AMD Ryzen 5 1400 vs Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 5 1400 wins three of four head-to-head tests, while the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 takes one decisive victory. For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput in the most recent Cinebench R23 test, the Xeon Bronze 3106 delivers 4,918 points versus the Ryzen's 3,985 — a 23.4% advantage. However, the Ryzen 5 1400 dominates in Cinebench R15, both single-core (133.75 vs 69, a 48.4% gap) and multi-core (688 vs 495, a 28.1% gap), and also wins Cinebench R23 single-core (832 vs 694, a 16.6% gap). Both processors sit at the 37th percentile among all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 1,422 (Xeon) and 1,410 (Ryzen) — a negligible 0.8% difference overall.

The data suggests the Xeon Bronze 3106 is the choice for workloads that scale with thread count in newer rendering engines, where its 8 cores and 8 threads overcome the Ryzen's higher clock speeds. The Ryzen 5 1400, conversely, wins in every single-threaded test and in the older multi-core benchmark, indicating it holds a substantial per-core efficiency edge. The Ryzen's 65W TDP versus the Xeon's 85W TDP further tilts toward the desktop part for power-sensitive deployments. The Xeon's server/workstation market segment and Intel Socket 3647 platform point to a different intended use case — one where the 23.4% R23 multi-core lead may matter more than the R15 deficits.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 1400 is the clear winner in single-threaded performance across all tested generations. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 133.75 against the Xeon's 69 — a 48.4% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap narrows but remains substantial at 16.6% (832 vs 694). This pattern indicates the Ryzen's 3.40 GHz boost clock, compared to the Xeon's 3.00 GHz, translates directly into faster response in lightly threaded tasks. The Ryzen also wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with 688 points versus 495, a 28.1% margin, despite having half the physical cores (4 vs 8). This suggests that in the R15 workload, the Ryzen's per-core efficiency and higher clocks more than compensate for the core count disadvantage.

The Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 wins only one test, but it is the most recent and demanding: Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 4,918 versus 3,985, a 23.4% lead. This result indicates that the Xeon's 8 physical cores provide a significant advantage in modern multi-threaded rendering workloads that utilize more than 4 cores effectively. The Xeon's 11 MB shared L3 cache, versus the Ryzen's 8 MB, may also contribute to this performance in cache-sensitive multi-core scenarios. The Xeon's 8,000 million transistors versus the Ryzen's 4,800 million reflect a more complex die, although the Ryzen's larger die size (213 mm²) suggests a different transistor density approach.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 uses the Skylake-SP architecture on a 14 nm process fabricated by Intel, with 8 cores and 8 threads — no simultaneous multithreading. It has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 11 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 1400 uses the Zen architecture (Summit Ridge) on a 14 nm process fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with 4 cores and 8 threads via simultaneous multithreading. Its cache hierarchy differs notably: 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3.

The socket and platform targets diverge sharply. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 3647, a server/workstation platform, while the Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4, a desktop platform. The Xeon has no unlocked multiplier, while the Ryzen's multiplier is unlocked. The Ryzen supports dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth; the Xeon's memory bus width is not specified in the data. Both support DDR4 and ECC memory. The Ryzen has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only); the Xeon's PCIe configuration is not listed. The Xeon was released on 2017-07-10, while the Ryzen came earlier on 2017-04-10 — a three-month gap. The Ryzen's production status is "Active," while the Xeon's is not specified.

The transistor counts reveal different scaling strategies: the Xeon packs 8,000 million transistors, while the Ryzen uses 4,800 million on a slightly larger die (213 mm²). The Xeon's L2 cache is double per core (1 MB vs 512 KB), but its L1 is smaller (64 KB vs 96 KB per core). The Ryzen's L3 is 8 MB shared versus the Xeon's 11 MB shared. These differences suggest the Xeon is optimized for server workloads with larger aggregate caches, while the Ryzen balances per-core resources for desktop responsiveness.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 has an average benchmark score of 1,422, slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 1400's 1,410 — a difference of less than 1%.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 1400 have more cores than the Xeon Bronze 3106?

A: No. The Xeon has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Ryzen has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Ryzen achieves equal thread count through simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which CPU wins in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1400 wins both single-core tests. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 133.75 versus the Xeon's 69 (48.4% ahead). In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 832 versus 694 (16.6% ahead).

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 has a TDP of 85W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1400 has a TDP of 65W — a 20W difference favoring the Ryzen for power efficiency.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 and the AMD Ryzen 5 1400 support ECC memory, according to the data.

Q: Which CPU was released earlier?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1400 was released on 2017-04-10, three months before the Intel Xeon Bronze 3106 on 2017-07-10.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest victory in the dataset belongs to the AMD Ryzen 5 1400 in Cinebench R15 single-core. The Ryzen scores 133.75 against the Xeon's 69, a delta of -48.4% from the Xeon's perspective. This is a massive gap that indicates the Ryzen's architecture delivers more than double the per-thread performance in this legacy test. The R15 multi-core test shows a similar pattern, with the Ryzen at 688 versus the Xeon's 495 — a 28.1% deficit for the Xeon. This is particularly notable because the Xeon has twice the physical cores (8 vs 4), yet still loses by nearly a third, suggesting the Ryzen's Zen cores are substantially more efficient per clock in this workload.

The Intel Xeon Bronze 3106's sole win comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 4,918 versus the Ryzen's 3,985 — a 23.4% advantage. This result flips the R15 multi-core outcome, indicating that the R23 workload scales much better with additional physical cores. The Xeon's 8 cores, despite lower clock speeds (2.10 GHz base, 3.00 GHz boost versus the Ryzen's 3.20/3.40 GHz), produce 933 more points. The single-core R23 test shows the Ryzen maintaining its advantage, but the gap narrows to 16.6% (832 vs 694), suggesting that the newer benchmark reduces the per-core penalty for the Xeon's older architecture.

Looking at the overall win count, the Ryzen takes 3 of 4 tests, with the Xeon winning only the most recent multi-core test. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical (1,422 vs 1,410), placing both at the 37th percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rivals for the Xeon include the Intel Core i7-3720QM (1,421, 0.1% delta) and Intel Core i7-3820 (1,424, -0.1%), while the Ryzen's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4460 (1,415, -0.3%) and AMD Ryzen 7 2700U (1,415, -0.4%). These comparisons show both processors are essentially average performers in their respective peer groups.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. The Xeon Bronze 3106 has 8 cores and 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 1400 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for the Xeon and 3.20 GHz for the Ryzen; boost clocks are 3.00 GHz and 3.40 GHz respectively. TDP differs by 20W: 85W for the Xeon, 65W for the Ryzen. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 3647, the Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4.

Cache configurations diverge significantly. The Xeon has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 11 MB shared L3. The Ryzen has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Transistor counts are 8,000 million for the Xeon and 4,800 million for the Ryzen, with the Ryzen's die size listed at 213 mm² (the Xeon's is not specified).

Memory support is DDR4 for both, with ECC support on both. The Ryzen specifies dual-channel memory with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only); the Xeon's memory bus and PCIe details are absent. The Ryzen has an unlocked multiplier; the Xeon does not. Market segments differ: the Xeon targets Server/Workstation, the Ryzen targets Desktop. The Ryzen's production status is "Active," while the Xeon's is not listed. The Ryzen's launch MSRP was $169; the Xeon's is not specified. Release dates are 2017-07-10 for the Xeon and 2017-04-10 for the Ryzen. The Ryzen's part number is YD1400BBM4KAEYD1400BBAEBOX; the Xeon's is SR3GLBX806733106CD8067303561900.