CPU Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2278GE and AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 are both 8-core, 16-thread processors, but they target very different operating envelopes. Benchmark data from Cinebench across R15, R20, and R23 shows a consistent, albeit narrow, victory for the Intel part in every single test. The Xeon E-2278GE wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with deltaPct values ranging from 1.6% to 1.7%. The AMD part is clearly competitive in raw throughput, but the Intel processor maintains a small, repeatable edge in both single-core and multi-core workloads, making it the faster chip in purely computational terms.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data is remarkably consistent across all three Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Xeon E-2278GE scores 1372 against the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718's 1350, a 1.6% advantage. The single-core R15 result mirrors this exactly: 193 for Intel versus 190 for AMD, again a 1.6% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Intel part achieves 5719 multicore points, while the AMD chip scores 5626, a 1.7% difference. In R20 single-core, the gap is 807 to 794, which is a 1.6% edge for Intel.

The most modern test, Cinebench R23, shows the same story. The Intel Xeon E-2278GE posts a multicore score of 13619, compared to the AMD's 13396, a 1.7% delta. In R23 single-core, Intel leads with 1922 points versus 1891, a 1.6% margin. No benchmark in the provided data set shows a win for the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718. The Intel processor is ahead in every discipline, though the margin is never more than 2%. This suggests that while the AMD part is not far behind, the Intel architecture consistently extracts slightly more performance from the same core and thread count.

The average benchmark score reinforces this assessment. The Intel Xeon E-2278GE has an average benchmark score of 3939, which places it in the 57th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 averages 3875, landing in the 56th percentile. The difference in average score is 64 points, a small but consistent gap. When looking at nearest rivals, the Intel part is 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS and 0.8% behind the Intel Core i7-6900K. The AMD V2718, meanwhile, is 1.3% behind the Ryzen 9 5900HS and 1.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2286M. These external comparisons position both chips in a similar performance tier, but the Intel part edges out the AMD in direct competition.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E-2278GE wins in every measurable performance category. It is faster in single-core tasks, as shown by its consistent 1.6% lead in R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests. This makes it the better choice for workloads that rely on low-latency, high-frequency execution, such as lightly threaded applications or tasks with strict per-core performance requirements. Its boost clock of 4.70 GHz, compared to the AMD's 4.15 GHz, supports this advantage in frequency-sensitive scenarios.

In multi-core workloads, the Intel part also wins, with a 1.6% to 1.7% lead across all three Cinebench versions. This means for fully threaded rendering, video encoding, or scientific computing tasks, the Xeon E-2278GE will finish the job slightly faster. However, the margin is thin. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 is not a clear loser in any workload category; it is simply a slightly slower performer across the board. The data does not show any test where the AMD chip has a distinct advantage, whether in memory bandwidth or any other measured metric.

The AMD part's claim to a "win" is not in benchmark scores but in its operating characteristics, which are not directly measured by Cinebench. Its 10W TDP, versus the Intel's 80W TDP, is a massive difference in power efficiency. For fanless or passively cooled embedded systems, or applications where power draw is a hard constraint, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 is the only viable option. The benchmark results are nearly equivalent, but the power envelope is not.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The Intel Xeon E-2278GE is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-S WS variant, using a 14 nm process node from Intel. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process. This process difference is significant; the 7 nm node allows AMD to pack 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, while Intel's 14 nm process yields a 180 mm² die with an unspecified transistor count.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Intel part has 256 KB of L2 cache per core, while AMD doubles that to 512 KB per core. The L3 cache is where Intel takes a clear lead: 16 MB shared on the Xeon versus 8 MB shared on the Ryzen Embedded. This larger L3 cache likely contributes to the Intel part's slight performance edge in the Cinebench tests, as it can hold more working set data closer to the cores.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, with dual-channel buses, but the bandwidth figures differ. The Intel chip has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the AMD part reaches 51.2 GB/s. Despite having higher theoretical memory bandwidth, the AMD chip still loses in computational benchmarks, suggesting that the Intel architecture is more efficient at utilizing its available bandwidth for compute tasks. Both support ECC memory, a key feature for embedded and workstation reliability. PCIe connectivity also differs: Intel provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD offers Gen 3 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics are present on both, with Intel's UHD Graphics P630 and AMD's Radeon Graphics 448SP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GE has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718's boost clock of 4.15 GHz.

Q: How much larger is the L3 cache on the Intel part?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GE has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, which is double the 8 MB shared L3 cache found on the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GE has a TDP of 80W, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 has a TDP of just 10W, making the AMD part significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278GE has an average benchmark score of 3939, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718's average score of 3875.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E-2278GE and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor is currently in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 is marked as "Active" in production status, while the Intel Xeon E-2278GE is marked as "End-of-life".

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the Intel Xeon E-2278GE and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718:

• Base Clock: Intel 3.30 GHz vs AMD 1700.00 MHz (1.70 GHz)
• Boost Clock: Intel 4.70 GHz vs AMD 4.15 GHz
• TDP: Intel 80W vs AMD 10W
• Socket: Intel Socket 1151 vs AMD Socket FP6
• Architecture: Coffee Lake vs Zen 2
• Codename: Coffee Lake-S WS vs Renoir
• Generation: Xeon E (Coffee Lake) vs Ryzen Embedded (Zen 2 (Renoir))
• Process Node: 14 nm vs 7 nm
• Foundry: Intel vs TSMC
• Transistors: Not specified vs 9,800 million
• Die Size: 180 mm² vs 156 mm²
• L2 Cache: 256 KB (per core) vs 512 KB (per core)
• L3 Cache: 16 MB (shared) vs 8 MB (shared)
• Memory Bandwidth: 42.7 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) vs Gen 3, 20 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics P630 vs Radeon Graphics 448SP
• Market Segment: Server/Workstation vs Desktop
• Production Status: End-of-life vs Active
• Release Date: 2019-06-10 vs 2020-11-09
• Launch MSRP: $519 vs Not specified
• Part Number: SRGDY vs 100-000000242

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E-2278GE outperforms the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 in every Cinebench test, from R15 to R23, in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The margins are consistent, ranging from 1.6% to 1.7%, and the Intel part holds a higher average benchmark score (3939 vs 3875) and a higher percentile ranking (57th vs 56th). For any application where raw CPU throughput is the sole criterion, the Intel Xeon E-2278GE is the superior choice.

However, the data also reveals a critical differentiator that has nothing to do with compute performance: power consumption. The Intel part consumes 80W, while the AMD part consumes only 10W. This eightfold difference in TDP is enormous. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 delivers nearly the same performance, within 2% in all tests, while drawing a fraction of the power. For embedded systems, fanless designs, battery-powered devices, or any deployment where heat dissipation and power budgets are paramount, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 is the logical pick. It offers 8 cores and 16 threads with ECC memory support in a 10W package, which is a unique combination in this data set.

The Intel Xeon E-2278GE also carries a launch MSRP of $519, while the AMD part has no specified launch price, but pricing is not the deciding factor here. The decision hinges on the operating environment. If you can supply 80W of power and sufficient cooling, the Intel chip will give you a small but consistent performance lead. If you need a low-power, actively produced processor that is still capable of high multi-threaded throughput, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 is the data-backed choice. The Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is active, which may influence long-term availability. In short: pick Intel for maximum benchmark performance, pick AMD for maximum efficiency. The performance gap is negligible; the power gap is not.