AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 vs Intel Xeon E-2134 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark record is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E-2134 wins all six recorded Cinebench comparisons, covering R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core loads. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 does not record a single victory in the paired tests. However, the margins are consistently narrow, all between 3.2% and 3.6%, which suggests the two processors occupy a very similar performance tier despite their different design priorities.

The Intel Xeon E-2134 is the clear choice for workloads that depend on peak clock speed. Its boost clock of 4.50 GHz against the AMD part’s 3.70 GHz gives it a substantial theoretical advantage in lightly threaded tasks, and the benchmark data confirms this: the single-core deltas are 3.6% in R15, 3.3% in R20, and 3.3% in R23. The Xeon also holds a slight edge in multi-core rendering, with deltas of 3.3% in R15, 3.3% in R20, and 3.2% in R23. The database shows a consistent pattern where the Intel part leads by roughly a third of a percent more in single-core tests than in multi-core tests, which aligns with its higher boost frequency.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500, despite losing every paired benchmark, still delivers competitive multi-core scores. Its R15 multi-core result of 782 is only 26 points behind the Xeon’s 808, and its R20 multi-core score of 3261 trails by just 106 points. In the context of the database’s broader rankings, the Ryzen sits at the 47th percentile versus the Xeon’s 48th, a one-percentile gap that reflects the near parity in overall performance. The AMD part wins in the sense of platform flexibility: it is unlocked for overclocking, has a lower 65 W TDP, and carries double the L3 cache at 16 MB shared. For users who prioritize those attributes over raw benchmark numbers, the Ryzen has a distinct use case even if it loses the direct score comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different manufacturing ecosystems. The Intel Xeon E-2134 is built on Intel’s 14 nm process at Intel’s own foundry, using the Coffee Lake architecture from the Xeon E-2100 series. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is also on a 14 nm process, but fabricated by GlobalFoundries, using the Zen microarchitecture from the Ryzen 1000 series. Both are 4-core, 8-thread parts with a 3.50 GHz base clock, but that is where the physical similarities end.

The Xeon uses the Coffee Lake-S WS codename and fits into Intel Socket 1151, while the Ryzen uses the Zen (Summit Ridge) codename and fits into AMD Socket AM4. The Xeon’s die size is 126 mm², whereas the Ryzen’s is 192 mm². The AMD die also contains 4,800 million transistors; the database does not list a transistor count for the Intel part. Cache layouts differ substantially: the Xeon has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 8 MB shared L3. The Ryzen has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 16 MB shared L3. That doubling of both per-core L2 and shared L3 gives the AMD part a cache advantage that could benefit certain data-heavy workloads, though the benchmarks do not show it overcoming the Xeon’s clock advantage.

Feature sets diverge as well. The Xeon supports ECC memory and includes integrated UHD Graphics P630, while the Ryzen has neither integrated graphics nor ECC support in the database’s listing. The Xeon also specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen’s PCIe configuration is not recorded. Memory bandwidth is listed only for the Intel part at 42.7 GB/s; the AMD part has no bandwidth figure in the database. Market segments differ: the Xeon is a Server/Workstation part, the Ryzen is Desktop. The Xeon is end-of-life, while the Ryzen remains active in production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire comparison is in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the Xeon scores 114 against the Ryzen’s 110, a 3.6% advantage. This is the single biggest delta in either direction. The R15 multi-core test shows the Xeon at 808 versus 782, a 3.3% lead. Moving to R20, the Xeon’s single-core score of 475 beats the Ryzen’s 460 by 3.3%, and the multi-core score of 3367 beats 3261 by the same 3.3% margin. In R23, the Xeon’s single-core result of 1132 versus 1096 is a 3.3% lead, and the multi-core result of 8018 versus 7766 is a 3.2% lead.

The consistency is striking: all six deltas fall within a 0.4 percentage point range, from 3.2% to 3.6%. This suggests the performance gap is driven by a single underlying factor, most likely the boost clock difference, rather than by workload-specific behaviors. The Xeon’s 4.50 GHz boost is 21.6% higher than the Ryzen’s 3.70 GHz boost, yet the benchmark advantage is only about 3.3%. That compression indicates the Ryzen’s larger cache and possibly better instruction-level efficiency are offsetting much of the clock speed deficit. The data implies that in a frequency-limited workload, the Xeon pulls ahead modestly, but the Ryzen’s architecture is not far behind.

Average benchmark scores reinforce the narrow gap. The Xeon’s average score is 2319, and the Ryzen’s is 2246, a difference of 73 points or roughly 3.2%. The nearest rivals in the database tell a similar story: the Xeon is flanked by the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 at 2320 (0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i7-8809G at 2307 (0.5% ahead). The Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is flanked by the Intel Core i7-10710U at 2248 (0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i5-9400 at 2254 (0.4% ahead). Both parts sit in a dense cluster of mid-range CPUs where a few points separate dozens of models.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2134 boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 boosts to 3.70 GHz. The Xeon also has a 3.50 GHz base clock, matching the Ryzen’s base clock.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 support ECC memory?

A: No. The database lists ECC memory support as true for the Intel Xeon E-2134 and false for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500.

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

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 8 MB on the Xeon E-2134. The Ryzen also has larger per-core L1 (96 KB vs 64 KB) and L2 (512 KB vs 256 KB) caches.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark win for the Intel Xeon E-2134?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 114 versus the Ryzen’s 110, a 3.6% difference. All other deltas are 3.2% or 3.3%.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, the multiplier is unlocked on the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500. The Xeon E-2134 has a locked multiplier.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2134 includes UHD Graphics P630. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear but narrow preference for the Intel Xeon E-2134 in pure compute performance. It wins every recorded benchmark, and its single-core advantage is consistently the largest or tied for largest margin. The Xeon also brings ECC memory support, integrated graphics, and a server/workstation market designation, which are meaningful for reliability-focused builds. Its launch MSRP was $256, though the database notes it is now end-of-life.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is the alternative for users who value platform openness and efficiency. It has a lower 65 W TDP versus the Xeon’s 71 W, an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and double the L3 cache. Its active production status means it remains available, and its 47th percentile ranking versus the Xeon’s 48th shows how close the overall performance really is. The Ryzen also fits the AM4 socket, which in the broader ecosystem is associated with long platform longevity, though the database does not explicitly state that.

For a workstation or server task that demands ECC memory, integrated graphics for basic display output, and the highest possible single-threaded score, the Xeon E-2134 is the justified pick from the recorded data. For a desktop build where overclocking, lower power draw, and larger cache are priorities, and where the 3.2% to 3.6% benchmark deficit is acceptable, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 remains a viable choice. The benchmarks do not support calling either part a decisive winner; they show two 4-core, 8-thread processors separated by a handful of points.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2134 | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 |

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

| Series | Xeon E-2100 series | 1000 series |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 71 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen |

| Codename | Coffee Lake-S WS | Zen (Summit Ridge) |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 192 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 4,800 million |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not listed |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics P630 | None |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2018-07-11 | 2017-06-28 |

| Launch MSRP | $256 | Not listed |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part Number | SR3WP | YD150BBBM4GAE |

The two processors share the same core count, thread count, base clock, process node, memory type (DDR4), and dual-channel memory bus. The Xeon is the only one with a listed memory bandwidth figure, ECC support, integrated graphics, and a formal PCIe specification. The Ryzen is the only one with a transistor count, an unlocked multiplier, and active production status. The release dates differ by roughly a year, with the Ryzen launching first on 2017-06-28 and the Xeon following on 2018-07-11.