AMD Ryzen 7 2700 vs Intel Xeon D-1557 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 and Intel Xeon D-1557 occupy different corners of the processor market, yet their aggregate benchmark scores place them within a hair of each other. The Ryzen 7 2700, a desktop Zen+ part, posts an average benchmark score of 2320, landing in the 48th percentile of all CPUs, while the Xeon D-1557, a Broadwell-DE server chip, scores 2282 on average, sitting at the 47th percentile. Despite this near-parity in overall standing, the two processors achieve their results through fundamentally different designs and deliver starkly contrasting performance profiles in the available head-to-head tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher core count?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1557 has 12 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How do the two chips compare in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 scores 1551 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is 95.1% higher than the Xeon D-1557's score of 795.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1557 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 does not.

Q: What is the difference in process node size?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 is built on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries, whereas the Intel Xeon D-1557 uses a 14 nm process from Intel.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, compared to 2.10 GHz for the Intel Xeon D-1557.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 has an unlocked multiplier, but the Intel Xeon D-1557 does not.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two chips is substantial, reflecting their distinct target markets. The AMD Ryzen 7 2700 uses the Zen architecture, specifically the Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge) generation, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 12 nm process. It integrates 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Xeon D-1557 is based on the older Broadwell architecture (Broadwell-DE), built by Intel on a 14 nm process, with 3,200 million transistors packed into a larger 246 mm² die. The smaller process node gives AMD a density advantage, though the Xeon's larger physical die suggests a different design priority.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The Ryzen 7 2700 allocates 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a 16 MB shared L3 cache. The Xeon D-1557 uses a more modest 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but assigns 1.5 MB of L3 per core. With 12 cores, this gives the Xeon a larger total L3 pool, although the per-core shared design differs from AMD's unified L3 approach. The memory controllers reflect their segments as well: the Ryzen 7 2700 supports only DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon D-1557 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 on a dual-channel bus, with no bandwidth figure provided in the data.

PCIe connectivity is another divergence point. The AMD chip provides Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, whereas the Intel Xeon D-1557 offers Gen 3 with 24 CPU lanes, a nod to its server/workstation role requiring more expansion capacity. The Xeon also includes ECC memory support, a critical feature for reliability in server environments, while the Ryzen 7 2700 lacks it. The Xeon's socket is Intel BGA 1667, meaning it is soldered to the board, while the Ryzen 7 2700 uses the socketed AMD Socket AM4, allowing for user replacement and overclocking via its unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 in raw compute performance, at least in the tests recorded. It wins both available head-to-head benchmarks, with a 95.1% advantage in Cinebench R15 multi-core and a 43.8% advantage in Cinebench R15 single-core. This suggests that for desktop workloads such as gaming, content creation, and general productivity where single-threaded speed and high clock rates matter, the Ryzen 7 2700 is the clear choice. Its 4.10 GHz boost clock and 3.20 GHz base clock dwarf the Xeon's 2.10 GHz boost and 1.50 GHz base, giving it a massive frequency advantage that translates directly into the benchmark wins.

The Intel Xeon D-1557, however, wins on architectural attributes that the benchmarks do not capture. Its 12 cores and 24 threads provide more parallel throughput potential in heavily threaded server workloads, even if the Cinebench R15 multi-core score suggests that the Ryzen 7 2700's higher clocks more than compensate in that specific test. The Xeon's ECC memory support and 24 PCIe lanes make it suitable for always-on server or network appliance duty, where data integrity and expansion are paramount. Its lower 45 W TDP, versus the Ryzen's 65 W, also positions it for power-constrained embedded or storage environments. The Ryzen 7 2700 is the better performer where speed is the metric, but the Xeon D-1557 is the better fit where stability, memory correction, and connectivity are the priorities.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. Core and thread counts diverge: the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon D-1557 has 12 cores and 24 threads. Clock speeds are dramatically different, with the Ryzen 7 2700 running at 3.20 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost, versus the Xeon D-1557's 1.50 GHz base and 2.10 GHz boost. The TDP also differs, with the AMD chip rated at 65 W and the Intel chip at 45 W, making the Xeon the more power-efficient part on paper despite having more cores.

Process technology and physical characteristics vary as well. The Ryzen 7 2700 uses a 12 nm node from GlobalFoundries, housing 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The Xeon D-1557 uses Intel's 14 nm node, with 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. Cache configurations are distinct: the Ryzen 7 2700 offers 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core with a 16 MB shared L3, while the Xeon D-1557 provides 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 1.5 MB L3 per core.

Memory support separates them further. The AMD part supports only DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 46.9 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. The Intel part supports both DDR3 and DDR4 on a dual-channel bus, with ECC enabled and no bandwidth figure listed. PCIe connectivity differs, with the Ryzen 7 2700 offering Gen 3 with 16 lanes versus the Xeon D-1557's Gen 3 with 24 lanes. The socket types are incompatible, with AMD using Socket AM4 and Intel using BGA 1667. Finally, the Ryzen 7 2700 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, while the Xeon D-1557 is locked. The release dates also differ, with the Ryzen 7 2700 launching on 2018-04-18 and the Xeon D-1557 on 2016-02-23.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is limited to two Cinebench R15 tests, but the results are decisive. In the multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen 7 2700 scores 1551 against the Intel Xeon D-1557's 795, a delta of 95.1%. This means the AMD chip nearly doubles the Xeon's output in this threaded workload. The Xeon's 12 cores and 24 threads cannot overcome its severely limited 1.50 GHz base and 2.10 GHz boost clocks, while the Ryzen 7 2700's 8 cores and 16 threads run at 3.20 GHz and 4.10 GHz respectively. The clock speed advantage is the dominant factor here, demonstrating that for this particular Cinebench version, higher frequency trumps additional cores.

The single-core test shows a similar but less extreme gap. The Ryzen 7 2700 scores 161, while the Xeon D-1557 scores 112, giving AMD a 43.8% lead. This result is expected given the frequency disparity, but it also reflects the architectural efficiency of the Zen+ core versus the older Broadwell design. The Ryzen 7 2700's single-core performance is 49 points higher, a substantial margin that would be felt in any latency-sensitive or lightly threaded application.

Notably, the Intel Xeon D-1557 has additional benchmark entries that the Ryzen 7 2700 lacks, including Cinebench R20 and R23 results. The Xeon scores 3314 in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 467 in single-core, plus 7892 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1114 in single-core. These numbers are not directly comparable to the Ryzen's R15 scores, but they provide context for the Xeon's overall capability. The Ryzen 7 2700's aggregate average benchmark score of 2320 is slightly higher than the Xeon's 2282, reinforcing the notion that despite the Xeon's core advantage, the Ryzen's clock speed and architecture yield better real-world performance in the measured tests. The Ryzen 7 2700 wins 2 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Xeon D-1557 wins none.