AMD Ryzen 9 4900H vs Intel Xeon E-2278GE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors along clear lines. The Intel Xeon E-2278GE takes three of the four recorded head-to-head wins, while the AMD Ryzen 9 4900H claims one decisive victory. The Intel part dominates in Cinebench R23, both in single-core and multi-core workloads. Its single-core R23 score of 1922 versus the AMD’s 1294 represents a 48.5% advantage, the largest margin in the entire comparison. In R23 multi-core, Intel leads 13619 to 11604, a 17.4% gap. The Xeon also edges out the Ryzen in the R15 single-core test, though the scores are identical at 193 for both, with the database awarding the win to Intel based on the recorded delta of 0%.

The AMD Ryzen 9 4900H wins only one head-to-head test: Cinebench R15 multi-core. Here it scores 1926.5 against Intel’s 1372, a 28.8% deficit for the Xeon. This is a substantial reversal. The R15 multi-core test appears to favor the AMD architecture heavily, while the newer R23 multi-core test swings just as heavily toward Intel. The pattern suggests workload-specific scaling differences rather than a universal performance hierarchy.

Beyond the head-to-head entries, the database includes additional benchmarks for each chip that are not directly compared. The Intel Xeon has R20 scores of 5719 multi-core and 807 single-core. The AMD Ryzen has Geekbench scores of 6596 multi-core and 1309 single-core. These numbers further illustrate that the two processors excel in different test families. The Xeon’s average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 3939, placing it at the 57th percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen’s average is 3820, at the 56th percentile. Both sit near the middle of the overall CPU distribution, but the Xeon holds a slight edge in aggregate.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design philosophies. Intel’s Xeon E-2278GE uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS variant, built on Intel’s 14 nm process with a die size of 180 mm². AMD’s Ryzen 9 4900H uses Zen 2, codenamed Renoir, built on TSMC’s 7 nm process with a die size of 156 mm² and 9,800 million transistors. The process node difference is significant: 14 nm versus 7 nm means AMD packs more transistors into a smaller area.

Both processors have 8 cores and 16 threads, with identical base clocks of 3.30 GHz. The Intel boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the AMD boosts to 4.40 GHz. The Xeon carries a TDP of 80 watts, while the Ryzen is rated at 54 watts. Cache layouts differ notably. Intel provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. AMD matches the L1 size at 64 KB per core but doubles L2 to 512 KB per core, while halving shared L3 to 8 MB. The AMD’s larger L2 cache likely contributes to its R15 multi-core strength.

Memory support also diverges. Intel supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel access and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. AMD supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4, also dual-channel, with a higher bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. ECC memory is available on the Intel Xeon but not on the AMD Ryzen. PCIe connectivity differs: Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD lists Gen 3 without a specific lane count. Integrated graphics are present on both: Intel’s UHD Graphics P630 versus AMD’s Radeon Graphics 512SP.

The market segments diverge sharply. Intel positions the Xeon for Server/Workstation use, while AMD targets Mobile with the Ryzen 9 4900H. Intel’s socket is Socket 1151, AMD uses Socket FP6. The Intel part is end-of-life, released in June 2019, while the AMD part remains active, released in March 2020. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test delivers the AMD’s only head-to-head win. The Ryzen 9 4900H scores 1926.5, while the Xeon E-2278GE scores 1372. The delta is -28.8% from Intel’s perspective, meaning the AMD outperforms by roughly 40% in this specific workload. This is the largest multi-core gap in either direction across the recorded tests. The R15 test appears to stress the AMD’s larger L2 cache and 7 nm design effectively.

Cinebench R15 single-core results are identical: both score 193. The database records Intel as the winner because the delta is 0%, but this is effectively a tie. Neither processor shows a measurable advantage in this legacy single-threaded test.

Cinebench R23 multi-core reverses the R15 result decisively. Intel scores 13619, AMD scores 11604, giving Intel a 17.4% lead. The Xeon’s higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus 4.40 GHz likely plays a role here. The R23 workload scales better with Intel’s architecture, despite the AMD’s newer process node.

