AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U vs Intel Xeon E-2186M Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U and Intel Xeon E-2186M deliver nearly identical average benchmark scores, with the Ryzen posting 2865 and the Xeon 2912. Both parts sit at the 51st percentile of all CPUs, placing them squarely in the mid-range of the database. Despite the Xeon’s 0.2% aggregate lead, the head-to-head results tell a different story: the Ryzen wins 7 of 8 tests, while the Xeon secures a single decisive victory. The data suggests these are fundamentally different tools aimed at different workloads, with the choice hinging on whether sustained multi-threaded throughput or single-thread responsiveness matters more.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate that the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U is the better all-around performer for most users. It wins every Cinebench test, from the R15 multicore score of 974 versus 961 to the R23 multicore score of 9673 versus 9542. The margins are consistent but narrow, ranging from 1.3% to 1.5% in the Ryzen’s favor across all six Cinebench tests. For users running rendering workloads, video encoding, or any application that scales across cores, the Ryzen’s edge in these tests, despite having 2 fewer cores and 4 fewer threads, is notable.

The Intel Xeon E-2186M’s lone win comes in Geekbench multicore, where it scores 5306 against the Ryzen’s 4525, a substantial 17.3% advantage. This suggests the Xeon’s 6 cores and 12 threads provide a meaningful throughput advantage in certain multi-threaded scenarios that Geekbench measures differently than Cinebench. However, this single win does not offset the Ryzen’s consistency across the other seven tests.

The Xeon targets the server and workstation segment with ECC memory support and a 45W TDP, while the Ryzen is a 15W mobile part with Radeon Vega 6 graphics. For a mobile workstation or a compact system where power efficiency matters, the Ryzen is the clear choice based on the data. The Xeon, with its end-of-life status and launch MSRP of $623, appeals to legacy workstation builds or scenarios requiring ECC memory, where the Ryzen cannot be used due to lack of ECC support.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U dominates Cinebench benchmarks, which are heavily weighted toward sustained multi-core rendering performance. Its R15 multicore score of 974 edges out the Xeon’s 961, and the R20 and R23 multicore results show similar 1.4% margins. These wins come despite the Ryzen having only 4 cores and 8 threads versus the Xeon’s 6 cores and 12 threads, indicating that the Zen 3 architecture’s efficiency per core is superior in these workloads.

The Ryzen also wins all single-core Cinebench tests. Its R23 single-core score of 1365 beats the Xeon’s 1347, a 1.3% margin, and the Geekbench single-core result shows a larger 11% advantage, 1612 versus 1434. This makes the Ryzen the better choice for lightly-threaded applications like office productivity, web browsing, and general system responsiveness, where single-thread performance is the bottleneck.

The Xeon E-2186M wins Geekbench multicore decisively, with a 17.3% lead. This benchmark likely rewards the Xeon’s higher core count and thread count in a way that Cinebench does not. For workloads that are heavily parallelized but rely on different instruction patterns or memory access characteristics, the Xeon’s 6-core configuration provides a tangible benefit. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Ryzen, making it the only option for error-correcting memory in mission-critical or data-integrity-sensitive environments.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras and design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E-2186M uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14nm process node, manufactured by Intel. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size is 154 mm², and it supports DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon includes UHD Graphics P630 integrated graphics and connects via PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U uses the Zen 3 architecture on a 7nm process node, fabricated by TSMC. It packs 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The cache layout differs with 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The die measures 180 mm² and contains 10,700 million transistors. Memory support is DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, but bandwidth is higher at 51.2 GB/s. The Ryzen integrates Radeon Vega 6 graphics and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes.

The process node difference is stark: 14nm versus 7nm. This explains how the Ryzen achieves comparable or better performance with a 15W TDP versus the Xeon’s 45W TDP. The Ryzen’s higher memory bandwidth, 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s, may contribute to its Geekbench single-core advantage. The Xeon counters with more cores, threads, and L3 cache, plus ECC memory support. The Ryzen is an active production part, while the Xeon is end-of-life, released on 2018-04-03 versus the Ryzen’s 2022-04-18 launch.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better multi-core performance in Cinebench?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U wins all three Cinebench multicore tests. It scores 974 in R15 versus 961, 4062 in R20 versus 4007, and 9673 in R23 versus 9542. Margins are consistent at 1.3-1.4%.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E-2186M win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Xeon wins Geekbench multicore with a score of 5306 against the Ryzen’s 4525, a 17.3% advantage. This is its only head-to-head win out of eight tests.

Q: Which CPU has better single-core performance?

A: The Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U wins every single-core test. Geekbench single-core shows the largest gap at 1612 versus 1434, an 11% lead. Cinebench single-core margins are smaller, ranging from 1.3% to 1.5%.

Q: Can the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U support ECC memory?

A: No. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U does not support ECC memory. The Intel Xeon E-2186M supports ECC memory, making it the only option for error-correcting memory workloads.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in core and thread counts?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2186M has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U has 4 cores and 8 threads. Despite fewer cores, the Ryzen wins most benchmarks.

Q: What are the TDP differences between these processors?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2186M has a TDP of 45W, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U has a TDP of 15W. This makes the Ryzen significantly more power-efficient.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a clear pattern: the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U wins on consistency, while the Intel Xeon E-2186M wins on a single large margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen scores 974 against the Xeon’s 961, a 1.3% difference. The R15 single-core test shows a similar 1.5% gap, with scores of 137 and 135. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Ryzen leads multicore 4062 to 4007 and single-core 573 to 565, both at 1.4% margins.

The Cinebench R23 results repeat the pattern. The Ryzen’s multicore score of 9673 beats the Xeon’s 9542 by 1.4%, and single-core sees 1365 versus 1347, a 1.3% edge. These six Cinebench tests consistently favor the Ryzen by roughly 1.3-1.5%, regardless of core count differences. This suggests the Zen 3 architecture provides better per-core efficiency and possibly better memory subsystem utilization, given the Ryzen’s higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus the Xeon’s 42.7 GB/s.

The Geekbench results break the pattern. In Geekbench multicore, the Xeon wins decisively with 5306 points against the Ryzen’s 4525, a 17.3% lead. This is the largest margin in any test and flips the expected outcome based on Cinebench. The Xeon’s 6 cores and 12 threads likely provide a significant advantage in Geekbench’s parallel workload, which may be more sensitive to raw core count than Cinebench’s rendering tasks. Conversely, Geekbench single-core heavily favors the Ryzen, with 1612 versus 1434, an 11% margin.

The overall win tally is 7-1 in favor of the Ryzen, but the Xeon’s Geekbench multicore victory is substantial enough to keep the average scores close. The Ryzen’s average benchmark score is 2865, while the Xeon’s is 2912, a difference of only 1.6%. The nearest rival data reinforces this: the Xeon’s closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 at 2909, a 0.1% delta, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U sits near the Intel Core i7-11370H at 2861, a 0.2% delta. Both CPUs occupy the same performance tier, but the Ryzen achieves it with fewer cores, lower power consumption, and a more modern process node.