AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE vs Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 and AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE are both four-core, eight-thread processors, but they represent radically different design philosophies and market segments. The Xeon is a 135W server part from the Haswell-EP generation, launched in 2014 for workstations, while the Ryzen is a 35W desktop APU from AMD’s Zen architecture, released in 2018 with integrated graphics. Despite their differences in age, power envelope, and platform, benchmark data shows they land in nearly the same performance tier, with the Xeon holding a razor-thin edge across every tested workload. Their average benchmark scores are 1773 for the Intel part and 1766 for the AMD part, a delta of only 0.4%. Both CPUs sit at the 41st percentile of all CPUs in the database, placing them in identical company relative to the broader market.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably consistent: the Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 wins all six head-to-head tests, but by margins so small they are effectively statistical noise. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 617 against the Ryzen’s 615, a 0.3% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows the largest gap of the entire comparison, with the Xeon at 87 and the Ryzen at 86, a 1.2% lead for Intel. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon again takes multi-core with 2574 versus 2564, a 0.4% delta, and single-core with 363 versus 362, another 0.3% edge. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23, where the Xeon scores 6130 to the Ryzen’s 6107 in multi-core (0.4% ahead) and 865 to 862 in single-core (0.3% ahead).

These numbers tell a clear story: the two processors are performance twins in CPU-bound rendering workloads. The largest absolute difference is just 23 points in R23 multi-core, which represents a fraction of a percent. For practical purposes, neither chip offers a meaningful performance advantage over the other in these tests. The Xeon’s higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus the Ryzen’s 3.20 GHz likely contributes to its slight edge, but the Ryzen’s higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz against the Xeon’s 3.70 GHz fails to close the gap. What is more notable is that a 2014 server processor with a 135W TDP and a 2018 desktop APU with a 35W TDP deliver essentially identical Cinebench scores. The Ryzen achieves parity while consuming a fraction of the power and including a graphics core, which speaks to how much architectural efficiency improved between Haswell and Zen.

Where Each One Wins

The Xeon E5-2637 v3 wins every benchmark in this dataset, but the margins are so narrow that neither chip can claim a functional victory in CPU-heavy rendering tasks. The practical differentiators lie outside the Cinebench results. The Xeon supports ECC memory and operates on a quad-channel DDR4 interface with 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth, compared to the Ryzen’s dual-channel 46.9 GB/s. For memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads—such as large database operations, virtualization, or scientific computing—the Xeon’s 45.6% greater theoretical memory bandwidth is a substantial advantage, even if it does not show up in Cinebench’s cache-friendly rendering loops.

The Ryzen 5 2400GE, however, brings integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics, a feature the Xeon completely lacks. Systems built around the Ryzen can drive displays and handle light GPU-accelerated tasks without a discrete graphics card, which is impossible with the Xeon. The Ryzen also has a lower TDP of 35W versus 135W, making it far easier to cool and suitable for compact, low-power builds. Its unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, while the Xeon’s multiplier is locked. The Ryzen is also produced on a smaller 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries versus Intel’s 22 nm node, and it remains an active production part, whereas the Xeon is end-of-life. For a workstation requiring ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, and server-grade PCIe connectivity (40 lanes versus 8), the Xeon is the clear choice. For a desktop with integrated graphics and minimal power draw, the Ryzen wins by default.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two parts is generational and philosophical. The Xeon E5-2637 v3 uses Intel’s Haswell-EP architecture, built on a 22 nm process at Intel’s foundry. It packs 2,600 million transistors into a 356 mm² die. The Ryzen 5 2400GE is based on AMD’s Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, meaning AMD packs nearly twice the transistor count into a smaller area, thanks to the denser process node.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The Xeon allocates 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 15 MB L3 cache. The Ryzen doubles the per-core L1 to 128 KB and L2 to 512 KB, but its shared L3 cache is only 4 MB. That 11 MB difference in L3 is substantial, and it partially explains why the Xeon can match or slightly beat the Ryzen despite lower per-core cache tiers. The Ryzen’s larger L1 and L2 likely help with latency-sensitive single-threaded work, while the Xeon’s massive L3 pool benefits multi-threaded workloads with shared data.

Memory support diverges sharply. Both support DDR4, but the Xeon uses a quad-channel memory bus with 68.3 GB/s theoretical bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The Ryzen uses a dual-channel bus with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth and does not support ECC. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Xeon provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen offers only 8 lanes. The Xeon targets server/workstation platforms on Intel Socket 2011-3, while the Ryzen is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM4. The Ryzen includes the Radeon RX Vega 11 integrated GPU; the Xeon has no integrated graphics whatsoever. The Ryzen’s multiplier is unlocked for overclocking; the Xeon’s is not. Finally, the Xeon’s launch MSRP was $996, while the Ryzen has no listed launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance in Cinebench?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 wins all multi-core tests, but by margins under 0.4%. In R15, it scores 617 versus 615; in R20, 2574 versus 2564; in R23, 6130 versus 6107.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE support ECC memory?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 2400GE does not support ECC memory, while the Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 does.

Q: Which chip has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE includes integrated graphics, specifically the Radeon RX Vega 11. The Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How much larger is the Xeon’s L3 cache?

A: The Xeon E5-2637 v3 has a shared 15 MB L3 cache, while the Ryzen 5 2400GE has a shared 4 MB L3 cache, a difference of 11 MB.

Q: What are the TDPs of these two processors?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 has a TDP of 135W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE has a TDP of 35W.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 41st percentile of all CPUs in the database, and their average benchmark scores are within 0.4% of each other.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 | AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE |

|---|---|---|

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| TDP | 135W | 35W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Haswell-EP | Zen (Raven Ridge) |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 2,600 million | 4,950 million |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 210 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache (shared) | 15 MB | 4 MB |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 68.3 GB/s | 46.9 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Lanes (CPU) | 40 (Gen 3) | 8 (Gen 3) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon RX Vega 11 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

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

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $996 | Not listed |