CPU Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 and the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 represent two very different approaches to high-core-count desktop computing. The data shows a consistent pattern across all six shared benchmark tests: the AMD part wins every single head-to-head matchup, despite the Intel chip offering nearly double the core count. This outcome highlights fundamental architectural efficiency differences rather than a raw core-count victory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen Threadripper 1920 sweeps the entire Cinebench suite. In the multicore tests, the AMD chip scores 1890 in Cinebench R15 versus 1796 for the Xeon, a 5.2% margin. That advantage carries through Cinebench R20 (7877 vs 7486, +5.2%) and Cinebench R23 (18756 vs 17826, +5.2%). The consistency is striking: the deltaPct is exactly 5.2% in every multicore test, suggesting a stable performance-per-clock advantage rather than workload-specific scaling quirks.

Single-core benchmarks tell the same story, though with slightly more variation. The Threadripper leads by 5.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core (266 vs 253) and by 5.2% in both R20 (1111 vs 1056) and R23 (2647 vs 2516). The Intel Xeon’s higher boost clock of 3.60 GHz versus 3.80 GHz on the AMD part explains part of this gap, but the architecture’s instruction efficiency plays a larger role.

The aggregate numbers reinforce the sweep. The Threadripper 1920 holds an average benchmark score of 5425, while the Xeon E5-2699A v4 sits at 5259. That places the AMD chip 3.2% ahead on average. Both CPUs land in the 60th percentile of all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier overall, but the AMD part does so with 10 fewer cores and 20 fewer threads.

Architecture Differences

The core counts diverge sharply: the Threadripper 1920 packs 12 cores and 24 threads, while the Xeon E5-2699A v4 doubles that to 22 cores and 44 threads. Both use a 14 nm process node, but the foundries differ, GlobalFoundries produces the AMD chip, while Intel fabricates its own Xeon. The transistor counts reflect this: the AMD die contains 9,600 million transistors across two 213 mm² dies, whereas the Intel chip uses 7,200 million transistors on a single 456 mm² die.

Cache hierarchies also differ fundamentally. The Threadripper 1920 allocates 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a 32 MB shared L3 pool. The Xeon E5-2699A v4 provides smaller per-core allocations, 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2, but compensates with a much larger 55 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel design’s larger L3 likely helps feed its 22 cores, yet the benchmark data suggests it cannot overcome the per-core throughput deficit.

Memory subsystems show both similarities and differences. Both platforms support DDR4 memory with quad-channel buses, but the AMD chip achieves 85.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus 76.8 GB/s for the Intel part. The Threadripper also supports ECC memory, while the Xeon does not, a notable inversion, since ECC is typically associated with server-class Xeon parts. PCIe connectivity favors AMD as well: 60 Gen 3 lanes versus 40 Gen 3 lanes for Intel.

The sockets and generations differ completely. The AMD processor uses Socket SP3r2 and belongs to the Ryzen Threadripper 1000 series (Zen, codename Whitehaven). The Intel chip uses Socket 2011-3 and belongs to the Xeon E5 Broadwell-EP generation. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel chip is locked. The Xeon’s launch date is listed as 2016-10-24, and both are end-of-life products.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen Threadripper 1920 wins every benchmark in this comparison, so the use-case split is defined by the magnitude and nature of those wins. For single-threaded workloads, such as legacy applications, lightly threaded design tools, or general desktop responsiveness, the AMD chip’s 5.1–5.2% edge in Cinebench single-core tests makes it the clear choice. The higher 3.80 GHz boost clock and the Zen architecture’s stronger IPC deliver measurable gains.

For multithreaded rendering and compute workloads, the Threadripper 1920 also wins, but the margin is narrower than the core count would suggest. A 22-core Xeon losing to a 12-core part by 5.2% in Cinebench R23 multicore indicates that the Intel chip’s additional cores cannot compensate for lower per-core efficiency and higher synchronization overhead. The AMD part’s higher memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s vs 76.8 GB/s) likely contributes to its scaling in memory-sensitive workloads.

The Xeon E5-2699A v4 still has a role where its specific features matter. Its 55 MB of shared L3 cache can benefit certain cache-resident workloads, and its 40 PCIe lanes, while fewer than the AMD chip’s 60, may suffice for moderate expansion needs. The Intel part also supports ECC memory, which the AMD chip does not, making it suitable for error-sensitive computations despite its benchmark deficit.

The Intel Xeon’s launch MSRP is $4938. The Threadripper 1920 has no listed launch price in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 has 22 cores and 44 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: How does the AMD chip win multicore benchmarks with fewer cores?

A: The Threadripper 1920 wins all three Cinebench multicore tests by 5.2% each (R15: 1890 vs 1796, R20: 7877 vs 7486, R23: 18756 vs 17826). Higher per-core performance and 85.3 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 76.8 GB/s offset the core count disadvantage.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 has 55 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 32 MB on the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 does not.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 averages 5425 points, while the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 averages 5259 points. Both sit in the 60th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which CPU has more PCIe lanes?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 provides 60 Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), versus 40 Gen 3 lanes on the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920 | Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4 |

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

| Cores | 12 | 22 |

| Threads | 24 | 44 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 145 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3r2 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Zen (Whitehaven) | Broadwell (Broadwell-EP) |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,600 million | 7,200 million |

| Die Size | 2x 213 mm² | 456 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 96 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

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

| L3 Cache | 32 MB | 55 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 3, 60 (CPU only) | Gen 3, 40 (CPU only) |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | None listed | $4938 |

| Release Date | Not listed | 2016-10-24 |