AMD Ryzen 7 4700U vs Intel Xeon E-2226G Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits this comparison almost perfectly down the middle, with both processors taking two wins apiece in the head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U dominates in the older Cinebench R15 suite, while the Intel Xeon E-2226G takes control in the newer Cinebench R23 tests. For mobile users prioritizing legacy single-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 7 4700U is the clear choice, delivering a 35.3% advantage in R15 single-core performance. For workstation users running modern multi-threaded render workloads, the Xeon E-2226G offers a 21.2% lead in R23 multi-core scores. The Xeon also carries a launch MSRP of $255, stated once here for reference. The Ryzen 7 4700U, with its 15 W TDP and active production status, suits thin-and-light mobile systems, whereas the Xeon E-2226G, now end-of-life, targets server and workstation platforms where ECC memory support is non-negotiable.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U uses the Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, packing 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E-2226G relies on the older Coffee Lake architecture on Intel's 14 nm process, with a die size of 154 mm² and no transistor count listed in the data. The manufacturing gap is significant: the Ryzen's 7 nm process allows for double the core count — 8 cores versus 6 — while maintaining a dramatically lower 15 W TDP compared to the Xeon's 80 W.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Ryzen 7 4700U provides 512 KB of L2 per core versus the Xeon's 256 KB per core. At the L3 level, the Xeon E-2226G counters with 12 MB shared cache, outpacing the Ryzen's 8 MB shared L3. The Ryzen's larger L2 per core compensates for its smaller L3 pool, a design choice that benefits certain workload patterns. The mobile AMD part also integrates Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors, while the Xeon includes HD Graphics P630, though neither is a focus for serious compute tasks.

Memory support shows both platforms using DDR4 with dual-channel buses, but the Ryzen 7 4700U achieves 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth versus the Xeon's 42.7 GB/s — a 19.9% advantage for the AMD part. The Xeon counters with ECC memory support, a feature the Ryzen lacks entirely. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 on both, though the Xeon specifies 16 lanes from the CPU only, while the Ryzen's lane count is not listed in the data. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The R15 multi-core test shows the Ryzen 7 4700U at 1094.5 points against the Xeon E-2226G's 944 points, a 15.9% margin for AMD. This result is notable because the Ryzen achieves this with 8 cores and 8 threads at a 15 W TDP, while the Xeon runs 6 cores and 6 threads at 80 W. The advantage likely stems from the Ryzen's superior per-core L2 cache and newer process node, though the data does not explicitly confirm causation.

The R15 single-core test delivers the largest gap in the entire comparison. The Ryzen 7 4700U scores 180 points, while the Xeon E-2226G manages only 133 points — a 35.3% advantage for the AMD part. This is a substantial margin for a single-threaded workload, indicating that the Zen 2 architecture's IPC gains over Coffee Lake are pronounced in this benchmark generation. The Xeon's higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus the Ryzen's 4.10 GHz does not translate into R15 single-core dominance, suggesting architectural efficiency matters more than raw frequency in this test.

The tables turn dramatically in Cinebench R23. The Xeon E-2226G scores 9368 points in multi-core, versus the Ryzen 7 4700U's 7378 points — a 21.2% lead for Intel. This reversal is striking given the R15 multi-core result. The R23 suite likely scales differently with cache hierarchies and power management, favoring the Xeon's larger 12 MB L3 cache and higher sustained clocks under the 80 W TDP envelope. The Ryzen's 15 W TDP may cause thermal throttling under extended R23 loads, though the data does not explicitly state this.

The R23 single-core test also favors the Xeon, scoring 1322 points against the Ryzen's 1220.5 points, a 7.7% margin. This narrows the single-core gap significantly compared to R15, where the Ryzen led by 35.3%. The Xeon's 4.70 GHz boost clock likely contributes to this result, as does the newer benchmark's sensitivity to frequency headroom. Across all four tests, the wins split evenly at two apiece, but the magnitudes differ: the Ryzen's largest win is 35.3%, while the Xeon's largest is 21.2%.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 4700U | Intel Xeon E-2226G |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 6 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 80 W |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics 448SP | HD Graphics P630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

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

| Release Date | 2020-01-05 | 2019-05-28 |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

The base clock difference is stark: the Xeon starts at 3.40 GHz versus the Ryzen's 2.00 GHz, a 70% higher starting frequency. The boost clocks close that gap somewhat, with the Xeon at 4.70 GHz versus 4.10 GHz for the Ryzen, a 14.6% advantage. The TDP disparity is the most pronounced specification difference — 80 W for the Xeon versus 15 W for the Ryzen represents a 5.3x power envelope gap. The Ryzen's 7 nm process makes this efficiency possible, while the Xeon's 14 nm node requires significantly more power to sustain its clock speeds.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The head-to-head results are tied at two wins each. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, while the Intel Xeon E-2226G wins Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap in Cinebench R15?

A: The Ryzen 7 4700U leads by 35.3%, scoring 180 points versus the Xeon E-2226G's 133 points. This is the largest margin in any head-to-head benchmark between the two.

Q: Does the Xeon E-2226G support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E-2226G supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U does not. This is a key differentiator for server and workstation reliability requirements.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U is listed as Active, while the Intel Xeon E-2226G is listed as End-of-life. The Ryzen was released on 2020-01-05, and the Xeon on 2019-05-28.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 7 4700U has an average benchmark score of 2722, while the Xeon E-2226G averages 2709. Both sit at the 50th percentile among all CPUs, and each has nearest rivals within a 0.3% delta.

Q: Which processor has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U achieves 51.2 GB/s, which is 19.9% higher than the Intel Xeon E-2226G's 42.7 GB/s. Both use dual-channel DDR4 memory support.