CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5620 and AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B are two processors from different eras and market segments, yet their benchmark scores place them in a statistical tie. The Xeon E5620 is an end-of-life server/workstation part from Intel’s Westmere generation, while the Ryzen Embedded V1202B is an active desktop-focused chip built on AMD’s Zen architecture. Despite a four-year gap in release dates and significant architectural differences, the data shows they deliver nearly identical performance in Cinebench tests, with the Intel part winning all five head-to-head matchups by margins of 0.1% to 0.6%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5620 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B has 2 cores and 4 threads. The Xeon’s Hyper-Threading provides double the logical threads of the Ryzen part.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon E5620 has an average benchmark score of 1029, while the Ryzen V1202B scores 1027. This places them 0.2% apart in the nearestRivals data, with both sitting at the 28th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the most significant difference in memory support?

A: The Xeon E5620 supports DDR3 with a triple-channel memory bus and ECC memory, whereas the Ryzen V1202B supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and no ECC support.

Q: Which chip includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B includes Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E5620 has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: What is the biggest single-core performance gap in the head-to-head tests?

A: In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Xeon E5620 scores 177 against the Ryzen’s 176, a 0.6% delta, the largest margin of any benchmark in the comparison.

Q: Which processor is still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B is listed as Active, while the Intel Xeon E5620 is marked End-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon E5620 is built on the Westmere-EP architecture using a 32 nm process at Intel’s foundry, packing 1,170 million transistors into a 239 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B uses the Zen architecture (codenamed “Great Horned Owl”) fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process, with 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The transistor count difference is stark, the AMD chip has over four times as many transistors on a slightly smaller die, reflecting the newer process node and denser design.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Xeon provides 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen offers 128 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 2 MB of shared L3. The Xeon’s 12 MB L3 cache is six times larger than the Ryzen’s 2 MB, which helps compensate for its older architecture and slower clock speeds. The Ryzen’s per-core L1 and L2 caches are double the size of the Xeon’s.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The Xeon has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 2.67 GHz. The Ryzen starts at 2.30 GHz but boosts to 3.20 GHz, a 0.53 GHz higher peak frequency. The Ryzen’s boost advantage is partially offset by its fewer cores, but the higher per-core frequency is a key architectural benefit for single-threaded workloads.

Memory and platform features diverge sharply. The Xeon uses DDR3 with a triple-channel memory bus and ECC support, targeting server reliability. The Ryzen uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and no ECC, reflecting its desktop embedded focus. The Xeon uses PCIe Gen 2, while the Ryzen has no PCIe version listed. The Ryzen includes Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics; the Xeon has none. Sockets differ completely: Intel Socket 1366 for the Xeon versus AMD Socket FP5 for the Ryzen.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5620 wins in multi-threaded scenarios due to its 4-core/8-thread configuration. Across all five Cinebench tests, it takes the top score, including a 301 vs 300 win in Cinebench R15 multicore and a 1255 vs 1253 win in R20 multicore. The Xeon’s 12 MB shared L3 cache also gives it an edge in workloads that benefit from large pooled cache, such as database queries or virtualized server tasks. Its ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive server environments where data integrity is critical.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B wins in efficiency and platform integration. Its 15 W TDP is a fraction of the Xeon’s 80 W TDP, making it suitable for fanless or low-power embedded systems. The integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics eliminates the need for a separate GPU, which is a decisive advantage for compact desktop or thin-client applications. The Ryzen’s higher boost clock of 3.20 GHz provides better per-core burst performance, which can help in lightly threaded tasks even though the benchmark data shows the Xeon edging ahead in single-core tests.

The Ryzen also benefits from DDR4 memory support, offering newer memory technology with higher potential bandwidth per channel, although the Xeon’s triple-channel configuration partially compensates. For workloads that are latency-sensitive and benefit from the larger L3 cache, the Xeon is preferable; for power-constrained or graphics-required applications, the Ryzen is the clear choice.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5620 | AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.67 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| TDP | 80 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1366 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Westmere-EP | Zen |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,170 million | 4,950 million |

| Die Size | 239 mm² | 210 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 128 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 2 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Vega 3 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2010-03-15 | 2018-02-20 |

The TDP difference is the most dramatic specification gap: the Ryzen draws 65 W less power than the Xeon. The process node advantage is also notable, with 14 nm versus 32 nm, enabling the Ryzen’s higher transistor count despite a smaller die.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a remarkably consistent pattern: the Intel Xeon E5620 wins every test, but by margins so small they are effectively negligible. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Xeon scores 301 against the Ryzen’s 300, a 0.3% delta. The R20 multicore test shows 1255 vs 1253, a 0.2% difference. R20 single-core yields 177 vs 176, the largest delta at 0.6%. R23 multicore shows 2989 vs 2985, a 0.1% margin, and R23 single-core is 422 vs 421, a 0.2% gap.

The Xeon wins all five tests, giving it a 5-0 record in winsA versus winsB. The average benchmark scores reinforce this, the Xeon’s 1029 average is 0.2% higher than the Ryzen’s 1027. The nearestRivals data confirms the tie: the Xeon is 0.2% above the Ryzen, while the Ryzen is 0.2% below the Xeon.

These margins are well within normal run-to-run variance for Cinebench tests. A 0.1% to 0.6% difference translates to a single point in most tests, 301 vs 300, 177 vs 176, which is statistically insignificant. The data suggests that for pure CPU rendering performance, these two processors are functionally identical despite their architectural differences.

The Ryzen’s higher boost clock of 3.20 GHz does not translate into a single-core win against the Xeon’s 2.67 GHz boost. This indicates that the Xeon’s larger L3 cache and older but well-optimized Westmere architecture hold their own against the newer Zen design in this benchmark suite. The Xeon’s 12 MB L3 cache appears to compensate for its 0.53 GHz lower boost frequency.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but counterintuitive conclusion: the Intel Xeon E5620 and AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B are performance equals in Cinebench workloads, with the Xeon winning every head-to-head test by margins between 0.1% and 0.6%. The Xeon’s advantage comes from its 4-core/8-thread configuration and 12 MB L3 cache, which offset the Ryzen’s higher boost clock and newer architecture.

Choose the Intel Xeon E5620 if you need multi-threaded throughput, ECC memory support, or server-grade reliability. Its 80 W TDP and triple-channel DDR3 memory make it suitable for workstation or server builds where power efficiency is secondary to raw thread count and cache capacity. The 5-0 benchmark sweep, while narrow, gives the Xeon a consistent edge in every measured test.

Choose the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B if power consumption, integrated graphics, or modern platform features matter more than benchmark margins. The 15 W TDP is a 65 W reduction from the Xeon, enabling passive cooling and compact embedded designs. The Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics and DDR4 memory support provide capabilities the Xeon simply lacks. For desktop or embedded systems where the GPU is included and power is a constraint, the Ryzen is the logical pick despite losing all five benchmarks.

The release dates tell a story of progress: the Xeon launched in March 2010, the Ryzen in February 2018. Eight years of architectural advancement, from 32 nm to 14 nm, from 1,170 million to 4,950 million transistors, from DDR3 to DDR4, resulted in a processor that matches the older chip’s performance while consuming less than a fifth of the power. The Ryzen’s 28th percentile ranking matches the Xeon’s exactly, confirming that generational efficiency gains do not always translate into raw performance gains in every workload.