Cinebench R23 single-core shows the largest margin of any test. Intel scores 1922, AMD scores 1294, a 48.5% advantage for the Xeon. This is a striking difference. The AMD’s single-core performance in R23 is significantly weaker than its R15 single-core score would suggest. The Intel chip’s per-core efficiency in this modern workload is far ahead.

The overall win count is 3 for Intel and 1 for AMD. However, the AMD’s sole victory is substantial, and the R15 multi-core result indicates that the Ryzen is not universally slower. The benchmarks suggest that Intel holds a clear lead in newer Cinebench versions and in single-threaded tasks, while AMD wins in one specific multi-threaded legacy test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GE has an average benchmark score of 3939, while the AMD Ryzen 9 4900H averages 3820. The Xeon sits at the 57th percentile of all CPUs, and the Ryzen sits at the 56th percentile.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: Both processors have 8 cores and 16 threads. Their base clocks are identical at 3.30 GHz. The Intel boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the AMD boosts to 4.40 GHz.

Q: What is the largest single benchmark margin between them?

A: The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel scores 1922 versus AMD’s 1294, a 48.5% advantage for the Xeon. The second-largest margin is in R15 multi-core, where AMD leads by 28.8%.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 9 4900H win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Ryzen wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with a score of 1926.5 against Intel’s 1372. This is a 28.8% deficit for the Intel chip.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GE supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 4900H does not list ECC support in the database.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 4900H has a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon E-2278GE has 42.7 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory, but AMD also supports LPDDR4 in addition to DDR4.

The Verdict

The data points to distinct use cases. The Intel Xeon E-2278GE is the stronger performer in modern multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 13619 is 17.4% ahead of the Ryzen, and its R23 single-core score of 1922 is 48.5% ahead. For tasks that rely on current Cinebench versions, video encoding, or other software optimized for newer instruction sets, the Xeon is the clear choice from the recorded numbers.

The AMD Ryzen 9 4900H wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core by a wide margin, scoring 1926.5 versus 1372. This suggests that legacy multi-threaded applications, particularly those from the R15 era, may run better on the Ryzen. The AMD also has a higher memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s and a lower TDP at 54 watts, which matters for thermally constrained environments. However, its R23 single-core score of 1294 is far behind Intel, indicating a significant weakness in modern single-threaded tasks.

For a workstation or server environment where ECC memory and Intel’s newer multi-core performance are priorities, the Xeon E-2278GE is the better fit. It also has a higher boost clock and a larger shared L3 cache. For a mobile platform where power efficiency and legacy multi-threaded performance matter, the Ryzen 9 4900H holds advantages. The Ryzen’s active production status versus Intel’s end-of-life status is another consideration for long-term availability.

Neither chip dominates entirely. The Xeon wins three benchmarks, the Ryzen wins one. The average scores are close, with Intel at 3939 and AMD at 3820. The percentile ranks are nearly identical at 57 and 56. The choice depends on whether the workload resembles R23 (favor Intel) or R15 multi-core (favor AMD). The database shows a real trade-off, not a one-sided result.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key fields. The Intel Xeon E-2278GE uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process with a 180 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 9 4900H uses Zen 2 on a 7 nm process with a 156 mm² die and 9,800 million transistors. The boost clocks differ: Intel reaches 4.70 GHz, AMD reaches 4.40 GHz. TDP ratings are 80 watts for Intel and 54 watts for AMD.

Cache configurations vary. Intel has 256 KB of L2 per core and 16 MB of shared L3. AMD has 512 KB of L2 per core and 8 MB of shared L3. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core. Memory support differs: Intel supports DDR4 only, AMD supports DDR4 and LPDDR4. Memory bandwidth is 42.7 GB/s for Intel and 51.2 GB/s for AMD. ECC memory is supported on Intel but not on AMD.

PCIe specifications show Intel with Gen 3 and 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD lists Gen 3 without lane count. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics P630 on Intel and Radeon Graphics 512SP on AMD. The market segments are Server/Workstation for Intel and Mobile for AMD. Sockets are Socket 1151 for Intel and Socket FP6 for AMD. Production status is end-of-life for Intel and active for AMD. Release dates are June 2019 for Intel and March 2020 for AMD. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $519; no MSRP is recorded for AMD. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.