AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 vs Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 and the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 are two very different processors that, according to the benchmark data, deliver nearly identical performance. The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700, a desktop part from AMD's 1000 series, and the Xeon E5-2678 v3, a server/workstation part from Intel, are separated by a mere 0.1% in average benchmark score, with the AMD part holding a slim edge. This makes for a fascinating comparison, as architectural philosophies and platform capabilities diverge sharply while the final performance numbers remain almost indistinguishable.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkably close, with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 winning all six head-to-head comparisons, but by margins that are effectively negligible. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the AMD processor scores 1259, edging out the Intel Xeon's 1257 by a 0.2% margin. The single-core R15 test shows a perfect tie at 177 points for both processors, evidence of how closely matched their per-thread performance is.

Moving to the newer Cinebench R20 suite, the pattern continues. The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 scores 5246 in the multicore test, a 0.1% improvement over the Xeon's 5239. In single-core R20, the AMD part again takes a 0.1% lead with a score of 740 versus 739. The most demanding test, Cinebench R23, shows the same story: the AMD wins the multicore test 12491 to 12474, and the single-core test 1763 to 1761, both by 0.1% margins.

These results are significant not because of the size of the win, but because of the context. The Xeon E5-2678 v3 accomplishes this performance with 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 does so with just 8 cores and 16 threads. The data indicates that the Ryzen's higher clock speeds and newer architecture effectively compensate for its 33% core deficit. The average benchmark scores confirm this parity: the AMD part scores 3613, while the Intel part scores 3608, a difference of only 0.1%. Both processors sit at the 55th percentile of all CPUs, placing them squarely in the mid-range of performance. Interestingly, the nearest rival for the AMD part is the Intel Xeon E-2276G with an average score of 3614, while the Xeon E5-2678 v3 is its third-closest competitor, separated by that same 0.1% delta.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two processors is wide, yet the benchmark results show they converge on the same performance level. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 is built on the Zen architecture, using a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 213 mm² and 4,800 million transistors. In contrast, the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 utilizes the older Haswell architecture, specifically Haswell-EP, manufactured on a 22 nm process at Intel, with a significantly larger die size of 356 mm² but fewer transistors at 2,600 million.

The core configurations differ substantially. The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 packs 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Xeon, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, runs at a lower base clock of 2.50 GHz and boosts to 3.30 GHz. The cache hierarchies also tell a story of different design goals. AMD allocates 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with a 16 MB shared L3 cache. Intel's design uses 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but compensates with a much larger 30 MB shared L3 cache. The larger L3 on the Xeon likely helps feed its additional cores, while the Ryzen relies on its faster clock speeds and more efficient Zen core design.

The memory subsystems are a major point of differentiation. The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 supports dual-channel DDR4 memory, delivering a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon E5-2678 v3, being a server part, supports quad-channel DDR3 and DDR4 memory, achieving a significantly higher bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. Both processors support ECC memory, a critical feature for workstation and server reliability. The PCIe capabilities also differ; the AMD part offers 16 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel Xeon provides 40 Gen 3 lanes, making it more suitable for heavy expansion needs. Finally, the AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel part is locked, and the Xeon is marked as end-of-life in production status, whereas the Ryzen remains active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 has an average benchmark score of 3613, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3's score of 3608.

Q: How do the two processors compare in the Cinebench R23 multicore test?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 scores 12491 in the Cinebench R23 multicore test, outperforming the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3's score of 12474 by a margin of 0.1%.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 have a higher memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 supports quad-channel memory with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 supports dual-channel memory with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 has a larger shared L3 cache of 30 MB, compared to the 16 MB shared L3 cache on the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700.

Q: What are the production statuses of these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 has an "Active" production status, while the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 is marked as "End-of-life."

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification, despite their similar performance. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads. The base clock speeds are 3.00 GHz for the AMD and 2.50 GHz for the Intel, with boost clocks of 3.70 GHz and 3.30 GHz, respectively. The TDP ratings differ significantly, with the AMD part rated at 65 watts and the Intel part at 120 watts.

The sockets are incompatible: the AMD uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The process nodes also differ, with the AMD built on a 14 nm process and the Intel on a 22 nm process. The transistor counts are 4,800 million for the AMD and 2,600 million for the Intel, with die sizes of 213 mm² and 356 mm², respectively. Cache configurations differ, with the AMD having 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, and the Intel having 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is 16 MB on the AMD and 30 MB on the Intel. Memory support differs, with the AMD supporting dual-channel DDR4 and the Intel supporting quad-channel DDR3 and DDR4, resulting in memory bandwidths of 42.7 GB/s and 68.3 GB/s, respectively. The PCIe lane counts also differ, with 16 lanes on the AMD and 40 lanes on the Intel. The AMD has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel is locked, and the AMD's production status is "Active" versus "End-of-life" for the Intel.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a unique scenario where a newer, lower-core-count desktop processor matches an older, higher-core-count server processor in raw performance. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 wins all six head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the margins are all 0.2% or less, making the performance difference statistically irrelevant in practice. The average benchmark scores of 3613 for the AMD and 3608 for the Intel confirm this parity.

The decision between these two processors must therefore be made on platform and feature considerations, not raw compute performance. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 offers a more modern architecture, a much lower 65-watt TDP, and an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 offers double the core count, a larger L3 cache, significantly higher memory bandwidth, and more PCIe lanes. The Xeon's end-of-life status is a significant drawback, while the Ryzen's active production status suggests ongoing availability. For a new system build, the data favors the AMD part due to its active status, lower power draw, and unlocked multiplier, despite the Xeon's hardware advantages.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 wins in all six Cinebench tests, including both multicore and single-core variants of R15, R20, and R23. The largest margin of victory is a 0.2% lead in the Cinebench R15 multicore test, where it scores 1259 against the Xeon's 1257. It also maintains a 0.1% lead in the R20 and R23 multicore and single-core tests, with scores of 5246, 12491, 1763, and 740, respectively. This consistent, albeit tiny, lead suggests that the Ryzen's architectural efficiency and higher clock speeds give it a slight edge in both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads.

The Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 does not win any benchmark comparisons, but it holds clear advantages in platform capabilities. Its 12 cores and 24 threads provide more raw thread count, and its quad-channel memory interface with 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth is 60% higher than the AMD's dual-channel 42.7 GB/s. Furthermore, its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes offer significantly more expansion capacity than the AMD's 16 lanes. The Xeon's 30 MB of shared L3 cache is also nearly double the AMD's 16 MB. These features do not translate into Cinebench wins, but they indicate that the Intel part is better suited for workloads that require massive memory throughput, extensive I/O, or high core counts, such as virtualization or data center applications, whereas the AMD part appears more efficient for general-purpose computing.