AMD Ryzen 7 5825C vs Intel Xeon W-1290TE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 5825C and Intel Xeon W-1290TE are both active, 55th-percentile CPUs in the benchmark database, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Ryzen 7 5825C is a 15-watt mobile part built on TSMC's 7 nm process, while the Xeon W-1290TE is a 35-watt server/workstation chip on Intel's 14 nm node. The benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, victory for the AMD part across every single Cinebench test, with the largest margin being a 1.4% lead in multi-core R15. This page breaks down what those scores mean, where each chip's architectural strengths lie, and which workload profiles favor which processor.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 5825C wins all six recorded Cinebench tests. There are zero wins for the Intel Xeon W-1290TE in this dataset. However, the margin of victory is remarkably slim across the board, ranging from a 1.2% delta in single-core R15 and R20 to a 1.4% delta in multi-core R15. This means the Xeon W-1290TE is never far behind, but it also never overtakes the Ryzen in any rendering workload captured here.

For single-threaded tasks, the Ryzen 7 5825C leads by 1.2% in both Cinebench R15 (175 vs 173) and R20 (733 vs 724), and by 1.3% in R23 (1747 vs 1724). These are tight margins, suggesting the two chips have nearly identical per-core performance ceilings, likely due to both having a 4.50 GHz boost clock. The multi-core picture is slightly more interesting: the Ryzen leads by 1.4% in R15 (1247 vs 1230), 1.3% in R20 (5197 vs 5129), and 1.3% in R23 (12376 vs 12213). Despite the Intel chip having 10 cores and 20 threads versus the AMD's 8 cores and 16 threads, the AMD still comes out ahead in multi-threaded Cinebench workloads. This suggests the Zen 3 architecture's efficiency per core more than compensates for the two-core deficit.

The practical takeaway is that neither chip has a workload category where it decisively dominates. The Ryzen 7 5825C wins everywhere, but by margins that would be imperceptible in real-world use. The Xeon W-1290TE's value proposition must therefore come from features outside the Cinebench suite, such as ECC memory support, which the AMD part lacks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different silicon. The AMD Ryzen 7 5825C uses the Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm TSMC process, packed into a 180 mm² die with 10,700 million transistors. Its codename is Cezanne-U, and it targets the mobile segment via AMD Socket FP6. The Intel Xeon W-1290TE uses the older Comet Lake architecture on Intel's 14 nm process, with a larger 206 mm² die and no transistor count listed. It targets the server/workstation market via Intel Socket 1200.

Core counts differ significantly: the Xeon has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Ryzen has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both run at the same 4.50 GHz boost clock, but the base clocks differ — the AMD runs at 2.00 GHz base versus the Intel's 1.80 GHz base. The TDP gap is substantial: the Ryzen 7 5825C consumes only 15 watts, while the Xeon W-1290TE is rated at 35 watts. This makes the AMD part dramatically more power-efficient per thread, which is a key factor for mobile or compact systems.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: the Ryzen has 512 KB per core, while the Xeon has only 256 KB per core. The shared L3 cache favors the Intel part, however, with 20 MB shared versus the AMD's 16 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 for both with dual-channel buses, but the AMD offers higher theoretical bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s versus the Intel's 46.9 GB/s. The Intel chip also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the AMD part. PCIe connectivity differs too: the Ryzen provides 8 Gen 3 lanes, while the Xeon offers 16 Gen 3 lanes. Both have integrated graphics — Radeon Vega 8 on the AMD side, Intel UHD Graphics P630 on the Intel side.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six Cinebench results form a consistent pattern. In the oldest test, Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 5825C scores 1247 against the Intel's 1230, a 1.4% advantage. The single-core R15 result is 175 versus 173, a 1.2% lead for AMD. Moving to R20, the multi-core gap narrows slightly to 1.3% (5197 vs 5129), while single-core stays at 1.2% (733 vs 724). The newest test, R23, shows the same 1.3% multi-core delta (12376 vs 12213) and 1.3% single-core delta (1747 vs 1724).

