with superior memory and PCIe capabilities, provided you can live with its higher power draw and older architecture.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Base Clock: Intel Xeon W-2125 at 4.00 GHz, AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE at 3.50 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel at 4.50 GHz, AMD at 4.00 GHz
• TDP: Intel at 120W, AMD at 35W
• Socket: Intel Socket 2066 vs AMD Socket AM4
• Architecture: Skylake vs Zen 2
• Process Node: 14 nm (Intel) vs 7 nm (TSMC)
• Die Size: 484 mm² vs 156 mm²
• Transistors: Not listed for Intel, 9,800 million for AMD
• L2 Cache: 1 MB per core vs 512 KB per core
• L3 Cache: 8.25 MB shared vs 4 MB shared
• Memory Bus: Quad-channel vs Dual-channel
• Memory Bandwidth: 85.3 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s
• PCIe Lanes: 48 lanes vs 16 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: None vs Radeon Vega 6
• Market Segment: Server/Workstation vs Desktop
• Production Status: End-of-life vs Active
• Release Date: 2017-08-28 vs 2022-11-10
• Launch MSRP: $444 for Intel, none listed for AMD
• Part Number: SR3LM vs 100-000001061