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

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers six Cinebench workloads, and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X wins all six. The margins are consistent and narrow, ranging from 6.0% to 6.2%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 1333 against 1257 for the Xeon, a 6% advantage. The single-core result in R15 is slightly wider at 6.2%, with 188 versus 177. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds: 5555 versus 5239 in multi-core (6%) and 784 versus 739 in single-core (6.1%). The newest workload in the comparison, Cinebench R23, shows 13227 against 12474 multi-core and 1867 versus 1761 single-core, both at a 6% delta.

What stands out is the uniformity of the lead. The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X does not merely edge ahead in one specific rendering mode; it maintains the same approximate margin across every Cinebench generation and both single- and multi-threaded tests. This suggests the advantage is architectural rather than workload-specific. The Xeon E5-2678 v3 never closes the gap below 6% in any recorded test, nor does it extend it.

The aggregate benchmark picture reinforces this. The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has an average benchmark score of 3673, while the Xeon E5-2678 v3 sits at 3608. In the database percentile ranking, the Ryzen lands at the 56th percentile of all CPUs, the Xeon at the 55th. These are effectively adjacent positions, which is consistent with the small but consistent Cinebench deltas.

The Ryzen also has additional recorded Geekbench scores that the Xeon lacks in this comparison. The Ryzen posts 5355 multi-core and 1076 single-core on Geekbench. The Xeon has no Geekbench entries in the database, so a direct comparison there is not possible, but the Ryzen's presence in that test adds another data point to its profile.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X wins every benchmark where both CPUs have recorded results. That includes all three Cinebench versions, in both multi-core and single-core modes. The largest single margin is 6.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core; the smallest is 6.0% in several tests. For workloads that resemble Cinebench's rendering pipeline, the Ryzen is consistently ahead.

The Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 does not win any recorded head-to-head benchmark. However, the data shows areas where it is competitive despite losing. Its 12 cores and 24 threads exceed the Ryzen's 8 cores and 16 threads, yet the Ryzen still wins multi-core rendering tests. This means the Xeon's core-count advantage does not translate into a performance win in these workloads. The Xeon's advantage would have to come from scenarios not covered by the recorded benchmarks, such as memory-bandwidth-bound tasks. The Xeon supports quad-channel memory with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, versus dual-channel 42.7 GB/s for the Ryzen. That 60% higher memory bandwidth is a real difference, but it is not reflected in any of the Cinebench results.

For single-threaded and lightly threaded tasks, the Ryzen's higher clocks are decisive. Its base clock of 3.40 GHz and boost of 3.80 GHz compare to the Xeon's 2.50 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The Ryzen's 6% to 6.2% single-core lead in Cinebench matches what those clock differences would suggest.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for Cinebench-style rendering and general compute: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X. It leads in every recorded benchmark, and its average score of 3673 is 65 points above the Xeon's 3608. The percentile rankings are close, 56 versus 55, but the head-to-head results are unambiguous.

The Xeon E5-2678 v3 is not without strengths in the database. It offers 12 cores versus 8, 24 threads versus 16, and quad-channel memory with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth. It also supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the Ryzen supports only DDR4. The Xeon's TDP is higher at 120 watts against 95 watts, which means it consumes more power for a lower benchmark result in these tests. The Xeon is also end-of-life in production status, while the Ryzen is active.

For a user choosing strictly on recorded benchmark performance, the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is the pick. For a user who prioritizes memory bandwidth, core count, or the platform's memory flexibility, the Xeon has structural advantages, but none of them appear in the head-to-head results. The Ryzen's 6% lead across all Cinebench tests is the strongest signal in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has an average benchmark score of 3673, while the Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 has 3608.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Xeon E5-2678 v3 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in the head-to-head results?

A: The largest margin is 6.2%, recorded in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ryzen scores 188 versus 177 for the Xeon.

Q: Does the Xeon ever win any recorded benchmark?

A: No. The Ryzen wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins between 6.0% and 6.2%.

Q: Which CPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Xeon E5-2678 v3 has 68.3 GB/s memory bandwidth with quad-channel support. The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has 42.7 GB/s with dual-channel support.

Q: What is the production status of each CPU?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is listed as active. The Xeon E5-2678 v3 is listed as end-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design generations and foundries. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X uses the Zen architecture on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5-2678 v3 uses the Haswell-EP architecture on a 22 nm process from Intel, with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The Ryzen is part of the 1000 series with the codename Zen (Summit Ridge); the Xeon is a Haswell-EP part.

Core and cache layouts differ substantially. The Ryzen has 8 cores and 16 threads, with 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has 12 cores and 24 threads, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has nearly twice the L3 capacity, but the Ryzen's per-core L2 is larger.

Memory support diverges. The Ryzen supports DDR4 only, across a dual-channel bus, with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon supports both DDR3 and DDR4 across a quad-channel bus, with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth. Both CPUs support ECC memory. The Xeon's memory subsystem is clearly larger, but the recorded benchmarks do not reflect any advantage from it.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The Ryzen provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU. The Xeon offers more than double the PCIe lanes, which matters for expansion-heavy server or workstation configurations.

Clock speeds favor the AMD part. The Ryzen runs at 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost. The Xeon runs at 2.50 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. The Ryzen also has an unlocked multiplier, while the Xeon does not. TDP ratings reflect the difference: 95 watts for the Ryzen, 120 watts for the Xeon.

The Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4 and is classified as a desktop part. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3 and is classified as a server or workstation part. The Ryzen is currently active in production status; the Xeon is end-of-life. The Ryzen has a part number of YD17XBBAM88AE, and the Xeon has a part number of SR20Z. Neither has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.