AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U vs Intel Xeon E-2246G Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2246G and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U are fundamentally different processors aimed at opposite ends of the computing spectrum—one a legacy workstation part, the other a modern mobile chip. Benchmark data reveals a clear split: the Xeon dominates in most modern tests, while the Ryzen takes decisive wins in older Cinebench versions. The Xeon secures four of six head-to-head benchmark victories, but the Ryzen’s two wins are substantial, creating a nuanced picture that depends heavily on workload and software generation.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R15, where the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U crushes the Intel Xeon E-2246G. In the multicore test, the Ryzen scores 1756 against the Xeon’s 1181, a massive 32.7% advantage. The single-core R15 result is similarly lopsided: 229 versus 166, a 27.5% lead for AMD. These are the largest deltas in the entire comparison, and they suggest that in older, less optimized workloads, the Ryzen’s architectural efficiency shines through dramatically.

However, the tables turn completely in the newer Cinebench R23 tests. The Xeon E-2246G posts a multicore score of 11720, beating the Ryzen’s 10095 by 16.1%. The single-core R23 result also favors Intel: 1654 against 1441, a 14.8% margin. This reversal indicates that the Xeon’s higher boost clock and mature software optimization for its architecture give it a decisive edge in modern rendering tasks. The gap is significant enough that users running current Cinebench versions would see a clear performance difference favoring Intel.

Geekbench results continue the Intel trend, though with smaller margins. The Xeon leads in multicore with 5988 versus 5661, a 5.8% advantage. Single-core Geekbench shows a 4% lead for Intel, at 1613 versus 1551. These are more moderate wins, but they reinforce the pattern: the Xeon E-2246G is the stronger performer in contemporary benchmarks, while the Ryzen’s advantage is confined to legacy Cinebench R15. Overall, the data shows the Xeon winning four benchmarks and the Ryzen winning two, but the AMD victories are by much larger percentages than Intel’s, making the overall performance comparison closer than the win count suggests.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two CPUs is generational and fundamental. The Intel Xeon E-2246G is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS variant, using a 14 nm process node manufactured by Intel. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads, with a die size of 154 mm². In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Barcelo-R, on a much more advanced 7 nm process from TSMC. The Ryzen has 8 cores and 16 threads, housed in a larger 180 mm² die that contains 10,700 million transistors.

Cache configurations also differ notably. Both share the same 64 KB L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache doubles on the AMD side: 512 KB per core versus 256 KB on the Intel. The L3 cache is also larger on the Ryzen, with 16 MB shared versus 12 MB shared on the Xeon. These cache advantages help explain the Ryzen’s strong showing in Cinebench R15, where lower-latency access to more data can matter more than raw clock speeds.

Clock speeds tell the opposite story. The Xeon E-2246G has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U starts at just 2.00 GHz and boosts to 4.50 GHz. The Intel chip’s higher clocks are a key reason it wins the newer benchmarks that scale better with frequency. Power consumption is wildly different: the Xeon is rated at 80W TDP, while the Ryzen sips just 15W. This makes the AMD part a mobile-focused chip, while the Intel is a server/workstation processor. The integrated graphics also differ, with Intel’s HD Graphics P630 versus AMD’s Radeon Graphics (Vega 8), though neither is a gaming powerhouse.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E-2246G wins where modern software leverages high clock speeds and established x86 optimizations. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11720 is 16.1% higher than the Ryzen’s, and the single-core R23 result is 14.8% better. Geekbench also favors Intel, with a 5.8% multicore and 4% single-core advantage. This makes the Xeon the better choice for current-generation rendering, 3D modeling, and general productivity tasks that use recent benchmark versions. The data suggests that if you are running software updated within the last few years, the Intel chip will deliver measurably more performance.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U wins decisively in older workloads, as evidenced by Cinebench R15. Its multicore score of 1756 is 32.7% higher than the Xeon’s, and the single-core score of 229 is 27.5% higher. This is a huge margin that cannot be ignored. For users stuck on legacy applications that are not updated frequently, the Ryzen offers substantially better performance. Additionally, the Ryzen’s 8 cores and 16 threads versus the Xeon’s 6 cores and 12 threads give it a structural advantage in heavily threaded workloads that are not clock-bound. The Ryzen also achieves this with a fraction of the power draw, making it ideal for thermally constrained environments.

Specification Differences

The core specifications diverge sharply, reflecting their different market positions. The Intel Xeon E-2246G has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U has 8 cores and 16 threads—a 33% increase in core count. Base clocks are dramatically different: 3.60 GHz on Intel versus 2.00 GHz on AMD, a 1.6 GHz gap. Boost clocks are closer, with Intel at 4.80 GHz and AMD at 4.50 GHz. The TDP difference is enormous: 80W for the Xeon versus 15W for the Ryzen, a 65W gap that speaks to the AMD chip’s mobile efficiency.

Process node and foundry also differ, with Intel using its own 14 nm node and AMD using TSMC’s 7 nm process. The Ryzen’s die is larger at 180 mm² versus 154 mm², and it packs 10,700 million transistors compared to the Xeon, which has no transistor count listed in the data. Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s on Intel, though both support DDR4 and run dual-channel. Both CPUs support ECC memory, a rarity that makes them both viable for workstation use. PCIe support is identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The socket differs—Intel Socket 1151 for the Xeon, AMD Socket FP6 for the Ryzen—making them incompatible with each other’s platforms. The Xeon is end-of-life, released in 2019 with a launch MSRP of $311, while the Ryzen is active and was released in 2023.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2246G has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Why does the Ryzen win Cinebench R15 but lose Cinebench R23?

A: The Ryzen scores 1756 in R15 multicore versus 1181 for the Xeon, a 32.7% win. In R23, the Xeon reverses the result with 11720 versus 10095, a 16.1% lead. This likely reflects better optimization for the Xeon’s architecture in newer software versions.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2246G boosts to 4.80 GHz, which is 0.30 GHz higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U’s 4.50 GHz boost.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E-2246G and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U support ECC memory, making them suitable for error-sensitive workloads.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2246G has a TDP of 80W, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U has a TDP of 15W, a 65W difference that highlights the Ryzen’s mobile efficiency.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 12 MB on the Intel Xeon E-2246G.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear choice based on your workload and platform. The Intel Xeon E-2246G is the better performer for modern applications, winning Cinebench R23 multicore by 16.1% and single-core by 14.8%, plus Geekbench multicore by 5.8% and single-core by 4%. If you are running current software, the Xeon delivers higher scores across the board. Its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz and lower L3 cache latency appear to give it an edge in optimized, newer code. This makes it the pick for a workstation that runs up-to-date rendering or productivity suites, especially given its ECC memory support and server-grade positioning.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U is the winner for legacy workloads and efficiency. Its Cinebench R15 multicore score is 32.7% higher and single-core 27.5% higher, which is a massive advantage in older software. It also offers more cores and threads—8 versus 6—and a larger L3 cache, which helps in certain multi-threaded scenarios. The 15W TDP versus 80W makes it the only sensible choice for a laptop or compact system where power and heat are constraints. If your toolchain has not been updated in years, the Ryzen will feel significantly faster. However, its benchmark average score of 3456 sits just below the Xeon’s 3492, and its 54th percentile versus the Xeon’s 55th shows they are statistically close overall. Choose the Xeon for modern performance, the Ryzen for legacy speed and portability.