AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 vs Intel Xeon D-1587 Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-1587 and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 are two processors separated by nearly three years of release timing and fundamentally different design goals. The Xeon D-1587 is a 16-core, 32-thread Broadwell-DE part aimed at servers, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 is a 6-core, 12-thread Zen+ desktop chip. Benchmark results show the Intel part winning all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, but by remarkably small margins that reveal a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon D-1587, yet every victory is narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel scores 1167 against the AMD's 1151, a 1.4% lead. The single-core R15 test shows 164 versus 162, a 1.2% margin. Moving to R20, the multi-core gap remains at 1.4% with scores of 4865 and 4796. The single-core R20 result is 686 versus 677, a 1.3% difference. The pattern holds in R23: multi-core 11585 against 11420 (1.4% delta), and single-core 1635 versus 1612 (1.4% delta).

These numbers carry significant weight when placed in context. The Intel part achieves these wins despite running at a 1700 MHz base clock and a 2300 MHz boost, while the AMD part boosts to 3900 MHz. The Xeon's 16 cores and 32 threads are being matched almost exactly by the Ryzen's 6 cores and 12 threads in these workloads. The largest single margin across all six tests is 1.4%, which is within run-to-run variance for most benchmark suites. The average benchmark scores reflect this closeness: the Xeon D-1587 sits at 3350, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 records 3303.

Percentile rankings place the Intel part at the 54th percentile of all CPUs, with the AMD part at the 53rd percentile. The nearest rivals for the Xeon include the Intel Core i7-7800X (deltaPct 0.5) and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U (deltaPct -0.5). For the Ryzen 5 PRO 2600, the closest neighbors are the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G at an exact 0.0 deltaPct and the Intel Core i5-11400T at -0.2%. Both processors occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance distribution, separated by only one percentile point.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench multi-core tests?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 wins all three multi-core tests (R15, R20, R23) with scores of 1167, 4865, and 11585 respectively. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 scores 1151, 4796, and 11420 in the same tests. The winning margin is consistently 1.4% in each case.

Q: How do the single-core results compare?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 also wins all single-core tests, posting 164 in R15, 686 in R20, and 1635 in R23. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 follows with 162, 677, and 1612. The deltas range from 1.2% to 1.4%, with the R15 test showing the smallest gap.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 has 6 cores and 12 threads. This means the Intel part offers more than double the core count and thread count of the AMD part.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 has a boost clock of 3900 MHz, while the Intel Xeon D-1587 boosts to 2300 MHz. The AMD part's base clock of 3400 MHz also exceeds the Intel part's boost clock.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon D-1587 and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 support ECC memory. The Intel part supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the AMD part supports DDR4 only.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1587 is classified as a Server/Workstation processor. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 is classified as a Desktop processor. Both are currently listed as Active in production status.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different architectural generations and design philosophies. The Intel Xeon D-1587 uses the Broadwell architecture on a 14 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. The chip contains 3,200 million transistors on a die size of 246 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 uses the Zen architecture (specifically Zen+ Pinnacle Ridge) on a 12 nm process node, manufactured by GlobalFoundries. This chip packs 4,800 million transistors into a smaller 192 mm² die.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Intel part provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with L3 cache listed at 1.5 MB per core. The AMD part offers 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 16 MB L3 cache. The AMD's larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations compensate for having fewer cores, while the shared L3 design differs from Intel's per-core allocation approach.

The memory controllers also differ. The Intel Xeon D-1587 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 supports DDR4 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The Intel part provides PCIe Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part has no PCIe information listed in the data. The Intel processor is built for Intel BGA 1667 socket, whereas the AMD processor uses AMD Socket AM4, which is a socketed desktop platform.

The production timelines show the Intel part released on 2016-02-23, while the AMD part arrived on 2018-09-18. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of 1549, while no MSRP is listed for the AMD part. The Intel part's multiplier is locked, while the AMD part has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The core count difference is the most prominent specification gap: 16 cores for the Intel Xeon D-1587 versus 6 cores for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600. Thread counts follow proportionally at 32 and 12 respectively. Base clocks differ significantly, with the AMD part running at 3400 MHz versus the Intel's 1700 MHz. Boost clocks show 3900 MHz for AMD versus 2300 MHz for Intel.

The process node favors AMD at 12 nm versus Intel's 14 nm. Transistor counts differ at 4,800 million for AMD and 3,200 million for Intel. Die sizes are 192 mm² for AMD and 246 mm² for Intel. The socket types are completely different: AMD Socket AM4 for the Ryzen and Intel BGA 1667 for the Xeon.

L1 and L2 cache sizes per core favor AMD (96 KB and 512 KB respectively) over Intel (64 KB and 256 KB). L3 cache configuration differs in approach, with AMD using 16 MB shared and Intel using 1.5 MB per core. Memory support shows Intel accepting both DDR3 and DDR4, while AMD accepts DDR4 only. The market segments differ (Server/Workstation versus Desktop), and the multiplier unlock status differs (locked for Intel, unlocked for AMD).

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a paradox: the Intel Xeon D-1587 wins every test but by margins that are almost negligible in practical terms. With 16 cores and 32 threads, the Intel part has a theoretical advantage that simply does not translate into meaningful Cinebench performance gains. The largest delta across all six tests is 1.4%, and the average benchmark scores differ by only 47 points (3350 versus 3303).

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 achieves near-parity with less than half the cores and threads, thanks to its substantially higher clock speeds. The AMD part's base clock of 3400 MHz exceeds the Intel part's boost clock of 2300 MHz. This clock advantage allows the 6-core AMD chip to match the 16-core Intel chip in these workloads.

For buyers choosing between these two, the decision rests on factors beyond raw benchmark scores. The Intel Xeon D-1587 offers 16 cores for heavily threaded server workloads, supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, and has a launch MSRP of 1549. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 provides similar performance with fewer cores, uses a socketed AM4 platform, has an unlocked multiplier, and comes from a newer 12 nm process.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1587 wins in all measured Cinebench tests, making it the nominal performance leader in both multi-core and single-core scenarios. Its 16-core, 32-thread configuration provides a structural advantage for workloads that scale with thread count. The dual memory support (DDR3 and DDR4) offers flexibility in server environments with existing DDR3 infrastructure. The 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide connectivity for server peripherals.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 wins in clock speed, with a 3400 MHz base and 3900 MHz boost that dwarf the Intel's 1700 MHz base and 2300 MHz boost. This clock advantage enables the 6-core chip to come within 1.4% of the 16-core chip in every benchmark. The unlocked multiplier allows for potential overclocking, a feature the Intel part lacks. The newer 12 nm process node and the socketed AM4 platform offer a more modern and upgradeable desktop foundation.

The data shows two processors that achieve nearly identical results through opposite strategies: brute core count versus high clock speeds. The Intel Xeon D-1587's six-test sweep is technically comprehensive, yet the 1.4% margins mean the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 delivers comparable real-world performance in Cinebench workloads. The 54th and 53rd percentile rankings confirm that both sit in the same performance tier, making the choice dependent on platform requirements, core-count needs, and socket preferences rather than benchmark outcomes.