AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE vs Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE and Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they represent vastly different eras and design philosophies. The data shows a consistent, albeit narrow, victory for the AMD part across every benchmark in this comparison, while the Intel chip counters with a higher base clock, larger L3 cache, and ECC memory support. This is a clash between a modern, efficient APU and an older, workstation-oriented server chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent, with the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE taking a clean sweep across all six Cinebench tests. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the AMD chip scores 615 against the Intel's 612, a marginal 0.5% lead. This pattern repeats in the R20 multicore test, where the Ryzen 5 2400GE scores 2564 versus 2550 for the Xeon, again a 0.5% difference. The gap widens slightly in the more demanding Cinebench R23 multicore test, with the AMD part scoring 6107 compared to the Intel's 6072, a 0.6% advantage.

Single-core performance tells a similar story. The two chips are dead even in Cinebench R15 single-core, both scoring 86. However, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE pulls ahead in the R20 single-core test with a score of 362 against the Xeon's 359, a 0.8% lead. This advantage holds in R23 single-core, where the AMD scores 862 versus 857, a 0.6% difference. While these deltas are small, the consistency is noteworthy. The Ryzen 5 2400GE wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with the Xeon E3-1241 v3 failing to take a single benchmark.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE has an average benchmark score of 1766, while the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 sits at 1756. Both processors occupy the same 41st percentile when compared to all CPUs, indicating they are direct peers in overall performance. The AMD chip's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-4870HQ with an average score of 1769, a -0.2% delta, while the Intel Xeon's closest competitor is the Core i7-4790T at 1755, a 0% delta.

Where Each One Wins

The performance data shows a clear, if narrow, victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE in every single benchmark test. There is no test in this dataset where the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 comes out ahead. The AMD processor wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, making it the outright winner in both multi-core and single-core workloads as measured by Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

However, the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 has strengths that are not reflected in these particular benchmark scores. It is the only one of the two with ECC memory support, a critical feature for data integrity in server or workstation environments where a memory error could corrupt important data. The Xeon also supports DDR3 memory, while the AMD chip requires DDR4. For a builder working with an older platform that already has DDR3 modules, the Xeon offers an easier upgrade path.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE wins on platform modernity and power efficiency. Its 35W TDP is dramatically lower than the Intel's 80W TDP, making it far easier to cool in a small form factor or silent PC build. The AMD chip also includes the Radeon RX Vega 11 integrated graphics, meaning it can output video without a discrete graphics card, which is impossible with the Xeon as it has no integrated graphics at all.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE is a 14 nm part from GlobalFoundries, using the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename. It is part of the Ryzen 5 2000 series, released in April 2018. The Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 is a 22 nm part from Intel, using the Haswell architecture with the Haswell-WS codename, and was released in May 2014.

The transistor count and die size differ significantly. The AMD chip packs 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Intel chip has just 1,400 million transistors on a 160 mm² die. The cache layout is also different. The Ryzen 5 2400GE has a larger L1 cache at 128 KB per core and L2 cache at 512 KB per core, but a smaller L3 cache of only 4 MB shared. The Xeon E3-1241 v3 has a smaller 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 cache per core, but a much larger 8 MB shared L3 cache.

Memory support is a significant architectural divergence. The AMD chip supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a theoretical memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, but it does not support ECC memory. The Intel chip supports DDR3 memory, also dual-channel, with a lower memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s, but it does support ECC memory. The PCIe configurations also differ, with the AMD chip providing 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel provides 16 lanes.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE outperforms the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 in every Cinebench benchmark recorded. With a 0.5% lead in R15 multicore, a 0.8% lead in R20 single-core, and a 0.6% lead in R23 multicore, the AMD chip is consistently faster. The Intel chip loses all six head-to-head matchups and has a lower average benchmark score of 1756 versus 1766 for the AMD.

The choice between these two comes down to platform requirements and use case. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE is the better choice for a modern, power-efficient desktop. Its 35W TDP, integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics, and DDR4 memory support make it ideal for a compact home theater PC or a low-power office machine. The Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 is the only option if you need ECC memory support for a workstation or a small server. Its higher 80W TDP and lack of integrated graphics are drawbacks, but for a system that requires error-correcting memory, it is the only choice here. The Intel chip is also end-of-life, while the AMD chip is still in active production.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE scores 6107 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 0.6% higher than the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3's score of 6072.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 wins?

A: No. In the provided head-to-head data, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE wins all six benchmarks, including both single-core and multi-core tests across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23.

Q: Does either CPU support ECC memory?

A: Yes, but only the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE includes Radeon RX Vega 11 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the power consumption figures for these CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE has a 35W TDP, while the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 has an 80W TDP.

Q: Which CPU is still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE is listed as having an active production status, while the Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 is marked as end-of-life.

Specification Differences

Here is a breakdown of the key specifications where these two processors differ:

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE | Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 80 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Zen | Haswell |

| Codename | Raven Ridge | Haswell-WS |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,950 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 160 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 128 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe Lanes (CPU) | 8 Lanes (Gen 3) | 16 Lanes (Gen 3) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon RX Vega 11 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | April 2018 | May 2014 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | Not available | $273 |