AMD Ryzen 3 4300U vs Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark results split cleanly into two separate narratives: a single-core story dominated by the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U, and a multi-core story dominated by the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD part scores 163.9 against the Intel's 84, a 95.1% advantage. That is nearly a doubling of the score, and it reflects a fundamental difference in how the two processors handle single-threaded workloads. The Ryzen 3 4300U's 2.70 GHz base clock with a 3.70 GHz boost clearly translates into far stronger per-thread performance in this older benchmark.

The opposite is true in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Xeon E5-1620 v3 scores 595 versus the Ryzen's 562.5. The delta is only 5.5%, a modest edge, but it is an edge nonetheless. The Xeon's 8 threads (versus the Ryzen's 4 threads) likely explain this narrow win, even though the Ryzen has a higher boost clock. The multicore advantage becomes far more pronounced in the newer Cinebench R23 test. There, the Xeon scores 5910 against the Ryzen's 3571, a 39.6% gap. This is a dramatic difference. The Xeon pulls ahead by more than a third in a heavy, sustained multi-core workload that scales well with thread count.

Single-core R23 tells the opposite story once again. The Ryzen 3 4300U scores 1074, while the Xeon manages 834, giving the AMD part a 28.8% lead. So the pattern is consistent: the Ryzen wins every single-core comparison by a large margin, and the Xeon wins every multi-core comparison, with the R23 multicore gap being the largest. The head-to-head tally shows 2 wins each, but the magnitudes differ sharply. The Ryzen's single-core wins are massive (95.1% and 28.8%), while the Xeon's multicore wins range from a slim 5.5% to a substantial 39.6%. The data suggests that the AMD part is the clear choice for single-threaded responsiveness, while the Intel part is the clear choice for heavily threaded productivity.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is vast, and the benchmark results reflect that. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U is built on Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It contains 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 uses Haswell architecture (Haswell-EP codename) on a 22 nm process at Intel, with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The node difference is stark: 7 nm versus 22 nm. That alone explains much of the efficiency and clock behavior. The AMD part fits far more transistors into a much smaller die, which is why it can achieve a 3.70 GHz boost clock while drawing only 15 W TDP. The Intel part, with its older and larger process, requires a 140 W TDP to reach a 3.60 GHz boost clock.

Cache configurations differ significantly. Both have 64 KB L1 per core, but the Ryzen's L2 is 512 KB per core while the Xeon's L2 is 256 KB per core. The L3 cache is where the Xeon takes a clear lead: 10 MB shared versus 4 MB shared on the Ryzen. That 6 MB difference in L3 could matter for workloads with large working sets, though the benchmark data does not isolate cache effects. The memory subsystems also diverge. The Ryzen supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 with a dual-channel bus, delivering 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Xeon supports DDR4 with a quad-channel bus, delivering 68.3 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen does not. PCIe connectivity favors the Xeon as well: Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), versus Gen 3 on the Ryzen but with no lane count specified in the database.

The integrated graphics situation is one-sided. The Ryzen 3 4300U includes Radeon Graphics with 320 SP, while the Xeon E5-1620 v3 has no integrated graphics at all. This makes the Ryzen a complete mobile APU, whereas the Xeon requires a discrete GPU for any display output. The sockets and market segments reinforce the intended use cases: the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP6 and is classified as Mobile, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3 and is classified as Server/Workstation. The production status also differs: the Ryzen is Active, while the Xeon is End-of-life. The release dates show a gap of over five years, with the Ryzen released in January 2020 and the Xeon in September 2014.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split is clear from the benchmark wins. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U wins in every scenario that prioritizes single-core performance. That includes older Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 95.1% higher than the Xeon, and newer Cinebench R23 single-core, where it leads by 28.8%. These results indicate a processor that excels at everyday responsiveness: application launches, browser rendering, office productivity, and any software that relies heavily on one or two threads. The Ryzen's high boost clock of 3.70 GHz, combined with the modern 7 nm process, gives it a per-thread advantage that is hard to ignore. For a mobile chip, this is exactly the profile you want for a snappy user experience.

