AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U vs Intel Xeon E-2146G Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2146G and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U are both six-core, twelve-thread processors, yet they target entirely different segments: a workstation platform from 2018 versus a modern mobile part from 2023. The benchmark data reveals a clear split, with the AMD chip dominating Cinebench workloads while the Intel chip takes a decisive lead in Geekbench tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in this comparison is the complete divergence between the Cinebench and Geekbench suites. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U wins by a consistent margin of approximately 6.6%. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD chip scores 12010 against the Intel Xeon E-2146G's 11214, a difference of 796 points. The single-core R23 results show a similar story: 1695 for AMD versus 1583 for Intel. This consistency extends to older versions of the benchmark as well; in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the scores are 1210 for AMD and 1130 for Intel, while R20 multi-core shows 5044 versus 4709.

However, the tables turn completely in Geekbench. The Intel Xeon E-2146G delivers a dominant 24.2% advantage in multi-core performance, scoring 6283 versus AMD's 5057. The single-core Geekbench result is nearly as lopsided, with Intel winning by 22.9% (1540 versus 1253). This is a remarkable reversal—the same two processors that are within 6.6% of each other in one benchmark suite are separated by over 24% in another.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this mixed picture. The Intel chip has an average score of 3410, while the AMD chip sits at 3394, a difference of just 0.5%. Both processors occupy the 54th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are statistically equivalent in overall performance. The nearest rival data places them side-by-side: the Intel Xeon E-2146G is listed as a rival to the AMD chip with a deltaPct of -0.5%, and vice versa. The Intel Xeon E-2236 also matches the E-2146G at exactly 3410 average score, with a 0% deltaPct.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial. The Intel Xeon E-2146G is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS variant, using a 14 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. Its die size is 154 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U, by contrast, uses the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Barcelo-R) on a 7 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 180 mm². The AMD chip integrates 10,700 million transistors, a figure not listed for the Intel part.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache doubles on the AMD side: 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core for Intel. The shared L3 cache also favors AMD, with 16 MB versus 12 MB. These cache advantages likely contribute to the AMD chip's Cinebench wins.

Memory bandwidth is another differentiator. Both support DDR4 in dual-channel configuration, but the AMD chip's memory bandwidth is rated at 51.2 GB/s, notably higher than Intel's 42.7 GB/s. Both support ECC memory and both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The integrated graphics differ: the Intel chip carries HD Graphics P630, while the AMD chip uses Radeon Graphics (Vega 7). The AMD part is a mobile processor in the 7000 series, while the Intel part is from the Xeon E-2100 series aimed at servers and workstations. The Intel chip was released in July 2018 and is end-of-life, while the AMD chip was released in January 2023 and remains active. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $317; the AMD chip's launch MSRP is not listed.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U wins in rendering and multi-threaded productivity workloads as measured by Cinebench. Its 6.6% advantage across R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core tests indicates a consistent architectural efficiency that scales well with the Zen 3 design. The higher L2 and L3 cache sizes, combined with the larger memory bandwidth, support this pattern. For users running CPU rendering tasks or other Cinebench-style workloads, the AMD chip is the clear choice.

The Intel Xeon E-2146G wins decisively in Geekbench, with a 24.2% multi-core and 22.9% single-core advantage. This suggests that the Intel architecture handles Geekbench's specific workload mix much better, despite having less cache and lower memory bandwidth. The 14 nm Coffee Lake design apparently excels at the types of operations Geekbench stresses, which include encryption, compression, and memory-intensive tasks. For applications that behave similarly to Geekbench, the Intel chip would be preferable.

The overall average scores being nearly identical (3410 versus 3394) means neither chip has a universal performance crown. The choice depends entirely on which benchmark suite better represents the target workload. The data shows a tie in percentile ranking at 54, reinforcing that these are evenly matched processors with divergent strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Xeon E-2146G wins 2. However, the Intel wins are by much larger margins (24.2% and 22.9%) compared to the AMD wins (all around 6.6%).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2146G has an average benchmark score of 3410, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U scores 3394. This is a 0.5% difference, and both CPUs sit at the 54th percentile of all processors.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance class?

A: Yes, according to the nearest rival data. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U lists the Intel Xeon E-2146G as a rival with a deltaPct of -0.5%, and the Intel chip lists the AMD chip with a deltaPct of 0.5%. The Intel Xeon E-2236 also matches the E-2146G exactly at 3410.

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

A: Both processors have 6 cores and 12 threads. They also share the same boost clock of 4.50 GHz, though the Intel base clock is 3.50 GHz while the AMD base clock is 2000.00 MHz.

Q: Which chip has more cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U has more L2 cache (512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core) and more L3 cache (16 MB versus 12 MB). Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory and PCIe Gen 3?

A: Yes, both support ECC memory and both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Both also support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The Intel Xeon E-2146G has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz. The TDP is dramatically different: 80 watts for Intel versus 15 watts for AMD. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1151 versus AMD Socket FP6.

The architecture and process node are fundamentally different, with Intel using Coffee Lake on 14 nm and AMD using Zen 3 on 7 nm. The foundry also differs: Intel fabricates its own chip, while TSMC fabricates the AMD part. The die size is 154 mm² for Intel and 180 mm² for AMD, with AMD listing 10,700 million transistors (Intel does not list this figure).

Cache differences include L2 per core (256 KB versus 512 KB) and L3 shared (12 MB versus 16 MB). Memory bandwidth is 42.7 GB/s for Intel and 51.2 GB/s for AMD. The integrated graphics are HD Graphics P630 on Intel and Radeon Graphics (Vega 7) on AMD.

Market positioning and lifecycle differ: Intel targets Server/Workstation with an end-of-life status and a July 2018 release, while AMD targets Mobile with an active status and a January 2023 release. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $317; the AMD chip's launch MSRP is not listed. The part numbers also differ (SR3WT versus 100-000000949), as do the series names (Xeon E-2100 series versus 7000 series).

The Verdict

The data supports a workload-dependent choice. For Cinebench-style rendering tasks, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7530U is the better processor, delivering a consistent 6.6% advantage across all versions of the benchmark. Its larger cache hierarchy (16 MB L3 versus 12 MB) and higher memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s) likely explain this edge. The AMD chip also consumes far less power at 15 watts TDP versus 80 watts, making it suitable for mobile platforms.

For Geekbench-style workloads, the Intel Xeon E-2146G is the clear winner, with a massive 24.2% multi-core and 22.9% single-core advantage. This suggests that certain application types will run significantly better on the Intel platform. The Intel chip's higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2000.00 MHz) may contribute to its Geekbench dominance, despite the older 14 nm process.

The overall average scores being nearly identical (3410 versus 3394) means either processor could serve as a general-purpose choice without a major performance penalty. However, the Intel chip's end-of-life status and server/workstation segment contrast with the AMD chip's active mobile status. Users on a fixed platform should choose based on the benchmark suite that matches their primary applications. The data shows two evenly matched processors with opposite performance profiles, not a clear overall winner.