AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE vs Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably tight contest between the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE and the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4. Across six Cinebench tests, the AMD part wins every single one, yet the margins are almost imperceptibly small. In the R15 multi-core test, the Ryzen scores 665 against the Xeon's 664, a delta of just 0.2%. That is a single-point difference, effectively a statistical tie in everyday terms, but the data still records it as a win for AMD.

The single-core R15 results are even more telling: both chips post a score of 93, with a deltaPct of 0. The benchmark declares AMD the winner on a tie-breaker, but the raw numbers are identical. This pattern repeats across the R20 suite. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE scores 2774 in multi-core versus 2770 for the Xeon, a 0.1% edge. In R20 single-core, both again land on 391, another perfect tie recorded as an AMD win. Moving to the newer R23 workload, the AMD part scores 6606 in multi-core against 6596, a 0.2% margin, while single-core shows 932 versus 931, a 0.1% difference.

What does this mean? The data suggests these two processors are engineered to the same performance ceiling in Cinebench, with the Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE holding a razor-thin advantage that never exceeds 0.2%. The largest wins for AMD are the 0.2% margins in R15 multi-core and R23 multi-core. The smallest are the two 0% ties in single-core tests. This is not a story of one chip crushing another; it is a story of near-perfect parity, where the AMD part edges ahead by a hair in every discipline. The Xeon E3-1285 v4, for its part, never wins a single head-to-head benchmark in this dataset, but its scores are so close that the practical difference for a user would be negligible.

Where Each One Wins

Given that the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, the use-case split might seem one-sided. However, the data tells a more nuanced story. The AMD chip's wins are consistent but marginal, meaning it holds a slight edge in both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. For tasks that rely on Cinebench R23 multi-core performance, such as 3D rendering or video encoding, the Ryzen's 6606 score gives it a 10-point advantage over the Xeon's 6596. That is a 0.2% lead, hardly enough to change render times in a meaningful way, but it is a lead nonetheless.

In single-core performance, where tasks like spreadsheet calculations or light coding workloads might benefit, both chips are locked at 93 in R15 and 391 in R20. The data shows no winner here, despite the benchmark's technical designation. The Xeon E3-1285 v4 does have a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz compared to the Ryzen's 3.20 GHz, which might suggest an advantage in lightly-threaded tasks, but the Cinebench scores do not reflect that. The Ryzen's boost clock of 3.80 GHz matches the Xeon's exactly, explaining why single-core performance is so close.

Where the Xeon might win is in the broader system context, not the CPU benchmarks. It supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, double the Ryzen's 8 lanes, which could benefit workloads that require more expansion cards or faster NVMe storage. The Xeon also targets the server/workstation market segment, while the Ryzen is aimed at desktop. But strictly from the benchmark data, the AMD chip wins every test, making it the default pick for pure Cinebench performance. The Xeon's only consolation is that it loses by such small margins that the choice between them likely hinges on other factors like platform features, not raw speed.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages, and those differences explain much of the performance parity. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE uses the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 is based on Broadwell, specifically Broadwell-DT, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel. Its die size is 182 mm², and the FACT PACK does not list a transistor count for it.

Cache configurations differ notably. The Ryzen allocates 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 4 MB L3 cache. The Xeon has smaller per-core L1 and L2 caches at 64 KB and 256 KB respectively, but compensates with a larger 6 MB shared L3. This is a classic trade-off: AMD offers faster per-core cache hierarchies, while Intel provides more last-level cache for the whole chip. The benchmark results suggest these differences cancel out in Cinebench, but they could matter in workloads that are sensitive to cache capacity versus latency.

Memory support is a major divergence. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, delivering a theoretical bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The Xeon E3-1285 v4 is limited to DDR3, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. That is a 17 GB/s gap in favor of AMD, which could significantly impact memory-bound applications, even if Cinebench does not fully expose it. Both chips support ECC memory, a point in their favor for reliability-conscious builds.

Integrated graphics also set them apart. The Ryzen features a Radeon RX Vega 11 iGPU, while the Xeon includes Intel Iris Pro P6300. The FACT PACK does not provide benchmark numbers for these GPUs, but their presence means both can drive displays without a discrete card. The Ryzen's Vega 11 is generally considered more powerful in gaming scenarios, but without data, that remains an assumption. The Xeon's socket is Intel Socket 1150, while the Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4, meaning platform choice dictates compatibility.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R15?

A: Both the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE and the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 score exactly 93 in the R15 single-core test. The benchmark records the AMD part as the winner with a deltaPct of 0, meaning the scores are identical.

Q: How much faster is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Ryzen scores 6606 compared to the Xeon's 6596, a difference of 10 points, which translates to a 0.2% advantage for AMD. This is the largest margin of victory in any test across the entire benchmark suite.

Q: Do these processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE and the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 have ECC memory support listed in the FACT PACK. This makes both viable for workstation or server applications where data integrity is critical.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The AMD chip supports DDR4 with a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, while the Intel chip supports DDR3 with a bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. This gives the Ryzen a 17 GB/s theoretical bandwidth advantage.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 has a 6 MB shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE has a 4 MB shared L3 cache. Intel's cache is 2 MB larger, which could benefit certain workloads despite the similar Cinebench scores.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE is listed as having an active production status, while the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 is marked as end-of-life. This could affect availability and long-term support.

Specification Differences

The following table outlines the key specifications where the two processors differ, based solely on the FACT PACK data.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE | Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 |

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

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 95 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1150 |

| Architecture | Zen | Broadwell |

| Codename | Raven Ridge | Broadwell-DT |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 182 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 29.9 GB/s |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon RX Vega 11 | Intel Iris Pro P6300 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

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

| Release Date | 2018-05-09 | 2015-06-01 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $556 |

| Transistors | 4,950 million | Not listed |

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward conclusion for raw performance: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE wins every benchmark in this comparison. Its margins are slim, ranging from 0% to 0.2%, but they are consistent across all six tests. For a user who prioritizes Cinebench scores above all else, the AMD chip is the clear choice, even if the practical difference is almost nonexistent.

However, the specification differences suggest a more complex decision. The Ryzen offers a massive memory bandwidth advantage (46.9 GB/s vs 29.9 GB/s), a lower TDP of 35 W versus 95 W, and active production status. The Xeon counters with a larger L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB), double the PCIe lanes (16 vs 8), and a higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 3.20 GHz). The Xeon also has a launch MSRP of $556, while the Ryzen's launch MSRP is not listed in the FACT PACK.

Given the near-identical benchmark scores, the decision hinges on platform requirements. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE is the better pick for energy-conscious desktop builds with DDR4 memory and a modern AM4 socket. The Xeon E3-1285 v4 suits legacy Socket 1150 systems or workstation builds that need more PCIe lanes and can tolerate higher power draw. The data shows the AMD part as the performance leader, but the Xeon's broader PCIe connectivity and larger cache could tip the scales for specific workloads not captured in Cinebench. Ultimately, the benchmark results are too close to declare a definitive winner, so the choice comes down to system-level needs rather than CPU speed.