The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 wins in heavily threaded workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core it edges out the Ryzen by 5.5%, but in Cinebench R23 multi-core it wins by 39.6%. The Xeon's 8 threads versus the Ryzen's 4 threads clearly matter more as the workload scales. The R23 multi-core test is designed to stress all cores and threads for an extended period, and the Xeon's higher core count, combined with its 10 MB L3 cache and quad-channel memory bandwidth, allows it to sustain higher throughput. The Xeon also has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz) than the Ryzen (2.70 GHz), which helps in workloads that run at base clocks for long periods. The 140 W TDP indicates the Xeon is designed to be fed power continuously, not to throttle down for battery life.

The Ryzen's wins are larger in percentage terms on the single-core side, but the Xeon's R23 multicore win is also substantial. The data suggests a server or workstation that runs long multi-threaded jobs, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or scientific computing, would favor the Xeon. A mobile device that needs quick single-threaded response, light multitasking, and integrated graphics would favor the Ryzen. The Ryzen also has the advantage of being an active product with a 2020 release, while the Xeon is end-of-life with a 2014 release. For new systems, the Ryzen is the more practical choice unless the workload specifically demands the Xeon's thread count and memory bandwidth.

The Verdict

The data points to two different buyers. The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U is the choice for anyone who needs a modern, efficient mobile processor with strong single-core performance. Its 95.1% lead in R15 single-core and 28.8% lead in R23 single-core mean that everyday tasks will feel faster. Its integrated Radeon Graphics, 7 nm process, and 15 W TDP make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops. The Ryzen also has a higher average benchmark score of 1742 versus the Xeon's 1709, and it sits at the 41st percentile of all CPUs, one point above the Xeon's 40th percentile. The Ryzen's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-10100 with an identical average score of 1742, and the Intel Core i3-1315UE at 1739, which shows the Ryzen sits in competitive company.

The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 is the choice for legacy server or workstation upgrades where multi-threaded throughput is paramount. Its 39.6% lead in R23 multi-core over the Ryzen is decisive. The Xeon also offers ECC memory support, quad-channel memory bandwidth at 68.3 GB/s, and 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, features that matter in a server context. The 10 MB L3 cache is 6 MB larger than the Ryzen's. However, the Xeon's 140 W TDP, lack of integrated graphics, and end-of-life status make it unsuitable for most modern mobile or desktop consumer builds. The Xeon's average score of 1709 places it just below the Ryzen, and its nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E3-1265L v4 with an identical 1709. The Xeon's single-core scores are very low: 84 in R15 and 834 in R23, which means any workload that does not scale to 8 threads will feel sluggish.

The verdict from the data is straightforward: choose the Ryzen for single-threaded performance, integrated graphics, efficiency, and active production status. Choose the Xeon for multi-threaded workloads, ECC memory, and server-class memory bandwidth, but only if you can accept its age, power draw, and lack of iGPU. The head-to-head record is tied at 2 wins each, but the magnitude of the Ryzen's single-core wins makes it the better all-around processor for general use.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U scores 1074, which is 28.8% higher than the Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3's 834.

Q: How large is the multi-core gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 scores 5910, which is 39.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U's 3571.

Q: Does the Ryzen 3 4300U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Radeon Graphics with 320 SP. The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The Ryzen 3 4300U supports 51.2 GB/s with a dual-channel bus. The Xeon E5-1620 v3 supports 68.3 GB/s with a quad-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 has 10 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 4300U has a TDP of 15 W. The Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 has a TDP of 140 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 4300U | Intel Xeon E5-1620 v3 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 140 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Haswell |

| Codename | Renoir | Haswell-EP |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | 2,600 million |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 356 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 10 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, LPDDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 68.3 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | false | true |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics 320SP | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2020-01-05 | 2014-09-07 |

| Part Number | 100-000000085 | QGZYSR20P |

| Average Benchmark Score | 1742 | 1709 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 41 | 40 |