CPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits this matchup into two distinct territories. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X takes six of the eight head-to-head tests, while the Intel Xeon E-2278G wins the remaining two by a wide margin.

In Cinebench workloads, the Threadripper 1900X is consistently ahead. The multicore results show a steady 5.8% advantage across Cinebench R20 (6000 vs 5670) and Cinebench R23 (14286 vs 13502). Even the older Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the AMD chip ahead at 1440 versus 1360, a 5.9% lead. Single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: the Threadripper wins R15 single-core 203 to 192 (5.7% delta), and R20 single-core 846 to 800 (5.8% delta). The R23 single-core gap is identical at 5.8%, with the AMD chip posting 2016 against Intel’s 1906.

The story flips dramatically in Geekbench. The Xeon E-2278G posts a 7354 multicore score versus the Threadripper’s 6588, a 10.4% advantage. The single-core Geekbench gap is even larger: 1633 for Intel versus 1205 for AMD, a 26.2% blowout. This is the single biggest delta in the entire comparison, and it signals a fundamental difference in how the two chips handle that specific workload mix.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical, the Threadripper 1900X averages 4073 while the Xeon E-2278G averages 4052, a 0.5% difference. Both land at the 57th percentile among all CPUs. The nearest-rival lists confirm this parity: the Threadripper’s closest competitor is the Xeon itself at -0.5% delta, and the Xeon’s closest rival is the Threadripper at -0.5% delta. In aggregate, these are equal performers; the divergence only appears when you separate Cinebench from Geekbench.

Where Each One Wins

The Cinebench suite favors AMD across the board. Every single Cinebench run, R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multicore, goes to the Threadripper 1900X with a delta between 5.7% and 5.9%. This makes the AMD chip the clear choice for rendering workloads that scale like Cinebench, particularly those that leverage all 16 threads.

Geekbench tells the opposite story. The Xeon E-2278G wins both Geekbench tests, with a 10.4% multicore lead and a 26.2% single-core lead. The Geekbench single-core result is particularly striking because it dwarfs every other delta in the comparison. Applications that stress single-thread performance with Geekbench-style instruction mixes will see a substantial advantage from the Intel chip.

The use-case split is clean. For threaded rendering and CPU-bound creative workloads modeled after Cinebench, the Threadripper holds a modest but consistent edge. For mixed workloads that resemble Geekbench’s pattern, especially single-threaded responsiveness, the Xeon is the stronger performer. The 180W TDP of the Threadripper versus the 95W TDP of the Xeon also hints at different deployment scenarios, though the data pack does not include power-efficiency benchmarks to quantify that difference.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use a 14 nm process node, but the similarities end there. The Threadripper 1900X is built on AMD’s Zen architecture (codename Zen, generation “Ryzen Threadripper (Zen (Whitehaven))”) and fabricated by GlobalFoundries. It packs 9,600 million transistors across a dual-die design measuring 2x 213 mm². The Xeon E-2278G uses Intel’s Coffee Lake architecture (specifically Coffee Lake-S WS), fabricated by Intel on a single die of 180 mm².

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Threadripper allocates 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3. The Xeon provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. That means the AMD chip has double the L3 capacity and per-core L2, while the Intel chip’s L3 is explicitly shared across all cores.

Memory support is another major divergence. The Threadripper 1900X runs DDR4 in quad-channel mode with 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Xeon E-2278G supports DDR4 but only in dual-channel mode, delivering 42.7 GB/s, exactly half the bandwidth. The Xeon counters with ECC memory support, which the Threadripper lacks. The Xeon also includes integrated HD Graphics P630; the Threadripper has no integrated graphics at all.

PCIe connectivity heavily favors AMD. The Threadripper provides 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, versus 16 lanes for the Xeon. Socket compatibility is also entirely different: the Threadripper uses AMD Socket SP3r2, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1151. The Threadripper has an unlocked multiplier; the Xeon is locked. The Threadripper’s base clock is 3.80 GHz with a 4.00 GHz boost, while the Xeon runs at 3.40 GHz base and boosts to 5.00 GHz, a substantial 1 GHz boost advantage that likely explains its Geekbench single-core dominance.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split decision based on workload priorities. For threaded rendering tasks, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X wins every Cinebench test with a consistent ~5.8% margin, and it does so while offering quad-channel memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s) and 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 16. This makes it the better choice for multi-threaded compute workloads and systems that need extensive expansion or high-bandwidth memory access.

For single-thread-sensitive applications, the Intel Xeon E-2278G is the stronger pick. Its 26.2% Geekbench single-core lead is decisive, and its 5.00 GHz boost clock, a full 1 GHz above the Threadripper’s 4.00 GHz, explains why. The Xeon also brings ECC memory support and integrated graphics, which matters for reliability-focused workstation builds that don’t want a discrete GPU.

The aggregate scores are nearly a tie: 4073 average for AMD versus 4052 for Intel, with both at the 57th percentile. Neither chip is a clear overall winner. Choose the Threadripper 1900X for Cinebench-style rendering and memory bandwidth. Choose the Xeon E-2278G for Geekbench-style single-thread responsiveness and ECC reliability. The Xeon’s 95W TDP also makes it far easier to cool and power than the 180W Threadripper, though the AMD chip’s unlocked multiplier offers overclocking headroom the locked Intel part cannot match.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X averages 4073 across all benchmarks, slightly ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2278G’s 4052. That is a 0.5% difference in favor of the AMD chip.

Q: How large is the Xeon’s single-core Geekbench advantage?

A: The Xeon E-2278G scores 1633 in Geekbench single-core versus 1205 for the Threadripper 1900X, a 26.2% lead. This is the largest delta in any head-to-head test.

Q: Does the Threadripper 1900X win any single-core tests?

A: Yes. The Threadripper wins all three Cinebench single-core tests: R15 (203 vs 192), R20 (846 vs 800), and R23 (2016 vs 1906). Each win is approximately 5.7-5.8%.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each CPU support?

A: The Threadripper 1900X supports quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The Xeon E-2278G supports dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s, exactly half the bandwidth.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2278G supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X does not.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds for each processor?

A: The Xeon E-2278G boosts to 5.00 GHz from a 3.40 GHz base. The Threadripper 1900X boosts to 4.00 GHz from a 3.80 GHz base. The Xeon has a 1 GHz higher boost clock.