CPU Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U and Intel Xeon E-2124G are both 4-core processors, but they target entirely different segments: one is a low-power mobile chip built on a modern 6nm node, while the other is a workstation/server chip fabricated on Intel's older 14nm process. The benchmark data shows a surprisingly balanced head-to-head record, with each CPU winning three tests, but the nature of those wins reveals starkly different performance profiles that matter more than the final score tally suggests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the better multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2124G wins with a score of 6092 compared to the Ryzen 5 7520U's 5149, a 15.5% advantage. This is despite the AMD chip having 8 threads versus Intel's 4.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U takes a decisive win, scoring 1171 versus Intel's 860, a 36.2% lead. This is a significant gap that reverses the multi-core result.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between these CPUs?

A: The Ryzen 5 7520U has an average benchmark score of 2046, while the Xeon E-2124G scores 2034. The difference is just 0.6%, placing them in the same performance tier overall, and both sit at the 45th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E-2124G has ECC memory support, which is typical for its server/workstation market segment. The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U does not support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs use?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U uses LPDDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 88.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Xeon E-2124G uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and significantly lower 42.7 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2124G has a higher boost clock at 4.50 GHz compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U's 4.30 GHz. However, the AMD chip's base clock is lower at 2.80 GHz versus Intel's 3.40 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two CPUs is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U is built on the Zen 2 architecture (codenamed Mendocino) using a 6 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 100 mm². The Intel Xeon E-2124G uses the Coffee Lake architecture (codenamed Coffee Lake-S WS) on Intel's 14 nm process, with a larger 126 mm² die. This process advantage gives AMD a significant efficiency edge, reflected in the 15W TDP for the Ryzen versus 71W for the Xeon.

The core configurations differ in threading: the Ryzen 5 7520U has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Xeon E-2124G has 4 cores and 4 threads. Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both share the same 64 KB L1 cache per core, but the Ryzen has 512 KB L2 per core versus Intel's 256 KB per core. For L3, the Intel chip has a larger shared pool at 8 MB, while the AMD chip has 4 MB shared.

Memory support marks a clear product-line distinction. The Ryzen 5 7520U uses LPDDR5 with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon E-2124G relies on DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s. The Intel part supports ECC memory; the AMD part does not. PCIe lanes also differ dramatically: the Xeon provides 16 Gen 3 lanes, whereas the Ryzen offers only 4 Gen 3 lanes. Both chips have integrated graphics, with AMD featuring the Radeon 610M and Intel the HD Graphics P630.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U dominates in the older Cinebench R15 tests and in Cinebench R23 single-core. Its performance in Cinebench R15 multi-core is 834 versus Intel's 613, a 36.1% edge, and in single-core it's 168.8 versus 86, a massive 96.3% margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip leads 1171 to 860, a 36.2% advantage. This pattern suggests the Zen 2 architecture scales exceptionally well in single-threaded workloads and in the older benchmark suite, making the Ryzen 5 7520U the stronger choice for lightly-threaded applications and legacy software performance.

The Intel Xeon E-2124G wins in the more modern, heavily-threaded tests. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6092 beats AMD's 5149 by 15.5%, and in Geekbench it takes both victories: multi-core at 4263 versus 3766 (11.7% ahead) and single-core at 1438 versus 1185 (17.6% ahead). The Xeon's higher base and boost clocks (3.40 GHz and 4.50 GHz) and larger 8MB L3 cache likely contribute to its Geekbench strength, while its 4 dedicated cores without hyperthreading still manage to outperform the Ryzen's 8 threads in Cinebench R23 multi-core. For sustained multi-threaded workloads and modern Geekbench-style tests, the Xeon E-2124G is the better performer.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every major specification. The Ryzen 5 7520U has 4 cores with 8 threads, while the Xeon E-2124G has 4 cores with 4 threads. Clock speeds favor Intel: base clock is 3.40 GHz versus 2.80 GHz, and boost is 4.50 GHz versus 4.30 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator, with AMD at 15W and Intel at 71W.

Process technology separates them by node size: the AMD chip uses 6 nm at TSMC versus Intel's 14 nm. Die size also differs, at 100 mm² for AMD and 126 mm² for Intel. Cache configurations show Intel's larger L3 (8 MB shared) versus AMD's 4 MB shared, while AMD has the larger L2 (512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core).

Memory support is distinct: AMD uses LPDDR5 with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC, while Intel uses DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s and ECC support. PCIe capabilities favor Intel with 16 Gen 3 lanes versus AMD's 4 Gen 3 lanes. The socket types differ: AMD Socket FT6 for the Ryzen versus Intel Socket 1151 for the Xeon.

Market positioning is equally divergent. The Ryzen 5 7520U is a mobile chip, released on 2022-09-19, and remains Active in production. The Xeon E-2124G is a server/workstation part, released on 2018-07-11, and is now End-of-life. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $218; the AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 168.8 against the Intel Xeon E-2124G's 86, a 96.3% advantage that nearly doubles Intel's output. This is an extraordinary margin that highlights how well the Zen 2 architecture handles single-threaded legacy benchmarks. The AMD chip also takes Cinebench R15 multi-core with 834 versus 613, a 36.1% lead, and Cinebench R23 single-core with 1171 versus 860, a 36.2% edge.

The Intel Xeon E-2124G counters with its strongest showing in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 6092 against AMD's 5149, a 15.5% victory. This is notable because Intel achieves this with only 4 threads while AMD uses 8 threads. In Geekbench multi-core, Intel wins 4263 to 3766, an 11.7% margin, and in Geekbench single-core it leads 1438 to 1185, a 17.6% advantage.

The split is clean: AMD wins all three Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core tests, while Intel wins Cinebench R23 multi-core and both Geekbench tests. The head-to-head record is tied at 3-3, but the distribution matters. The AMD chip's wins are often by larger percentage margins (36-96%), while Intel's wins are more modest (11.7-17.6%). This suggests the Ryzen 5 7520U has a higher peak advantage in its best scenarios, while the Xeon E-2124G offers more consistent moderate advantages across modern workloads. The average benchmark scores confirm the overall parity: 2046 for AMD versus 2034 for Intel, with the Ryzen 5 7520U's nearest rival being the Intel Xeon E3-1270 v5 at 2048 (0.1% difference) and the Xeon E-2124G's closest competitor being the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U at 2035 (0% difference).