AMD Ryzen 3 7320U vs Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a split picture, with each processor claiming victories in different test generations. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U wins three of the four head-to-head comparisons, but the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 takes the most decisive victory in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U scores 790 against the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5's 677. That is a 14.3% advantage for the AMD part. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided: the Ryzen 3 7320U posts 162.4 while the Xeon manages only 95, a 41.5% gap. This is the largest single margin in the entire comparison, reflecting a substantial difference in per-thread performance in that workload.

Moving to Cinebench R23, the results flip dramatically. The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 scores 6726 in multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U scores 4809. That gives Intel a 39.9% lead, the second-largest margin in the dataset. In R23 single-core, however, AMD returns to the top with 1095 versus Intel's 949, a 13.3% edge.

The overall benchmark averages tell a close story. The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 has an average benchmark score of 1945, placing it in the 44th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U averages 1916, sitting in the 43rd percentile. These are nearly identical positions, within one percentile point of each other.

The nearest rival data reinforces how tightly matched these two parts are. The Xeon's closest competitor, the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5, scores 1947, just 0.1% higher. The Ryzen 3 7320U's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-6700T, scores 1918, also 0.1% higher. Both processors sit in a crowded performance band where small deltas separate many comparable chips.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split follows the benchmark pattern closely. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U dominates in single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads, as shown by its wins in Cinebench R15 single-core (41.5% ahead) and R23 single-core (13.3% ahead). This makes it the better choice for everyday responsiveness, application launching, and tasks that rely on one or two cores. Its R15 multi-core win of 14.3% also suggests it handles older multi-threaded applications with more agility.

The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 wins decisively where sustained multi-threaded rendering is concerned. Its 39.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core indicates that modern, heavily threaded workloads such as video encoding or 3D rendering favor the Intel part. This is a significant margin, not a marginal one. The Xeon also carries the server and workstation market segment designation, while the Ryzen 3 7320U is aimed at mobile. That positioning aligns with the benchmark results: Intel for workstation-style throughput, AMD for efficient single-thread performance.

For mixed use, the average scores suggest near-parity. The Xeon's 1945 average versus the Ryzen's 1916 average is a 1.5% difference, well within run-to-run variance. Users who do a little bit of everything will likely find either processor acceptable, though the specific workload mix will determine which one feels faster.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U wins both single-core tests. It scores 162.4 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 95 for the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5, and 1095 in R23 single-core versus 949.

Q: Is the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 better for multi-core workloads?

A: It depends on the test. The Xeon wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 6726 against the Ryzen's 4809, a 39.9% lead. However, the Ryzen wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 790 against 677, a 14.3% advantage.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 has an average benchmark score of 1945, placing it in the 44th percentile. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has an average score of 1916, placing it in the 43rd percentile.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U boosts to 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 boosts to 3.70 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U does not.

Q: Which processor is currently in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is listed as active, while the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 is end-of-life.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U has a lower base clock of 2.40 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Thermal design power differs substantially: the Xeon is rated at 45 watts, while the Ryzen is rated at 15 watts.

Memory support is another area of divergence. The Intel part supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD part supports LPDDR5 memory, also dual-channel, but with 88.0 GB/s of bandwidth, a 2.6 times advantage in theoretical throughput. ECC memory support is present on the Xeon but absent on the Ryzen.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Xeon uses HD Graphics P530, while the Ryzen 3 7320U uses Radeon 610M. PCIe connectivity is limited on both, but the Xeon offers 16 CPU lanes at Gen 3, whereas the Ryzen offers only 4 CPU lanes at Gen 3.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1440 for the Xeon, AMD Socket FT6 for the Ryzen. The market segments also differ, with the Xeon designated as server or workstation and the Ryzen as mobile. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $623, and it was released on 2015-10-26. The Ryzen was released on 2022-09-19 and has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The architectural generation gap is significant. The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 is built on Skylake architecture, specifically Skylake-H, using a 14 nm process from Intel's own foundry. It contains 2,300 million transistors on a 122 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U uses Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Mendocino, built on a 6 nm process at TSMC. Its die size is 100 mm², and the database does not record a transistor count.

Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3 capacity. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The Xeon has 256 KB of L2 per core and 8 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen has 512 KB of L2 per core, double the Xeon's amount, but only 4 MB of shared L3, half the Xeon's capacity.

Both parts have 4 cores and 8 threads, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon's generation is listed as "Xeon E3 (Skylake-H)", while the Ryzen's generation is "Ryzen 3 (Zen 2 (Mendocino))". The Xeon is part of the 7000 series family for AMD, a naming convention that does not directly apply to the Intel part.

The production status differs: the Xeon is end-of-life, while the Ryzen is active. The foundry difference is notable, with Intel manufacturing its own chip at 14 nm and AMD relying on TSMC at 6 nm. This process advantage likely contributes to the Ryzen's higher boost clock and lower power envelope, though the benchmark results show that architectural differences matter more than raw transistor size.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on workload priorities. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320U wins three of four head-to-head benchmarks, including both single-core tests and the Cinebench R15 multi-core test. Its 41.5% single-core advantage in R15 is the largest margin in the comparison, and its 13.3% lead in R23 single-core confirms that modern single-threaded performance favors AMD. The Ryzen also offers substantially higher memory bandwidth at 88.0 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s, a lower 15 watt TDP, and active production status.

The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 has one clear battleground: Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it leads by 39.9%. For users running modern, heavily threaded rendering or encoding workloads, this margin is decisive. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which matters for workstation reliability, and its 16 PCIe lanes provide more expansion headroom than the Ryzen's 4 lanes.

The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the Xeon at 1945 and the Ryzen at 1916, both within one percentile of each other. This means that for general productivity and mixed workloads, the two processors will feel comparable in most daily tasks. The deciding factors should be the specific applications used, the acceptable power budget, and whether ECC memory or PCIe expansion is required.

For a mobile, power-efficient system with strong single-thread performance and modern memory support, the AMD Ryzen 3 7320U is the clear pick. For a workstation-oriented system where sustained multi-core rendering performance and ECC memory support are non-negotiable, the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 remains relevant despite its end-of-life status. The data does not crown a universal winner, it identifies two distinct performance profiles for two different audiences.