AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U vs Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U represent two starkly different philosophies in processor design, separated by nearly a decade of technological evolution. The Xeon is a 2014-era server/workstation part built on a 22 nm process, while the Ryzen is a 2023 mobile chip fabricated on a 7 nm node. Despite their disparate origins and target markets, the benchmark data reveals a surprisingly tight contest, with the aging Xeon edging out the modern Ryzen across every single Cinebench test, albeit by margins of less than one percent. This page dissects the architectural chasms and the near-identical performance envelopes of these two processors.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U has half that count, with 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How do their single-core Cinebench R23 scores compare?

A: The Xeon E5-1660 v3 scores 1504, which is 0.5% higher than the Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U's score of 1497. The Xeon also wins the single-core R15 and R20 tests by 0.7% and 0.5%, respectively.

Q: What is the difference in their power consumption?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 has a TDP of 140 watts, whereas the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U is rated for just 15 watts. This represents a massive disparity in thermal design power.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U have ECC memory support listed in their specifications.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U includes Radeon Graphics (Vega 6), while the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 has an average benchmark score of 3082, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U has an average score of 3063. Both CPUs are placed in the 52nd percentile of all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two parts is vast, reflecting their different release dates of 2014 and 2023. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 is built on Intel's Haswell architecture, specifically the Haswell-EP codename, using a 22 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U, on the other hand, utilizes the Zen 3 architecture under the codename Barcelo-R, manufactured by TSMC on a much more advanced 7 nm process. This process advantage is evident in the transistor density; the Ryzen packs 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die, while the Xeon contains only 2,600 million transistors on a larger 356 mm² die.

The core configurations are fundamentally different. The Xeon offers 8 physical cores and 16 threads, whereas the Ryzen provides 4 cores and 8 threads. Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. Both have a 64 KB L1 cache per core, but the Xeon's L2 cache is 256 KB per core compared to the Ryzen's larger 512 KB per core. The L3 cache is a major differentiator, with the Xeon featuring a 20 MB shared pool versus the Ryzen's 8 MB shared pool. The Xeon also supports quad-channel DDR4 memory, yielding a theoretical bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Ryzen uses a dual-channel interface with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. Furthermore, the Xeon offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the Ryzen provides only 16. The Xeon's socket is Intel Socket 2011-3, and the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP6.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The provided head-to-head data is striking for its consistency: the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 wins all six Cinebench tests, yet the margins are extraordinarily small. In the multi-core tests, the Xeon scores 1074 in Cinebench R15, just 0.6% above the Ryzen's 1068. This pattern repeats in R20 multicore, where the Xeon's 4475 narrowly beats the Ryzen's 4454 by 0.5%. The R23 multicore test shows a similar 0.5% delta, with scores of 10656 and 10605 for the Xeon and Ryzen, respectively.

The single-core results tell the same story. The Xeon wins R15 single-core with a score of 151, just 0.7% higher than the Ryzen's 150. In R20 single-core, the Xeon posts 631 versus the Ryzen's 628, a 0.5% lead. The R23 single-core test concludes with the Xeon at 1504 and the Ryzen at 1497, again a 0.5% margin. The data suggests that the Ryzen's modern architecture and higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz compensate almost exactly for the Xeon's advantage in core count and larger shared cache. The Xeon's 8 cores are effectively neutralized by the Ryzen's 4 faster cores in this workload, leading to a statistical tie in performance. Notably, the Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U also has additional Geekbench scores of 4532 for multi-core and 1573 for single-core, which are not available for the Xeon, leaving those comparisons unexplored.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two CPUs highlight their divergent purposes. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U has a lower base clock of 2.30 GHz but a significantly higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The TDP difference is stark, with the Xeon rated at 140 watts and the Ryzen at 15 watts. The Xeon's process node is 22 nm, while the Ryzen's is 7 nm. The Xeon is a server/workstation part with a production status of end-of-life, whereas the Ryzen is an active mobile processor from the 7000 series.

The Xeon's transistor count is 2,600 million on a 356 mm² die, while the Ryzen has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. L2 cache per core is 256 KB for the Xeon and 512 KB for the Ryzen, while L3 cache is 20 MB shared for the Xeon and 8 MB shared for the Ryzen. Memory bus width differs, with the Xeon supporting quad-channel and the Ryzen dual-channel. The Xeon has 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the Ryzen has 16. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, whereas the Ryzen includes Radeon Graphics (Vega 6). The Xeon's multiplier is unlocked, but the Ryzen's is locked. The Xeon was released in 2014, and the Ryzen in 2023.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 wins in every single Cinebench test that was run, including both single-core and multi-core variants. Its lead in multi-core R23 is 0.5%, and its lead in single-core R15 is 0.7%. This makes it the clear, albeit marginal, winner for any workload that relies on these specific rendering tests. The Xeon's 6 out of 6 win count reflects its raw core count and substantial 20 MB L3 cache, which allows it to keep pace with a much newer part.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U, despite having zero benchmark wins in this comparison, has a clear advantage in other areas. Its 15-watt TDP makes it vastly more power-efficient than the 140-watt Xeon, implying suitability for thermally constrained environments. The Ryzen also has integrated graphics, a feature completely absent on the Xeon, which is critical for systems without a discrete GPU. The data suggests that the Ryzen wins in the context of mobile computing and energy-sensitive deployments, even if it cannot claim a victory in raw Cinebench scores.

The Verdict

The data presents a peculiar verdict. For a user building a workstation or server where raw multi-threaded rendering performance is the sole metric, the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 is the nominal winner, as it outperforms the Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U in all six Cinebench benchmarks. Its 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with a 20 MB L3 cache and quad-channel memory support, provide a tangible, if small, performance edge in these tests. The Xeon is also the only part here with an unlocked multiplier, which could appeal to overclockers on the LGA 2011-3 platform.

However, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U is the logical choice for a completely different set of priorities. Its 15-watt TDP is a fraction of the Xeon's 140-watt requirement, making it the only viable option for laptops or compact, passively cooled systems. The inclusion of Radeon Graphics eliminates the need for a separate graphics card. The Ryzen's significantly higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz and modern 7 nm process also suggest superior transient responsiveness and efficiency, even if the Cinebench scores do not reflect a win. The verdict is clear: choose the Xeon for legacy workstation tasks where power is not a concern, and choose the Ryzen for modern, efficient, and graphics-integrated mobile systems.