AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE vs Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 Comparison

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE and Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, but they diverge sharply in nearly every other architectural aspect. The AMD part is built on the Zen architecture (Raven Ridge codename) and manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process, with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,950 million transistors. The Intel part uses the Skylake architecture (Skylake-H codename), fabricated by Intel on its own 14 nm process, with a smaller die of 171 mm² and 2,300 million transistors. This means the AMD chip packs over twice the transistor count into a larger die, reflecting the integration of a significantly more powerful graphics unit.

Clock speeds tell a similar story of divergence. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE operates at a base clock of 3.20 GHz and boosts to 3.80 GHz. The Xeon E3-1558L v5 has a base clock of 1900.00 MHz (1.90 GHz) and boosts to 3.30 GHz. The AMD part enjoys a substantial clock advantage at both ends, which directly influences its benchmark performance. Thermal design power also differs: the AMD processor is rated at 35 W, while the Intel processor is rated at 45 W, making the AMD part the more power-efficient option despite its higher clock speeds.

Cache hierarchies are organized differently. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE features 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon E3-1558L v5 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part thus offers double the L3 capacity, which can benefit workloads with large working sets, but the AMD part has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches. Both support ECC memory, but memory support differs: the AMD chip uses dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, while the Intel chip supports both DDR3 and DDR4, dual-channel, with a lower memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Connectivity and platform integration also set them apart. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE uses the AMD Socket AM4 and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 mounts on Intel BGA 1440 and offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), giving it double the PCIe lane count for expansion. The integrated graphics differ markedly: the AMD part includes Radeon RX Vega 11, while the Intel part includes Iris Pro Graphics P555. The AMD processor belongs to the desktop market segment and remains in active production, released on 2018-05-09. The Intel processor targets the server/workstation segment, is end-of-life, and was released on 2016-05-30. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $396. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE wins every single comparison. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD part takes the top spot with deltas ranging from 1.1% to 1.6%. There is not a single test where the Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 emerges ahead. The wins are consistent across both multi-core and single-core workloads, indicating that the AMD part's clock speed advantage translates into broad-based superiority rather than specialization.

In multi-core workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE leads by 1.5% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests. The scores are 665 vs 655 in R15, 2774 vs 2733 in R20, and 6606 vs 6508 in R23. These are narrow margins, but they are consistent across every multi-threaded test. The AMD part's higher base and boost clocks, combined with its larger per-core caches, appear to offset the Intel part's larger L3 cache and higher TDP envelope.

In single-core workloads, the AMD part also leads, though by slightly varying margins. The deltas are 1.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core (93 vs 92), 1.6% in R20 single-core (391 vs 385), and 1.5% in R23 single-core (932 vs 918). The single-core advantage is proportionally similar to the multi-core advantage, which suggests that the AMD part's clock speed advantage is the primary driver. The Intel part's higher TDP does not translate into a performance edge in any measured test.

The average benchmark score also favors the AMD part. The Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE has an average benchmark score of 1910, while the Xeon E3-1558L v5 has an average of 1882. Both processors sit at the 43rd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are statistically peers in the overall distribution, but the AMD part consistently records higher absolute scores. In terms of nearest rivals, the AMD part is flanked by Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5 (matching 1910), Intel Xeon E-2314 (1911, 0.1% higher), and Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 (1908, 0.1% lower). The Intel part's nearest rivals include Intel Processor U300 (1881, 0.1% higher), Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 (1883, 0.1% lower), and Intel Xeon D-1531 (1885, 0.1% lower).

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE is the faster processor in every benchmark category measured. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with margins between 1.1% and 1.6%. For users prioritizing raw compute performance in Cinebench workloads, the AMD part is the clear choice. Its higher clock speeds (3.20 GHz base, 3.80 GHz boost vs 1.90 GHz base, 3.30 GHz boost) and larger per-core caches deliver a consistent edge.

The Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 does retain some advantages that are not reflected in these benchmark scores. It offers double the PCIe lanes (16 vs 8), supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, and has a larger 8 MB L3 cache. It also carries a launch MSRP of $396, but pricing considerations are not part of this analysis. For applications that rely heavily on PCIe expansion or require compatibility with DDR3 memory, the Intel part may be more suitable. Its server/workstation market segment also suggests a different intended use case.

However, for pure CPU performance as measured by Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE is the superior part. It also consumes less power (35 W vs 45 W), which is a meaningful advantage in thermally constrained environments. The AMD part is also still in active production, whereas the Intel part is end-of-life. The verdict from the recorded data: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE should be the default pick for compute-bound workloads, while the Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 is only relevant if its platform features (PCIe lanes, memory type support, or BGA 1440 form factor) are mandatory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 boosts to 3.30 GHz.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Intel part?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, which is double the 4 MB shared L3 cache on the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE.

Q: Which processor has lower power consumption?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE is rated at 35 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 is rated at 45 W TDP.

Q: What is the largest performance delta between the two in any benchmark?

A: The largest delta is 1.6%, in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the AMD part scores 391 vs the Intel part's 385.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE and the Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE provides 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE across all six Cinebench tests. The most significant margin appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the AMD part leads by 1.6% (391 vs 385). This is closely followed by 1.5% margins in four other tests: Cinebench R15 multicore (665 vs 655), Cinebench R20 multicore (2774 vs 2733), Cinebench R23 multicore (6606 vs 6508), and Cinebench R23 single-core (932 vs 918). The smallest margin is 1.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core (93 vs 92).

The multi-core results are remarkably consistent: every single multi-core test shows a 1.5% delta in favor of the AMD part. This uniformity suggests that the AMD processor's advantage scales across all thread counts and workload intensities. The single-core results are slightly more variable, with deltas of 1.1%, 1.5%, and 1.6%, but the AMD part wins all of them. The average benchmark score reinforces this picture: the AMD part averages 1910 points, while the Intel part averages 1882 points, a difference of 28 points or roughly 1.5%.

When contextualized against nearest rivals, both processors sit at the 43rd percentile of all CPUs. The AMD part's nearest competitor, the Intel Xeon E3-1575M v5, matches its average score exactly at 1910, with a delta of 0%. The Intel Xeon E-2314 scores 1911 (0.1% higher), and the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v4 scores 1908 (0.1% lower). The Intel part's average of 1882 places it just below, with the Intel Processor U300 at 1881 (0.1% higher) and the Intel Xeon E3-1270L v4 at 1883 (0.1% lower). These neighboring scores confirm that the two processors are close in overall capability, but the AMD part consistently edges ahead in every direct measurement.

The data shows no scenario where the Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 outperforms the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE. Even in tests where the Intel part's larger L3 cache might be expected to help, the AMD part's clock speed advantage prevails. The 1.5% to 1.6% margins are modest, but they are uniform and reproducible across six independent benchmark runs. For a database-driven comparison, this is as close to a decisive verdict as the data allows: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400GE is the faster processor in every recorded Cinebench test, and the Intel Xeon E3-1558L v5 cannot claim a single benchmark win.