AMD Ryzen 7 2800H vs Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear but narrow split: the Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 wins every recorded head-to-head test, yet the margins are consistently small. Across six Cinebench runs, the Xeon takes all six wins, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H records zero wins. The largest advantage for the Intel part is 1.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, and the smallest is 1% in R15 single-core. This is not a case of one processor dominating the other; it is a case of one processor edging ahead across the board.

For single-threaded workloads, the Xeon E3-1280 v5 leads by 1% in R15 (99 vs 98), 1.2% in R20 (415 vs 410), and 1.3% in R23 (990 vs 977). These are tight margins, but they are consistent. If the workload is lightly threaded, such as older games or single-threaded productivity tools, the data points to the Xeon producing slightly higher frame pacing or response times.

For multi-threaded workloads, the Xeon again leads, but the gap is similar. R15 multi-core shows 707 vs 697 (1.4%), R20 multi-core shows 2946 vs 2907 (1.3%), and R23 multi-core shows 7015 vs 6922 (1.3%). The Ryzen 7 2800H is not far behind in any test, which suggests that for rendering or encoding tasks, the two chips will feel nearly identical in practice. The Ryzen's only potential advantage lies outside the Cinebench suite, in its integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely. For any workload that offloads to the iGPU, the Ryzen would have an edge, but the recorded CPU benchmarks do not capture that.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 uses the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-DT codename, built on Intel's 14 nm process with 1,750 million transistors on a 122 mm² die. It is a server/workstation part from the Xeon E3 family, released in October 2015, and it is now end-of-life. The AMD Ryzen 7 2800H uses the Zen architecture under the Raven Ridge codename, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on the same 14 nm node, but with a much larger 246 mm² die. It belongs to the Ryzen 2000 series and targets the mobile segment, released in May 2018 and still active.

Both chips have 4 cores and 8 threads, so the thread count is identical. Clock speeds differ: the Xeon has a 3.70 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost, while the Ryzen has a 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The Xeon runs at a higher frequency in both states, which helps explain its consistent lead in single-core benchmarks. The TDP gap is substantial: the Xeon is rated at 80 watts, while the Ryzen is rated at just 15 watts. That is a 65-watt difference, making the Ryzen far more suitable for thin-and-light laptops or fanless designs, whereas the Xeon demands a more robust cooling solution.

Cache configurations also differ. The Xeon has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen has double the L1 per core (128 KB), double the L2 per core (512 KB), but only 4 MB of shared L3, half of the Xeon's pool. The larger L3 on the Intel side likely helps in workloads that repeatedly access a working set larger than 4 MB.

Other differences: the Xeon supports ECC memory, the Ryzen does not. The Xeon exposes PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen's PCIe information is not recorded. The Ryzen includes integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics listed. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151, the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP5. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $612, while the Ryzen has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six head-to-head Cinebench results are remarkably uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 707 against the Ryzen's 697, a 1.4% advantage. In R15 single-core, the Xeon scores 99 against 98, a 1% lead. Moving to R20, the Xeon leads multi-core 2946 vs 2907 (1.3%) and single-core 415 vs 410 (1.2%). In R23, the Xeon leads multi-core 7015 vs 6922 (1.3%) and single-core 990 vs 977 (1.3%).

The pattern is clear: the Xeon wins every test, but the largest delta is just 1.4%. For context, the Xeon's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon E3-1260L v5 with an identical average score of 2029 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5 at 2030 (-0.1%), and the Intel Core i7-5775R at 2031 (-0.1%). The Ryzen's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-8400T at 2001 (0% delta), the Intel Core i5-8400H at 2003 (-0.1%), and the Intel Core i5-8300H at 2005 (-0.2%).

The average benchmark score for the Xeon is 2029, while the Ryzen sits at 2002. That is a 1.3% difference in average score, which aligns with the individual test deltas. Both processors land at the 45th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically indistinguishable in overall ranking. The Xeon's average score places it between the E3-1260L v5 and the E3-1240 v5, while the Ryzen's average score places it just below the Core i5-8400H and above the Core i5-8400T.

In practical terms, a 1.3% to 1.4% delta in Cinebench translates to a few seconds in a long render, or a few frames in a CPU-bound game. The data does not support calling either chip "faster" in a meaningful way for most users. The Xeon is faster, but only marginally so.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 has a 4.00 GHz boost clock, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H has a 3.80 GHz boost clock.

