AMD Ryzen 3 5300U vs Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits this comparison into two very different workloads. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U wins three of the four recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 takes one. The Ryzen 3 5300U is the pick for single-threaded responsiveness and older multi-core rendering tests, where it leads by 25.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core and by 66.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core. The Xeon E5-2628 v3 is the pick for modern multi-core rendering, as it leads by 25.6% in Cinebench R23 multi-core.

The Ryzen 3 5300U also holds the advantage in average benchmark score, recording 2135 against the Xeon’s 2076, a gap of roughly 2.8%. Both processors sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite their different designs. The Ryzen’s wins are concentrated in tests that favor clock speed and per-core efficiency, while the Xeon’s single win comes from having twice the core count in a workload that scales well across cores.

For users deciding between these two, the choice depends on the application. The Ryzen 3 5300U suits tasks that rely on a single core or on older rendering engines that do not scale perfectly with core count. The Xeon E5-2628 v3 suits heavily threaded modern workloads that can use its 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ryzen is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, while the Xeon is a server/workstation part with an 85 W TDP, so the power envelope also points toward the Ryzen for portable systems and the Xeon for stationary multi-threaded compute.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 5300U wins in Cinebench R15 both multi-core and single-core, plus Cinebench R23 single-core. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 906 versus the Xeon’s 723, a 25.3% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 170 versus 102, a 66.7% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1115 versus 1013, a 10.1% advantage. These results indicate that the Ryzen’s higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz, compared to the Xeon’s 3.00 GHz, gives it a decisive edge in any test where a single core is the limiting factor. The Ryzen also benefits from a newer architecture, Zen 2 on a 7 nm process, versus the Xeon’s Haswell on a 22 nm process.

The Xeon E5-2628 v3 wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 7179 versus the Ryzen’s 5341, a 25.6% advantage. This test stresses all cores simultaneously, and the Xeon’s 8 cores and 16 threads outnumber the Ryzen’s 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon also has a larger shared L3 cache at 20 MB versus 4 MB, plus quad-channel memory support, which helps in memory-heavy multi-threaded workloads. The Ryzen’s 4 MB L3 cache and dual-channel memory bus are more modest, but they suffice for single-threaded and light multi-threaded tasks.

The recorded data shows a clear pattern: the Ryzen wins wherever clock speed and per-core performance matter, and the Xeon wins only in a modern all-core rendering test. Users running older software that is not fully multi-threaded will see the Ryzen outperform the Xeon by a wide margin. Users running current rendering or encoding workloads that scale to 8 or more cores will see the Xeon pull ahead.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 3 5300U uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Lucienne, built on TSMC’s 7 nm process. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, a base clock of 2.60 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The processor integrates Radeon Graphics with 384 shader cores, so no separate GPU is required. It supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, and it does not support ECC memory. It uses AMD Socket FP6, has 12 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, and is listed as an active production part. The transistor count is 9,800 million on a die size of 156 mm².

The Xeon E5-2628 v3 uses the Haswell architecture, codenamed Haswell-EP, built on Intel’s 22 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3. It has no integrated graphics. It supports DDR4 memory over a quad-channel bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, and it does support ECC memory. It uses Intel Socket 2011-3, has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, and is marked as end-of-life. The transistor count is 2,600 million on a die size of 356 mm².

The most significant architectural differences are the process node, core count, memory channel count, and integrated graphics. The Ryzen’s 7 nm process allows higher clocks at lower power, while the Xeon’s 22 nm process is older and consumes more power for the same frequency. The Xeon’s extra cores and larger L3 cache help in parallel workloads, but its lower boost clock hurts single-threaded performance. The Xeon’s ECC support and quad-channel memory make it suitable for server environments, while the Ryzen’s integrated graphics and 15 W TDP make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U wins all recorded single-core tests. It leads by 66.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core (170 vs 102) and by 10.1% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1115 vs 1013).

Q: Which processor is better for multi-core rendering?

A: It depends on the test. The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 25.6% (7179 vs 5341), but the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 25.3% (906 vs 723). The Xeon is better in modern all-core workloads, while the Ryzen is better in older multi-core tests.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon has double the cores and double the threads.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U includes Radeon Graphics with 384 shader cores. The Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U has an average benchmark score of 2135, while the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 has an average of 2076. The Ryzen is about 2.8% higher, and both sit at the 46th percentile among all CPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers four tests. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U wins three of them, and the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 wins one. The largest margin belongs to the Ryzen in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 170 against the Xeon’s 102. That is a 66.7% lead, a massive gap explained by the Ryzen’s 3.80 GHz boost clock versus the Xeon’s 3.00 GHz, combined with the Zen 2 architecture’s higher instructions per clock.

The second-largest margin is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon wins 7179 to 5341, a 25.6% lead. This result flips the older multi-core result and shows that the Xeon’s 8 cores and 16 threads can overcome the Ryzen’s clock advantage in a well-parallelized modern workload. The Xeon’s 20 MB shared L3 cache and quad-channel memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s also contribute to this win, as the test is likely memory-sensitive.

The third margin is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Ryzen wins 906 to 723, a 25.3% lead. This is nearly the same percentage as the Xeon’s R23 win, but in the opposite direction. The Ryzen’s 4 cores and 8 threads outperform the Xeon’s 8 cores and 16 threads in this older test, suggesting that the R15 multi-core workload does not scale efficiently beyond a few cores and is more sensitive to clock speed. The Ryzen’s 2.60 GHz base clock and 3.80 GHz boost clock give it a per-thread speed advantage that matters more here.

The smallest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ryzen wins 1115 to 1013, a 10.1% lead. This is a modest but consistent win, showing that even in a modern single-threaded test, the Ryzen’s architecture and clock speed maintain an edge. The Xeon’s older Haswell design trails by roughly a tenth of the performance in this test.

The overall pattern from the data is that the Ryzen dominates single-threaded and older multi-threaded tests, while the Xeon dominates a modern all-core test. The Ryzen’s average benchmark score of 2135 versus the Xeon’s 2076 indicates that, on average, the Ryzen is the stronger performer, but the Xeon’s one decisive win in R23 multi-core makes it the better choice for heavily threaded modern applications.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-2628 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ryzen has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz; the Xeon has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The Ryzen’s TDP is 15 W, the Xeon’s is 85 W. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP6, the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3.

The architectures differ: the Ryzen is Zen 2 with the codename Lucienne, while the Xeon is Haswell with the codename Haswell-EP. The process node also differs: the Ryzen is on TSMC’s 7 nm process, the Xeon is on Intel’s 22 nm process. The transistor count is 9,800 million for the Ryzen and 2,600 million for the Xeon. The die size is 156 mm² for the Ryzen and 356 mm² for the Xeon.

Cache sizes differ as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, but the Ryzen has 512 KB of L2 per core while the Xeon has 256 KB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is 4 MB on the Ryzen and 20 MB on the Xeon. Memory support differs: both support DDR4, but the Ryzen uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon uses a quad-channel bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon.

PCIe lane counts differ: the Ryzen has 12 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, the Xeon has 40 Gen 3 lanes. Integrated graphics are present only on the Ryzen, with Radeon Graphics 384SP. The market segment differs: the Ryzen is mobile, the Xeon is server/workstation. Production status differs: the Ryzen is active, the Xeon is end-of-life. Release dates differ: the Ryzen launched on 2021-01-11, the Xeon on 2014-09-07. The part numbers are 100-000000376 for the Ryzen and SR201 for the Xeon. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.