AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE vs Intel Xeon E-2336 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep across all six Cinebench comparisons, with the Intel Xeon E-2336 taking every single test. The margins, however, are remarkably narrow, which makes this a close contest despite the perfect win tally.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon E-2336 scores 1388 against the Ryzen 5 4600GE's 1361, a 2% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows a similar pattern: 195 versus 192, a 1.6% lead for Intel. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core test shows 5786 for the Xeon against 5672 for the Ryzen, again a 2% gap. The single-core R20 result is 816 versus 800, also a 2% difference.

The largest absolute margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon E-2336 records 13777 against the Ryzen's 13505, a 2% lead. The R23 single-core test closes the set with 1945 versus 1906, another 2% edge. Every head-to-head result lands within the 1.6% to 2% range, which indicates that neither chip has a decisive throughput advantage in these rendering workloads.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this pattern. The Xeon E-2336 carries an average score of 3985, while the Ryzen 5 4600GE sits at 3906, a difference of roughly 2%. This consistency across both synthetic tests and the aggregate metric suggests the performance gap is stable rather than workload-dependent.

For context, the Xeon E-2336's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon D-2733NT at 3984 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G at 3977 (0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U at 3971 (0.4% delta). The Ryzen 5 4600GE's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS at 3924 (-0.5% delta), the Intel Xeon E-2278GE at 3939 (-0.8% delta), and the Intel Core i7-11700T at 3864 (1.1% delta). These reference points show that both processors sit in a tightly packed performance tier, with the Xeon slightly ahead of its closest competitors and the Ryzen marginally behind its own.

The percentile rankings also reflect this closeness. The Xeon E-2336 lands at the 57th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Ryzen 5 4600GE sits at the 56th percentile. That single percentile point separates two chips that otherwise trade blows within a 2% band across every benchmark.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but modest winner in the Intel Xeon E-2336. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, holds a 2% average score advantage, and ranks one percentile higher overall. For users who prioritize raw Cinebench throughput, the Xeon E-2336 is the stronger pick, though the margin is thin enough that the choice should hinge on other factors.

The Ryzen 5 4600GE, despite losing every benchmark, is not far behind. Its scores trail by only 1.6% to 2% depending on the test, which means in real-world workloads the difference may be imperceptible. The Ryzen also offers a 35W TDP against the Xeon's 65W, a significant power efficiency gap that the benchmark scores do not capture. For thermally constrained systems or always-on deployments, that efficiency advantage could outweigh the slight performance deficit.

The Xeon E-2336, by contrast, targets the server and workstation segment with ECC memory support and PCIe Gen 4 connectivity. The Ryzen 5 4600GE is a desktop part with integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics and an unlocked multiplier. The choice between these two should follow the platform requirements: the Xeon for ECC and PCIe Gen 4, the Ryzen for lower power and integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The Intel Xeon E-2336 uses the Rocket Lake architecture, specifically the Rocket Lake-E variant, built on Intel's 14 nm process node. The die size is 276 mm², and the chip is fabricated by Intel itself. The Ryzen 5 4600GE uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename, built on TSMC's 7 nm process with a die size of 156 mm² and 9,800 million transistors.

The Xeon E-2336 features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 4600GE has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon's larger L3 cache gives it a theoretical advantage in cache-heavy workloads, though the benchmark data shows only a 2% practical impact.

Memory support differs in one critical aspect: the Xeon E-2336 supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen 5 4600GE does not. Both use DDR4 with dual-channel memory buses and identical 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth figures. The PCIe capabilities also diverge, with the Xeon offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen is limited to Gen 3. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, whereas the Ryzen includes Radeon Vega 7.

The manufacturing process difference is notable. The 7 nm TSMC node used by AMD is significantly smaller than Intel's 14 nm node, which explains the Ryzen's smaller die (156 mm² versus 276 mm²) despite packing more transistors (9,800 million versus no transistor count recorded for the Xeon). This process advantage contributes to the Ryzen's much lower 35W TDP.

Specification Differences

The two chips share several core specifications: both have 6 cores and 12 threads, both use DDR4 memory with dual-channel buses, and both have 512 KB of L2 cache per core. The differences appear across nearly every other field.

Clock speeds favor the Xeon E-2336. Its base clock is 2.90 GHz with a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the Ryzen 5 4600GE starts at 3.30 GHz and boosts to 4.20 GHz. The Xeon's higher boost clock aligns with its single-core benchmark wins, while the Ryzen's higher base clock does not translate into a multi-core advantage.

The TDP difference is substantial: the Xeon E-2336 draws 65W, while the Ryzen 5 4600GE draws only 35W. This makes the Ryzen significantly more power-efficient on paper, a fact that the benchmark scores do not reflect. The sockets differ as well, with the Xeon using Intel Socket 1200 and the Ryzen using AMD Socket AM4.

The market segments tell different stories. The Xeon E-2336 is a server and workstation part, active in production since September 2021 with a launch MSRP of $284. The Ryzen 5 4600GE is a desktop part, released in July 2020, with no recorded launch MSRP. The Xeon has a locked multiplier, while the Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking. The part numbers are SRKN5 for the Xeon and 100-000000150 for the Ryzen.

The integrated graphics situation is one-sided: the Ryzen 5 4600GE includes Radeon Vega 7, while the Xeon E-2336 has no integrated graphics. This makes the Ryzen a viable option for systems without a discrete GPU, whereas the Xeon requires a separate graphics solution.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2336 wins with a score of 13777 against the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE's 13505, a 2% advantage.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R15?

A: The Xeon E-2336 scores 195, while the Ryzen 5 4600GE scores 192, giving the Intel chip a 1.6% lead.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E-2336 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2336 has a TDP of 65W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE has a TDP of 35W.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE includes Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E-2336 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2336 has an average benchmark score of 3985, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE has an average score of 3906, a difference of about 2%.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E-2336 wins on raw performance across all six recorded Cinebench tests. It also holds advantages in cache capacity, with 12 MB of L3 cache versus 8 MB, and in PCIe connectivity, offering Gen 4 with 20 lanes compared to the Ryzen's Gen 3. The Xeon's ECC memory support makes it the appropriate choice for server or workstation environments where data integrity is critical. Its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz supports single-threaded workloads that respond to peak frequency.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE wins on power efficiency, with a 35W TDP that is nearly half the Xeon's 65W. This makes it a better fit for compact desktop builds, low-noise systems, or any deployment where thermal output and electricity consumption matter more than a 2% performance delta. The integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic display or media tasks. The unlocked multiplier allows overclocking, which could narrow or close the performance gap in the hands of a user willing to tune the chip. The Ryzen's earlier release in July 2020 and its desktop market segment suggest a broader consumer ecosystem.

The recorded data does not show any benchmark where the Ryzen 5 4600GE outperforms the Xeon E-2336. Its wins are qualitative: lower power, integrated graphics, and overclocking headroom. The Xeon's wins are quantitative, appearing in every single test but never by more than 2%. For users who need ECC memory, PCIe Gen 4, or maximum Cinebench scores, the Xeon E-2336 is the data-backed choice. For users who prioritize efficiency, flexibility, or a self-contained graphics solution, the Ryzen 5 4600GE offers those features while sacrificing only a small amount of measured performance.