AMD Ryzen 7 4980U vs Intel Xeon E-2278GEL Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The split between these two processors is unusually clean, with each taking two benchmark victories. The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U dominates the Cinebench R15 tests, while the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL counters with decisive wins in the newer Cinebench R23 workloads.

The Ryzen 7 4980U's R15 multicore score of 1658 versus the Xeon's 1030 represents a 37.9% advantage, which is the largest gap in the entire head-to-head comparison. This is a massive margin for a mobile chip against a workstation-class part. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern, with the AMD part scoring 182 against Intel's 145, a 20.3% lead. For legacy software that scales well across cores, particularly older rendering applications or workloads built around the R15 instruction set, the Ryzen 7 4980U is clearly the better choice.

The Intel Xeon E-2278GEL takes over in the R23 tests, which represent a more modern and demanding workload. Its multicore score of 10220 beats the Ryzen's 9164 by 11.5%, while the single-core result of 1442 versus 1260 gives Intel a 14.4% edge. This suggests that Intel's Coffee Lake architecture holds up better under the newer rendering engine, and that the Xeon's higher sustained performance in a workstation platform matters in longer, more complex render jobs.

The average benchmark score places the Ryzen 7 4980U slightly ahead at 3066 versus the Xeon's 2956, a modest overall advantage. Both processors sit at the 52nd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall standing despite their divergent workload-specific strengths. The Ryzen's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 at a 0% delta and the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X at -0.1%, while the Xeon's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 at -0.7% and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750U at -0.3%. These numbers confirm that both chips occupy a similar performance tier in the aggregate, even though their individual benchmark results tell very different stories.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E-2278GEL is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS variant, using Intel's 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel itself. The die size is 180 mm². It belongs to the Xeon E-2200 series, a server and workstation lineup, and uses the Intel Socket 1151.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is a Zen 2 part with the codename Renoir, built on TSMC's 7 nm process node. The die is smaller at 156 mm² but packs 9,800 million transistors, a figure the Intel side does not disclose. It uses the AMD Socket FP6, which is a mobile platform, and belongs to the Ryzen 4000 series.

Cache configurations differ significantly. Both allocate 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 on the Intel. The L3 cache goes the other direction, with Intel offering 16 MB shared versus AMD's 8 MB shared. This means the Intel Xeon has more total cache at the last level, while the AMD part relies on larger per-core L2.

Memory support also diverges. The Xeon uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 7 4980U uses LPDDR4, also dual-channel, but with a lower memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s and no ECC support. The Xeon's ECC capability and higher bandwidth make it suitable for error-sensitive workstation tasks, while the AMD part's LPDDR4 is typical for thin-and-light mobile designs.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Intel Xeon lists Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part simply lists Gen 3 without specifying lane count. Integrated graphics are present on both: Intel's UHD Graphics P630 versus AMD's Radeon Graphics 512SP. The Xeon is unlocked for a server/workstation market segment, while the Ryzen is explicitly a mobile part. Both are end-of-life products, with the Xeon released in June 2019 and the Ryzen in April 2021.

The Xeon's launch MSRP is $519. The Ryzen's launch MSRP is not recorded in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test is the single biggest win for the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U. Its score of 1658 versus the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL's 1030 yields a 37.9% advantage. This is not a marginal gap; it is a generational difference in performance. The R15 single-core test continues the trend, with AMD scoring 182 against Intel's 145, a 20.3% lead. For anyone running legacy rendering workloads, the Ryzen 7 4980U is the clear winner.

The picture reverses completely in Cinebench R23. The Intel Xeon E-2278GEL scores 10220 in multicore, beating the Ryzen 7 4980U's 9164 by 11.5%. The single-core R23 result gives Intel a 1442 versus 1260, a 14.4% advantage. This is a notable reversal, as the newer benchmark favors the Intel architecture despite the AMD part's superior R15 showing.

What explains this flip? The R15 and R23 engines stress different parts of the processor. The R15 multicore result suggests the Ryzen's Zen 2 architecture, with its higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus the Xeon's 3.90 GHz, delivers better throughput in that specific workload. The R23 results, however, indicate that the Xeon's larger 16 MB L3 cache and workstation-oriented design provide an advantage in the more demanding modern renderer. The Xeon also has a higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s, which may contribute to its R23 performance.

The average benchmark score across all tests places the Ryzen 7 4980U at 3066 and the Xeon at 2956, a 3.6% aggregate difference. But the individual results show that this average masks a workload-specific split: the AMD part wins by large margins in R15, while the Intel part wins by smaller but still significant margins in R23. The wins are evenly split at two apiece, making this a true toss-up depending on the application.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R15 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U scores 1658 versus the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL's 1030, giving AMD a 37.9% advantage in this test.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL wins both Cinebench R23 tests. It scores 10220 in multicore versus 9164 for the Ryzen, an 11.5% lead, and 1442 in single-core versus 1260, a 14.4% lead.

Q: What is the overall average benchmark score difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has an average benchmark score of 3066, while the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL scores 2956. Both sit at the 52nd percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GEL has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has only 8 MB. However, the AMD part has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, double the Intel's 256 KB per core.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E-2278GEL supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U does not.

Q: What process nodes are these processors built on?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GEL uses Intel's 14 nm process, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U uses TSMC's 7 nm process. The AMD die is 156 mm² with 9,800 million transistors; the Intel die is 180 mm² with no transistor count listed.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E-2278GEL | AMD Ryzen 7 4980U |

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

| Base clock | 2000.00 MHz | 2000.00 MHz |

| Boost clock | 3.90 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen 2 |

| Process node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 180 mm² | 156 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 9,800 million |

| L2 cache | 256 KB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 16 MB shared | 8 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4 | LPDDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| ECC support | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics P630 | Radeon Graphics 512SP |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Release date | June 2019 | April 2021 |

| Launch MSRP | $519 | Not listed |

The core and thread counts are identical at 8 cores and 16 threads, as is the L1 cache at 64 KB per core. Both use dual-channel memory buses. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. If your workload relies on Cinebench R15-style rendering, particularly legacy applications or older game engines that scale well with older render paths, the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is the stronger choice. Its 37.9% multicore advantage and 20.3% single-core lead in R15 are decisive, and its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light mobile systems where power efficiency is critical.

If your work involves modern rendering workloads represented by Cinebench R23, the Intel Xeon E-2278GEL wins. Its 11.5% multicore and 14.4% single-core advantages in R23, combined with ECC memory support and a 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, make it the better fit for workstation scenarios where data integrity and sustained throughput matter. The Xeon's 16 MB L3 cache likely contributes to its R23 performance edge.

The average benchmark scores are close, 3066 for the AMD part versus 2956 for the Intel, and both sit at the 52nd percentile. But the workload-specific results are not close at all: each chip dominates in its preferred benchmark generation. The Ryzen 7 4980U's 4.40 GHz boost clock and 7 nm process give it the edge in the older test, while the Xeon's larger cache, higher memory bandwidth, and workstation platform take the newer test.

Choose the Ryzen 7 4980U for legacy rendering performance and mobile efficiency. Choose the Xeon E-2278GEL for modern rendering workloads, ECC memory requirements, and the workstation feature set. The recorded data does not support a single universal winner; it supports two different winners for two different jobs.