AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U vs Intel Xeon D-1528 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a remarkably consistent picture: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Xeon D-1528, though by relatively narrow margins. Across six Cinebench tests, the AMD part takes all six victories, with the Intel chip failing to secure a single win.

In Cinebench R15, the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U scores 601 in multi-core versus 584 for the Xeon D-1528, a 2.9% advantage. The single-core result follows the same pattern, with the AMD processor posting 84 points against 82 for the Intel part, a 2.4% lead. These are tight margins, but they are consistent across every workload tested.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the gap widens slightly. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U delivers 2507 in multi-core compared to 2435 for the Xeon D-1528, representing a 3% edge. In single-core, the AMD chip scores 354 versus 343, a 3.2% advantage, the largest delta recorded in any of the head-to-head tests.

Cinebench R23, the most recent rendering workload in the database, shows the same trend. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U achieves 5971 multi-core points, while the Xeon D-1528 manages 5799, a 3% difference. Single-core results place the AMD part at 843 against 818 for the Intel chip, a 3.1% lead.

The average benchmark score further contextualizes these results. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U sits at 1715, while the Xeon D-1528 trails at 1677. This places the AMD processor at the 41st percentile among all CPUs in the database, with the Intel chip just behind at the 40th percentile. Both processors land in a crowded mid-pack region, surrounded by comparable parts.

The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-4910MQ at 1716 (a 0% delta), the Intel Core i7-990X at 1713 (0.1% ahead), and the Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4 at 1709 (0.3% ahead). The Xeon D-1528, meanwhile, sits near the Intel Core i5-4690K at 1682 (0.3% behind) and the Intel Core i7-3770K at 1688 (0.6% behind).

What is notable is how close these two processors are despite their very different designs. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U is a 4-core, 8-thread mobile part, while the Xeon D-1528 is a 6-core, 12-thread server chip. Yet the AMD processor's higher clock speeds compensate for its fewer cores, allowing it to edge ahead in every rendering test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U scores 5971 versus 5799 for the Intel Xeon D-1528, a 3% advantage in the AMD part's favor.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare between the two chips?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U leads in every single-core test. In Cinebench R23, it scores 843 against 818, a 3.1% lead. In Cinebench R20, the margin is 354 versus 343, a 3.2% difference.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U averages 1715 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Intel Xeon D-1528 averages 1677. This places the AMD part at the 41st percentile and the Intel part at the 40th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Does the Xeon D-1528 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The recorded data shows the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U winning all six Cinebench comparisons, with no wins recorded for the Xeon D-1528.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U compare to its closest rivals in the database?

A: The AMD chip sits within 0.3% of the Intel Core i7-4910MQ, Intel Core i7-990X, and Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4 in average score. The Xeon D-1528 is similarly close to the Intel Core i5-4690K and Intel Core i7-3770K.

Q: What are the release dates for these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U was released on January 7, 2019. The Intel Xeon D-1528 was released earlier, on October 31, 2015.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies despite sharing the same 14 nm process node. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U is built on the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename, manufactured by GlobalFoundries. The Intel Xeon D-1528 uses the Broadwell architecture with the Broadwell-DE codename, produced by Intel's own fabs.

The AMD part packs 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Intel chip contains 3,200 million transistors on a larger 246 mm² die. This reflects the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U's integrated graphics, which the Xeon D-1528 lacks entirely. The AMD processor includes a Radeon RX Vega 10 GPU, making it a true APU, while the Intel part has no integrated graphics at all.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U uses 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon D-1528 instead features 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 1.5 MB of L3 per core. This means the Intel chip's cache scales with its six cores, whereas the AMD design pools its L3 into a single shared block.

Core and thread counts also diverge. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U provides 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Xeon D-1528 offers 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD part wins every benchmark due to its substantially higher operating frequencies. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U runs at a 2.20 GHz base clock and boosts to 3.80 GHz. The Xeon D-1528 operates at a 1900.00 MHz base clock (1.90 GHz if converted) and boosts to 2.50 GHz.

Memory support shows another split. The AMD processor supports DDR4 memory only, running dual-channel with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. It does not support ECC memory. The Intel Xeon D-1528 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in dual-channel configuration, and it does support ECC memory, a critical feature for server workloads.

PCIe connectivity differs as well. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U provides 8 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon D-1528 offers 24 Gen 3 lanes. This reflects their intended markets: the AMD part targets mobile systems where expansion is limited, while the Intel chip serves server platforms requiring more I/O.

The market segments are explicit in the data. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U is classified as a Mobile processor, while the Xeon D-1528 is designated for Server/Workstation use. Socket types also differ, with the AMD chip using Socket FP5 and the Intel part using BGA 1667. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The production status for both is listed as Active, and both remain available. Their release dates are separated by more than three years, with the Xeon D-1528 arriving in late 2015 and the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U following in early 2019.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but nuanced conclusion. For raw computational throughput in the tested workloads, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U is the stronger performer, winning all six head-to-head comparisons with margins ranging from 2.4% to 3.2%. Its higher clock speeds overcome the Xeon D-1528's two additional cores, and the consistency of the AMD lead across every Cinebench version suggests a genuine performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

However, the intended use cases for these processors could not be more different. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U is a mobile APU with integrated Radeon RX Vega 10 graphics, a 15 W TDP, and 8 PCIe lanes. The Xeon D-1528 is a server processor with a 35 W TDP, 24 PCIe lanes, and ECC memory support. These are not direct competitors in the marketplace; they serve different sockets, different platforms, and different workloads.

For mobile users seeking a compact processor with graphics built in, the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U is the obvious choice based on the recorded performance data. Its 3.80 GHz boost clock and 4 MB of shared L3 cache deliver competitive single-threaded performance, and its benchmark wins confirm it holds its own against a broader server-class part.

For server or workstation deployments where ECC memory, extensive PCIe connectivity, and six physical cores matter more than raw Cinebench scores, the Xeon D-1528 remains the relevant option. Its 12 threads provide parallel throughput capacity, and its 1.5 MB per-core L3 cache allocation suits workloads with high per-thread locality. The fact that it trails in these particular benchmarks does not negate its suitability for its intended role.

The average benchmark scores place both processors within 38 points of each other, and their percentile rankings differ by just one point. These are closely matched parts in the broader CPU landscape, and the choice between them should hinge on platform requirements rather than benchmark bragging rights.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U | Intel Xeon D-1528 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 1900.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 35 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel BGA 1667 |

| Architecture | Zen (Raven Ridge) | Broadwell (Broadwell-DE) |

| Process Node | 14 nm (GlobalFoundries) | 14 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 4,950 million | 3,200 million |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 246 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 1.5 MB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 24 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon RX Vega 10 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2019-01-07 | 2015-10-31 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $320 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |