AMD Ryzen 3 2200U vs Intel Xeon E5540 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a clear split between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U holds the sole head-to-head benchmark victory, taking the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with a score of 312 against the Intel Xeon E5540’s 240, a 23.1% margin. The Ryzen 3 2200U also holds the advantage in overall average benchmark score, posting 805 compared to the Xeon’s 820, though that difference is small and both processors sit at the 22nd percentile among all CPUs. Despite the Xeon’s higher average, the head-to-head data favors the Ryzen 3 2200U, and it does so with significantly lower power consumption.

The Intel Xeon E5540 is a server and workstation part from 2009, built on a 45 nm process with an 80 W TDP. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U is a mobile processor from 2018, built on a 14 nm process with a 15 W TDP. For anyone choosing between these two in a modern context, the Ryzen 3 2200U is the stronger pick for general use, single-threaded responsiveness, and energy efficiency. The Xeon E5540 retains relevance only in scenarios that specifically require its older platform attributes: triple-channel DDR3 memory, ECC memory support, and a server-grade socket with more PCIe Gen 2 lanes.

The data shows that the Ryzen 3 2200U wins the only directly comparable benchmark, and it does so while consuming a fraction of the power. The Xeon E5540’s higher core and thread count does not translate into a win in the recorded Cinebench R15 multi-core test. For most workloads, the Ryzen 3 2200U is the more sensible choice. The Xeon E5540 is best left to legacy server environments where its ECC support and triple-channel memory bus are required.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U wins in the only benchmark that directly compares both processors. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the Ryzen 3 2200U scoring 312 against the Xeon E5540’s 240, a 23.1% advantage. This is notable because the Xeon E5540 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Ryzen 3 2200U has only 2 cores and 4 threads. The Ryzen’s newer Zen architecture and higher boost clock of 3.40 GHz, compared to the Xeon’s 2.80 GHz boost, appear to overcome the core count disadvantage.

The Ryzen 3 2200U also shows strength in single-threaded performance, though the available benchmark sets do not overlap completely. The Ryzen 3 2200U records a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 117 and a Geekbench single-core score of 911. The Xeon E5540 has no directly comparable single-core result in the head-to-head data, but its Cinebench R20 single-core score of 141 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 336 suggest that its per-core performance is substantially lower than the Ryzen part’s modern architecture.

The Xeon E5540 wins in platform-level features rather than raw benchmark scores. It supports ECC memory, which the Ryzen 3 2200U does not. It also uses a triple-channel DDR3 memory bus, providing 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The Ryzen 3 2200U uses dual-channel DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, so the Xeon does not win on bandwidth, but it does offer ECC and a server-class socket. The Xeon E5540 also has twice the shared L3 cache at 8 MB compared to the Ryzen’s 4 MB, which can help in cache-sensitive server workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E5540 is built on the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Gainestown, using a 45 nm process node at Intel’s foundry. It packs 731 million transistors onto a 263 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U uses the Zen architecture, codenamed Raven Ridge, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The transistor count difference is stark: the Ryzen 3 2200U holds nearly seven times the transistor count of the Xeon E5540, despite the smaller physical die size.

Core and thread configurations differ significantly. The Xeon E5540 has 4 cores and 8 threads with a base clock of 2.53 GHz and a boost clock of 2.80 GHz. The Ryzen 3 2200U has 2 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The Ryzen’s boost advantage of 0.60 GHz over the Xeon’s maximum boost helps explain its multi-core win despite having half the physical cores.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Xeon E5540 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 3 2200U has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and only 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon’s larger L3 pool is a server-oriented design choice, while the Ryzen’s larger per-core L1 and L2 caches reflect a more modern desktop and mobile approach.

Memory support diverges completely. The Xeon E5540 uses DDR3 with a triple-channel bus, delivering 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth and supporting ECC memory. The Ryzen 3 2200U uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus, delivering 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth and no ECC support. The Ryzen’s higher bandwidth comes from the newer DDR4 standard, despite having one fewer memory channel.

PCIe support also differs. The Xeon E5540 offers PCIe Gen 2, while the Ryzen 3 2200U offers PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes on the CPU. Integrated graphics are present only on the Ryzen 3 2200U, which includes a Radeon Vega 3 GPU. The Xeon E5540 has no integrated graphics, which is typical for a server part. The Ryzen 3 2200U is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, while the Xeon E5540 draws 80 W. The Ryzen 3 2200U is still in active production, while the Xeon E5540 is end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U wins the only head-to-head multi-core test. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 312 against the Intel Xeon E5540’s 240, a 23.1% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E5540’s higher core count help it in benchmarks?

A: No. The Xeon E5540 has 4 cores and 8 threads, twice the core count of the Ryzen 3 2200U’s 2 cores and 4 threads, but it still loses the Cinebench R15 multi-core test by 23.1%.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5540 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U does not.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Intel Xeon E5540 has a TDP of 80 W. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U has a TDP of 15 W.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U includes Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E5540 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U boosts to 3.40 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5540 boosts to 2.80 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains one direct head-to-head benchmark between these two processors: Cinebench R15 multi-core. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U scores 312, while the Intel Xeon E5540 scores 240. The delta is 23.1% in favor of the Ryzen 3 2200U. This is a decisive result, especially considering the architectural gap between the two parts. The Xeon E5540 has 4 cores and 8 threads, but the Ryzen 3 2200U’s Zen cores with a 3.40 GHz boost clock outperform the older Nehalem cores at 2.80 GHz.

Beyond the direct comparison, the average benchmark scores offer additional context. The Intel Xeon E5540 has an average benchmark score of 820, while the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U has an average of 805. The Xeon sits 0.1% below the AMD PRO A10-8750B and 0.5% above the Intel Core i5-L16G7. The Ryzen 3 2200U sits exactly level with the Intel Xeon X5482 at 805, 0.1% above the AMD Athlon X4 850, and 0.3% above the Intel Core i5-3320M. Both processors land at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, indicating that they occupy a similar overall performance tier despite their different architectures and release dates.

The Xeon E5540’s other benchmark results show its multi-threaded capabilities in isolation. It scores 1001 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 2384 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 240 in Cinebench R15 multi-core. Its single-core results are 141 in Cinebench R20 and 336 in Cinebench R23. The Ryzen 3 2200U, meanwhile, scores 312 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 117 in Cinebench R15 single-core, 1880 in Geekbench multi-core, and 911 in Geekbench single-core. The Ryzen’s Geekbench results, particularly the 911 single-core score, indicate strong per-core performance relative to its modest 15 W power envelope.

The biggest win for the Ryzen 3 2200U is the Cinebench R15 multi-core result, where its 23.1% margin over the Xeon E5540 is the only direct comparison available. The biggest win for the Xeon E5540 is in cache capacity, where its 8 MB of shared L3 cache doubles the Ryzen’s 4 MB. However, no benchmark in the recorded data demonstrates a performance advantage from that larger cache. In every measurable performance category, the Ryzen 3 2200U either wins or holds its own.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field. The Intel Xeon E5540 is manufactured by Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U is manufactured by AMD. The Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Ryzen has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are close, with the Xeon at 2.53 GHz and the Ryzen at 2.50 GHz, but boost clocks diverge: the Xeon reaches 2.80 GHz, while the Ryzen reaches 3.40 GHz.

The Xeon E5540 has a TDP of 80 W, while the Ryzen 3 2200U has a TDP of 15 W. The Xeon uses Intel Socket 1366, while the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP5. The Xeon is built on the Nehalem architecture with the Gainestown codename, while the Ryzen uses the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename. The Xeon uses a 45 nm process node at Intel’s foundry, while the Ryzen uses a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. Transistor counts are 731 million for the Xeon and 4,950 million for the Ryzen. Die sizes are 263 mm² for the Xeon and 210 mm² for the Ryzen.

Cache configurations differ in every level. The Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support differs by generation: the Xeon uses DDR3 with a triple-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen uses DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported on the Xeon but not on the Ryzen.

The Xeon offers PCIe Gen 2, while the Ryzen offers PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes on the CPU. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, while the Ryzen includes Radeon Vega 3. The Xeon targets the server and workstation market segment and is end-of-life, while the Ryzen targets the mobile segment and remains active in production. The Xeon was released in 2009 with a launch MSRP of $774, while the Ryzen 3 2200U was released in 2018 with no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon’s part number is SLBF6, while the Ryzen’s is YM2200C4T2OFB.