AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X vs Intel Xeon E-2378 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database places the Intel Xeon E-2378 ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X in every recorded Cinebench test, with a clean 6-0 win tally. The Intel part wins by a narrow but consistent margin of 2.4% to 2.5% across both single-core and multi-core workloads, which is a modest advantage rather than a generational gap. The Xeon E-2378 achieves an average benchmark score of 4232, while the Threadripper 1900X trails at 4073, a difference of roughly 4%. Both CPUs sit at the 57th percentile among all processors in the database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier overall.

The Xeon E-2378 is the default pick for users who prioritize single-threaded responsiveness and server-class features. It delivers higher Cinebench R23 single-core scores (2065 versus 2016), supports ECC memory, and runs on a 65W TDP, making it far easier to cool and power. The Threadripper 1900X, by contrast, offers a quad-channel memory bus with 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth versus the Xeon's dual-channel 51.2 GB/s, plus 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes against the Xeon's 20 Gen 4 lanes. That makes the AMD part the better choice for memory-bandwidth-heavy tasks or systems needing extensive PCIe expansion, even though it loses every Cinebench contest. The Threadripper also carries an unlocked multiplier, so it can be manually overclocked, while the Xeon is locked. Users building a dense, low-power server should favor the Xeon; users assembling a workstation with heavy I/O demands should look at the Threadripper.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E-2378 belongs to the Xeon E-2300 series, built on Rocket Lake-E architecture using Intel's 14 nm process. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The die measures 276 mm², and the cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 16 MB L3 pool. Memory support is DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, delivering 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The chip supports ECC memory, a critical feature for reliability in server and workstation roles. It provides 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes from the CPU and uses Intel Socket 1200. Its TDP is 65 W, and it launched in September 2021 with a launch MSRP of $362.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X comes from the 1000 series, built on the original Zen architecture (codename Whitehaven) using a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries. It also has 8 cores and 16 threads, but runs at a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The chip is constructed from two dies, each 213 mm², with a combined transistor count of 9,600 million. Cache amounts to 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a larger 32 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 over a quad-channel bus, yielding 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The Threadripper does not support ECC memory. It offers 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, uses AMD Socket SP3r2, and has a TDP of 180 W. It launched in August 2017 with a launch MSRP of $549. The multiplier is unlocked, enabling overclocking, unlike the locked Xeon.

The architectural split is clear: Intel emphasizes higher boost clocks and efficiency, while AMD counters with more memory channels, more PCIe lanes, and a larger L3 cache. The Xeon's 4.80 GHz boost versus the Threadripper's 4.00 GHz boost explains much of the single-core advantage. The Threadripper's quad-channel setup and 60 lanes make it a platform for expansion, but that comes at a steep power cost: 180 W versus 65 W.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E-2378 wins every recorded Cinebench workload. In multi-core tests, the margins are consistent: 1474 versus 1440 in Cinebench R15 (2.4% ahead), 6145 versus 6000 in R20 (2.4% ahead), and 14633 versus 14286 in R23 (2.4% ahead). Single-core results follow the same pattern, with the Xeon leading by 2.5% in R15 (208 versus 203), 2.5% in R20 (867 versus 846), and 2.4% in R23 (2065 versus 2016). The Xeon's advantage comes from its much higher boost clock, which helps both lightly threaded and fully loaded scenarios. Its lower TDP also means it can sustain performance in thermally constrained environments, such as 1U servers or compact workstations.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X does not win any of the head-to-head Cinebench tests, but it holds structural advantages that matter outside those synthetic workloads. The quad-channel memory bus provides 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth, 67% more than the Xeon's 51.2 GB/s, which benefits workloads that stream large datasets. The 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes allow for multiple GPUs, NVMe drives, or network cards without a separate chipset. The larger 32 MB L3 cache, double the Xeon's 16 MB, can improve hit rates in certain database or scientific workloads. The unlocked multiplier is another point in its favor for users who plan to overclock beyond the stock 4.00 GHz boost. The Threadripper also ships with more base clock headroom (3.80 GHz versus 2.60 GHz), which helps in scenarios where boost behavior is limited by cooling.

In practical terms, the Xeon is the better all-around performer in CPU-bound tasks, and the Threadripper is the better platform for memory-heavy or I/O-heavy builds. The data does not show any benchmark where the Threadripper takes the lead, so users who only care about raw Cinebench scores should choose the Xeon. Users who need bandwidth and lanes should consider the Threadripper despite its benchmark deficit.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2378 scores 2065, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X scores 2016. The Xeon leads by 2.4%.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X support ECC memory?

A: No. The database lists ECC memory support as false for the Threadripper 1900X. The Intel Xeon E-2378 lists ECC support as true.

Q: How much memory bandwidth does each CPU provide?

A: The Threadripper 1900X provides 85.3 GB/s over a quad-channel DDR4 bus. The Xeon E-2378 provides 51.2 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR4 bus.

Q: What are the TDP values for these two processors?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2378 has a TDP of 65 W. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X has a TDP of 180 W.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Threadripper 1900X has 60 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. The Xeon E-2378 has 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The Xeon E-2378 has an average benchmark score of 4232. The Threadripper 1900X has an average benchmark score of 4073.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results in the database are entirely one-sided in favor of the Intel Xeon E-2378, but the margins are small. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1474 against the Threadripper's 1440, a delta of 2.4%. The single-core R15 run shows 208 versus 203, a 2.5% lead for Intel. These are the smallest absolute gaps in the set, but they set the pattern for every subsequent test.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon scores 6145 in multi-core, beating the Threadripper's 6000 by 2.4%. In single-core, the Xeon posts 867 versus 846, again a 2.5% advantage. The R23 results repeat the same story: multi-core 14633 versus 14286 (2.4%), single-core 2065 versus 2016 (2.4%). Across all six tests, the Xeon's win margin never exceeds 2.5% and never drops below 2.4%, indicating a stable performance edge rather than a workload-dependent anomaly.

The average benchmark scores reinforce the head-to-head picture. The Xeon E-2378 averages 4232 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Threadripper 1900X averages 4073, putting the Intel part roughly 4% ahead on average. The nearest rivals in the database for the Xeon include the Intel Core i7-1265U (avg 4248, delta -0.4%), the Intel Core i5-12500T (avg 4216, delta 0.4%), the Intel Xeon W-2140B (avg 4272, delta -0.9%), and the Intel Core i5-11500H (avg 4187, delta 1.1%). For the Threadripper, closest competitors are the Intel Core i5-12500TE (avg 4083, delta -0.3%), the Intel Xeon E-2278G (avg 4052, delta 0.5%), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X (avg 4114, delta -1%), and the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS (avg 4121, delta -1.2%). Both CPUs sit in the same percentile tier (57th), meaning the Xeon's edge is real but not enough to change its standing among all processors.

The data also includes a Geekbench result only for the Threadripper: 6588 multi-core and 1205 single-core. No comparable Geekbench scores are recorded for the Xeon, so a direct comparison on that test is not possible. The lack of a Geekbench entry for the Xeon means the head-to-head remains limited to the six Cinebench tests, all of which favor Intel. The Threadripper's best showing is its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 1440, which trails the Xeon by just 34 points, a margin that could be erased by a modest overclock given the unlocked multiplier. However, at stock settings, the recorded data consistently places the Xeon E-2378 ahead.