The most striking finding is that the AMD chip wins multi-core tests despite having two fewer cores and four fewer threads. This is likely attributable to the Zen 3 architecture's higher instructions-per-clock (IPC) efficiency and the larger L2 cache per core (512 KB vs 256 KB). The 14 nm Comet Lake architecture relies on higher core counts to compete, but it cannot overcome the per-core efficiency deficit in these rendering workloads.

Single-core results are nearly identical, which aligns with the matching 4.50 GHz boost clocks. The AMD's 1.2-1.3% lead in single-core tests suggests slightly better per-clock performance, even if the margin is small. For anyone relying on Cinebench as a proxy for rendering or general CPU performance, the data says the Ryzen 7 5825C is the faster chip in every scenario measured.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290TE has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5825C has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any multi-core benchmarks despite having fewer cores?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 7 5825C wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) with deltas of 1.4%, 1.3%, and 1.3% respectively, despite having two fewer cores.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5825C has a 15-watt TDP, while the Intel Xeon W-1290TE has a 35-watt TDP.

Q: Does either CPU support ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Xeon W-1290TE supports ECC memory; the AMD Ryzen 7 5825C does not.

Q: What are the base clock speeds?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5825C has a 2.00 GHz base clock, while the Intel Xeon W-1290TE has a 1.80 GHz base clock. Both share the same 4.50 GHz boost clock.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon W-1290TE has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5825C has 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear, if narrow, winner: the AMD Ryzen 7 5825C outperforms the Intel Xeon W-1290TE in every single Cinebench test recorded. The margins are consistent, ranging from 1.2% to 1.4%, which means the AMD chip is never decisively faster, but it is always faster. For users prioritizing raw rendering performance in Cinebench, the Ryzen 7 5825C is the better choice, especially given its significantly lower 15-watt TDP versus the Intel's 35 watts.

However, the Intel Xeon W-1290TE is not without merit. Its 10 cores and 20 threads provide a theoretical multi-threading advantage that the Cinebench suite does not exploit to the Intel's benefit, but other workloads might. The Xeon also offers ECC memory support, which is critical for data integrity in server or workstation environments. The Intel part has more PCIe Gen 3 lanes (16 vs 8) and a larger shared L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB), which could matter for specific I/O-heavy or cache-sensitive applications.

For a mobile or low-power system where rendering performance per watt is paramount, the AMD Ryzen 7 5825C is the data-backed choice. For a workstation requiring ECC memory, higher PCIe lane counts, or a server-grade feature set, the Intel Xeon W-1290TE justifies its existence despite losing every Cinebench comparison. The Ryzen wins on pure speed; the Xeon wins on platform features. The decision ultimately hinges on whether the workload values the 1.3% average performance delta or the ECC and connectivity advantages of the Intel part.

Specification Differences

• Cores: AMD Ryzen 7 5825C has 8; Intel Xeon W-1290TE has 10.
• Threads: AMD has 16; Intel has 20.
• Base Clock: AMD is 2.00 GHz; Intel is 1.80 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Both are 4.50 GHz.
• TDP: AMD is 15 watts; Intel is 35 watts.
• Process Node: AMD is 7 nm (TSMC); Intel is 14 nm (Intel).
• Die Size: AMD is 180 mm²; Intel is 206 mm².
• Transistors: AMD has 10,700 million; Intel is not listed.
• L2 Cache: AMD has 512 KB per core; Intel has 256 KB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD has 16 MB shared; Intel has 20 MB shared.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD is 51.2 GB/s; Intel is 46.9 GB/s.
• ECC Memory: AMD does not support; Intel supports.
• PCIe Lanes: AMD has 8 Gen 3 lanes; Intel has 16 Gen 3 lanes.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD uses Radeon Vega 8; Intel uses UHD Graphics P630.
• Socket: AMD uses Socket FP6; Intel uses Socket 1200.
• Market Segment: AMD is Mobile; Intel is Server/Workstation.
• Release Date: AMD is 2022-05-04; Intel is 2020-05-12.
• Launch MSRP: Intel is $552; AMD has no listed MSRP.