AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE vs Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data presents an unusually close contest between two processors from opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE, a modern 4-core desktop part built on TSMC's 7 nm process, and the Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4, a 12-core server/workstation chip from Intel's 14 nm Broadwell-EP generation, land within 2% of each other in every measured test. The database shows the Xeon E5-2650 v4 winning all six head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are razor-thin, ranging from 1.4% to 1.9%. Neither chip dominates the other in a way that would decisively steer a buyer without considering platform-level factors.

The Xeon E5-2650 v4 takes the top spot in every Cinebench iteration, both single-core and multi-core. Its largest advantage appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 155 against the Ryzen's 152, a 1.9% lead. Every other test shows a 1.4% gap. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE counters with a higher average benchmark score of 3218 versus the Xeon's 3154, and it adds integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely. Both processors sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

For a desktop user building a compact, low-power system, the Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE is the rational choice. Its 35 W TDP, active production status, and integrated graphics make it a self-contained solution. The Xeon E5-2650 v4, marked end-of-life, demands a discrete GPU and a much larger power envelope at 105 W. For workloads that rely on the existing Cinebench results, the Xeon's marginal performance edge could justify its selection in a server or workstation context where the platform already includes a GPU and where the quad-channel memory bus and 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide value beyond raw CPU benchmarks. The data does not support choosing the Xeon for desktop users seeking the best performance per watt; it supports choosing the Xeon only when the surrounding platform requirements align with its server-oriented feature set.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 scores 10904 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE scores 10750. The Xeon leads by 1.4%.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it features Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required for display output.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Xeon E5-2650 v4 leads in all single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 1539 versus the Ryzen's 1517, a 1.4% difference. In Cinebench R15 single-core the gap widens slightly to 1.9%, with scores of 155 and 152 respectively.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE has an average benchmark score of 3218, while the Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 averages 3154. Despite losing every head-to-head test, the Ryzen's average score is higher because the database includes Geekbench results for the Ryzen that are not recorded for the Xeon.

Q: What are the power consumption figures for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 has a 105 W TDP. The Xeon consumes three times the thermal design power of the Ryzen.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE is listed as active, while the Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 is marked as end-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies separated by five years of silicon evolution. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE uses the Zen 3 architecture under the Cezanne codename, fabricated by TSMC on a 7 nm process. The Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 uses the Broadwell architecture under the Broadwell-EP codename, fabricated by Intel on a 14 nm process. The transistor counts reflect this generational gap: the Ryzen packs 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die, while the Xeon contains 3,400 million transistors on a larger 246 mm² die. The Ryzen achieves a far denser transistor layout thanks to the newer process node.

Core counts differ substantially. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE provides 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2650 v4 provides 12 cores and 24 threads. This gives the Xeon three times the core count and three times the thread count. Despite that, the Cinebench results show the Ryzen nearly matching the Xeon in multi-core throughput. The Ryzen's higher clock speeds, 3.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, versus the Xeon's 2.20 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost, compensate for the core deficit. The Ryzen's per-core L1 cache matches the Xeon at 64 KB per core, but the L2 cache differs: 512 KB per core on the Ryzen versus 256 KB per core on the Xeon. The L3 cache strongly favors the Xeon, which offers 30 MB shared, while the Ryzen has 8 MB total.

Memory architecture diverges as well. Both support DDR4 and ECC memory, but the Xeon uses a quad-channel memory bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe connectivity also favors the Xeon, which provides 40 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, versus 16 Gen 3 lanes on the Ryzen. The Ryzen integrates Radeon Vega 6 graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen targets the desktop market segment and remains in active production, while the Xeon belongs to the server/workstation segment and is end-of-life.

Specification Differences

The database records several fields where these two processors differ. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE belongs to AMD's 5000 series, while the Xeon E5-2650 v4 has no series designation. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4; the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3. Manufacturing details differ: the Ryzen is built on a 7 nm node at TSMC, the Xeon on a 14 nm node at Intel. The Ryzen's die measures 180 mm² and contains 10,700 million transistors; the Xeon's die measures 246 mm² and contains 3,400 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ beyond the L3 capacity. The Ryzen provides 512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB per core on the Xeon. The Ryzen's L3 is 8 MB; the Xeon's is 30 MB shared. Clock speeds favor the Ryzen, with a 3.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, against the Xeon's 2.20 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. TDP ratings diverge sharply: 35 W for the Ryzen, 105 W for the Xeon. Memory bandwidth favors the Xeon at 68.3 GB/s over the Ryzen's 51.2 GB/s, and the memory bus differs between quad-channel on the Xeon and dual-channel on the Ryzen. PCIe lanes favor the Xeon at 40 Gen 3 lanes versus 16 Gen 3 lanes. The Ryzen has integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics; the Xeon has none. Release dates sit five years apart: the Ryzen launched on 2021-05-31, the Xeon on 2016-03-15. The Xeon carries a launch MSRP of $1166; the Ryzen has no recorded launch MSRP. The Ryzen remains active in production; the Xeon is end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark table records six Cinebench comparisons, and the Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 wins all six. The margins are consistent and narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1098 against the Ryzen's 1083, a 1.4% lead. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 155 against 152, a 1.9% lead, the largest margin in the entire comparison. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the Xeon at 4579 versus 4515, again a 1.4% difference. Cinebench R20 single-core continues the pattern: 646 versus 637, a 1.4% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 10904 versus 10750, a 1.4% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1539 versus 1517, a 1.4% lead.

The consistency of the 1.4% delta across five of six tests suggests a stable, predictable performance relationship between the two chips in Cinebench workloads. The Xeon's 12 cores and 24 threads should theoretically overpower the Ryzen's 4 cores and 8 threads in multi-core rendering, yet the Ryzen's higher clocks and newer architecture keep the gap minimal. The single-core results are more surprising: the Xeon, with its 2.90 GHz boost clock, edges out the Ryzen despite the Ryzen's 4.20 GHz boost. This likely reflects the Xeon's older Broadwell architecture scoring better in this specific legacy rendering workload, though the database does not provide architectural efficiency metrics to confirm the cause.

The Geekbench results, recorded only for the Ryzen, show scores of 5311 multi-core and 1779 single-core. These figures contribute to the Ryzen's average benchmark score of 3218, which exceeds the Xeon's 3154. The Xeon lacks Geekbench entries in the database, so its average draws only from Cinebench results. The Ryzen's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U at an identical average score of 3218, the Intel Atom P5342 at 3217, the Intel Core i5-1240P at 3202, and the Intel Core i3-13100T at 3198. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5850U at 3159, the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE at 3160, the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U at 3162, and the Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 at 3163. These neighboring scores underscore how closely the two processors align in the broader competitive landscape, despite their architectural differences and the five-year gap in release dates.