AMD Ryzen 3 5400U vs Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 and the AMD Ryzen 3 5400U occupy opposite corners of the processor market, yet their benchmark scores place them in a surprisingly close contest. The Xeon is a ten-core Haswell-EP server part from 2015, while the Ryzen is a four-core Zen 3 mobile chip from 2021. The data shows a consistent, narrow victory for the Intel part across all six Cinebench tests, with deltas hovering around 3%, despite the Ryzen’s massive architectural and process node advantages.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. Its lead is remarkably uniform, ranging from 3.1% to 3.8% depending on the workload. In multi-core tests, the Xeon’s advantage is 3.1% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, scoring 971, 4049, and 9642 respectively, versus the Ryzen’s 942, 3927, and 9350. The single-core results tell a similar story, with the Xeon ahead by 3.8% in R15 (137 vs 132) and 3.1% in R20 (571 vs 554) and R23 (1361 vs 1320).

This means the Xeon does not merely win on raw thread count; it also edges out the Ryzen in per-thread performance. However, the Ryzen is not without its own territory. It is the only one of the two with integrated graphics, featuring a Radeon Vega 6 iGPU, which makes it a complete package for a mobile system. The Xeon has no integrated graphics at all, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. The Ryzen also holds the advantage in power efficiency, with a 15 W TDP compared to the Xeon’s 135 W, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where the Xeon would be impractical. The data shows the Xeon wins on benchmark scores, but the Ryzen wins on platform versatility and power envelope.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are separated by nearly six years of silicon evolution. The Xeon E5-4627 v3 is built on Intel’s 22 nm Haswell-EP architecture, manufactured in-house by Intel, with a die size of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. The Ryzen 3 5400U uses AMD’s Zen 3 architecture on TSMC’s 7 nm process, packing 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die. This means the Ryzen fits over four times as many transistors into roughly half the silicon area, evidence of the density improvements of the smaller process node.

Core configurations differ drastically. The Xeon offers 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Ryzen has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon’s cache hierarchy features 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a large 25 MB shared L3 cache. The Ryzen matches the 64 KB L1 per core but doubles the L2 to 512 KB per core, while its shared L3 is only 8 MB. The Ryzen’s smaller cache pool is partially offset by its higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz versus the Xeon’s 3.20 GHz, though both share the same 2.60 GHz base clock.

Memory support also diverges. Both support DDR4, but the Xeon uses a quad-channel memory bus with 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth and ECC support. The Ryzen uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s and lacks ECC. The Xeon provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen offers only 8. The Xeon is a server/workstation part on Socket 2011-3, while the Ryzen is a mobile part on Socket FP6, and the Xeon is end-of-life while the Ryzen remains active production.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 5400U has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 3 5400U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 3 5400U features Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: The Xeon leads by 3.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 9642 versus the Ryzen’s 9350. Similar 3.1% deltas appear in Cinebench R15 (971 vs 942) and R20 (4049 vs 3927).

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 3 5400U does not support ECC.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The Xeon has a TDP of 135 W, while the Ryzen has a TDP of 15 W. This makes the Ryzen far more suitable for mobile devices.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 5400U has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 boosts to 3.20 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Xeon has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the Ryzen has 4 cores and 8 threads. Both have a 2.60 GHz base clock, but the Xeon’s boost is 3.20 GHz versus the Ryzen’s 4.00 GHz. The Xeon has a 135 W TDP, a 22 nm process node, and a 356 mm² die size with 2,600 million transistors. The Ryzen has a 15 W TDP, a 7 nm process node, and a 180 mm² die with 10,700 million transistors. Cache differs: the Xeon has 256 KB L2 per core and 25 MB shared L3, while the Ryzen has 512 KB L2 per core and 8 MB shared L3. Memory bandwidth favors the Xeon at 68.3 GB/s via quad-channel DDR4, versus the Ryzen’s dual-channel 51.2 GB/s. The Xeon supports ECC, has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, no integrated graphics, and uses Socket 2011-3. The Ryzen lacks ECC, has 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, features Radeon Vega 6 graphics, and uses Socket FP6. The Xeon was released in 2015 and is end-of-life, while the Ryzen was released in 2021 and is still active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The six Cinebench comparisons form a consistent pattern. The Xeon’s largest win comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 137 against the Ryzen’s 132, a 3.8% margin. This is notable because the Ryzen has a 0.80 GHz higher boost clock, suggesting the Xeon’s Haswell architecture extracts more performance per clock in this legacy test. The remaining five tests all show a 3.1% lead for the Xeon. In multi-core R15, the Xeon posts 971 versus 942; in R20 multi-core, it is 4049 versus 3927; in R20 single-core, 571 versus 554; in R23 multi-core, 9642 versus 9350; and in R23 single-core, 1361 versus 1320.

The Ryzen’s deficit is remarkably consistent, never exceeding 3.8% despite its architectural advantages. The data implies that the Xeon’s extra six cores and 12 threads provide enough throughput to overcome the Ryzen’s higher clock speed and newer microarchitecture. However, the Ryzen has additional Geekbench scores in its benchmark suite—4473 multi-core and 1419 single-core—which the Xeon lacks, so a broader comparison would likely narrow the gap. The Xeon’s average benchmark score of 2789 and percentile of 51 nearly match the Ryzen’s 2765 average and 50th percentile, placing both in the middle of the CPU performance distribution.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear, if narrow, victory for the Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 in raw Cinebench performance. It wins all six head-to-head tests, with margins between 3.1% and 3.8%. Users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering workloads, as simulated by Cinebench, should select the Xeon for its higher core count and consistent lead. Its quad-channel memory and ECC support further suit server or workstation environments where data integrity and bandwidth are critical. The Xeon’s 135 W TDP and 40 PCIe lanes also position it for full-sized systems with expansion needs.

The AMD Ryzen 3 5400U, despite losing every head-to-head test, offers a different value proposition. Its integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics mean it can run as a complete system on a chip, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU. Its 15 W TDP makes it viable for fanless or passively cooled designs, and its active production status ensures ongoing availability. For mobile users or compact builds where power consumption and integrated graphics matter more than a 3% Cinebench margin, the Ryzen is the rational choice. The Xeon’s end-of-life status and lack of graphics make it a niche pick for legacy server upgrades, while the Ryzen represents a modern, efficient alternative. The benchmark data says the Xeon is faster; the platform data says the Ryzen is more versatile. Your use case determines the winner.