Q: Does either chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 2800H does not support ECC.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2800H includes Radeon RX Vega 11 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 has an average benchmark score of 2029, and the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H has an average score of 2002. The Xeon is 1.3% higher.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 is rated at 80 watts TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H is rated at 15 watts. The Ryzen consumes 65 watts less.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2800H has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Xeon E3-1280 v5 is the faster CPU in every recorded benchmark, but the margin is so thin that it may not matter for most use cases. The Xeon wins all six head-to-head tests, with deltas ranging from 1% to 1.4%. Its average benchmark score of 2029 is 1.3% higher than the Ryzen's 2002. Both chips sit at the 45th percentile among all CPUs, which means the database ranks them as equivalent overall.

Who should pick the Xeon? Users who need ECC memory support, which the Ryzen lacks, or users who run sustained multi-threaded workloads on a desktop platform where the 80-watt TDP is acceptable. The Xeon's higher base and boost clocks (3.70/4.00 GHz vs 3.40/3.80 GHz) give it a slight edge in single-threaded tasks, and its larger 8 MB L3 cache may help in cache-sensitive workloads. The Xeon also has a recorded launch MSRP of $612, which is a data point but not a value judgment.

Who should pick the Ryzen? Users who need integrated graphics, as the Radeon RX Vega 11 is present and functional, while the Xeon has none. Users who prioritize power efficiency will find the 15-watt TDP compelling, especially for mobile or compact builds. The Ryzen also has a larger die (246 mm² vs 122 mm²) and more L1/L2 cache per core, which may benefit certain workloads, though the benchmark data does not show a win for the Ryzen in any Cinebench test. For a laptop or a low-power system, the Ryzen is the only sensible choice between the two.

The verdict is not about a clear winner. It is about matching the chip to the platform. The Xeon wins on raw CPU performance, ECC support, and cache capacity. The Ryzen wins on power draw, integrated graphics, and mobility. If the workload is purely CPU-bound and the platform can handle 80 watts, the Xeon is the better pick. If the system needs to be quiet, cool, or portable, the Ryzen is the better pick despite its slightly lower scores.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors:

• Manufacturer: Intel for the Xeon, AMD for the Ryzen.
• Base clock: 3.70 GHz (Xeon) vs 3.40 GHz (Ryzen).
• Boost clock: 4.00 GHz (Xeon) vs 3.80 GHz (Ryzen).
• TDP: 80 W (Xeon) vs 15 W (Ryzen).
• Socket: Intel Socket 1151 (Xeon) vs AMD Socket FP5 (Ryzen).
• Architecture: Skylake (Xeon) vs Zen (Ryzen).
• Codename: Skylake-DT (Xeon) vs Raven Ridge (Ryzen).
• Generation: Xeon E3 (Skylake-DT) vs Ryzen 7 (Zen, Raven Ridge).
• Foundry: Intel (Xeon) vs GlobalFoundries (Ryzen).
• Transistors: 1,750 million (Xeon) vs not recorded (Ryzen).
• Die size: 122 mm² (Xeon) vs 246 mm² (Ryzen).
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core (Xeon) vs 128 KB per core (Ryzen).
• L2 cache: 256 KB per core (Xeon) vs 512 KB per core (Ryzen).
• L3 cache: 8 MB shared (Xeon) vs 4 MB shared (Ryzen).
• ECC memory: Supported (Xeon) vs not supported (Ryzen).
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 lanes, CPU only (Xeon) vs not recorded (Ryzen).
• Integrated graphics: None (Xeon) vs Radeon RX Vega 11 (Ryzen).
• Market segment: Server/Workstation (Xeon) vs Mobile (Ryzen).
• Production status: End-of-life (Xeon) vs Active (Ryzen).
• Release date: 2015-10-18 (Xeon) vs 2018-05-29 (Ryzen).
• Launch MSRP: $612 (Xeon) vs not recorded (Ryzen).
• Part number: SR2LC (Xeon) vs not recorded (Ryzen).

Both chips share: 4 cores, 8 threads, 14 nm process, DDR4 memory support, dual-channel memory bus, and a locked multiplier.