AMD Ryzen 5 1500X vs Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a genuinely split decision between the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X and the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5. Both processors hold the same 44th percentile ranking among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the AMD scores 1992, while the Intel scores 1989, a difference of only 0.1% in favor of AMD. In the head-to-head benchmark suite, each wins exactly two tests. The Ryzen 5 1500X is the clear choice for legacy application performance, particularly in single-threaded workloads, where it dominates the older Cinebench R15 tests. Conversely, the Xeon E3-1585L v5 is the superior option for modern multi-threaded rendering workloads, as evidenced by its commanding lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. Given the Intel part's end-of-life production status and BGA socket, the AMD processor is the more practical, forward-looking choice for a desktop builder; however, for a workstation requiring integrated graphics with a specific 45W thermal envelope, the Xeon is the data-backed selection.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X secures its wins in the Cinebench R15 suite. In the multi-core test, it scores 805 against the Xeon's 693, a 16.2% advantage. This edge is even more pronounced in the single-core R15 test, where the AMD's 154 score eclipses the Intel's 97 by a staggering 58.8%. This suggests that for software optimized for older DirectX 11-era or single-threaded legacy applications, the Ryzen 5 1500X offers substantially better performance.

The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 wins decisively in the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 6878 against AMD's 4597, a 33.2% margin. This indicates a significant advantage in modern, heavily threaded workloads that scale with cores and threads, such as current 3D rendering and video encoding. Its win in Cinebench R23 single-core is narrow, scoring 971 versus 947, a 2.5% difference, showing that the architectures are comparable in modern single-threaded tasks, but Intel holds a slight edge. The Xeon's integrated Iris Pro Graphics P580 is a feature the AMD processor completely lacks, making it the only option for systems without a discrete GPU.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X is built on the Zen architecture (Summit Ridge) using a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, featuring 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. It offers a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz within a 65W TDP. Its cache layout is generous, with 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, plus a large 16 MB shared L3 cache. It supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

In contrast, the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 is a Skylake-H architecture part, built on Intel's 14 nm process, with only 2,300 million transistors on a smaller 171 mm² die. It operates at a lower 3.00 GHz base clock but matches the AMD's 3.70 GHz boost clock, all within a much lower 45W TDP. Its cache is smaller, with 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 8 MB of shared L3. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The Xeon also integrates Iris Pro Graphics P580, a feature absent from the AMD part. Crucially, the Xeon is a BGA 1440 (soldered) part, is end-of-life, and has a locked multiplier, whereas the Ryzen 5 1500X uses the socketed AM4 platform and is actively produced. Both support ECC memory and provide 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1992, compared to the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5's 1989, a negligible 0.1% difference.

Q: Is the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 better for all workloads because it wins Cinebench R23?

A: No. While the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 33.2%, it loses to the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X in Cinebench R15 multi-core by 16.2% and single-core by a massive 58.8%. Performance is workload-dependent.

Q: Can I upgrade the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 in the future?

A: The data indicates it is an end-of-life product using an Intel BGA 1440 socket, which is a soldered, non-upgradeable platform. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X uses the socketed AMD Socket AM4, which is an actively produced platform.

Q: Which CPU includes integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 includes integrated graphics, specifically the Iris Pro Graphics P580. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X and the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 are listed as supporting ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: Both processors have the same maximum boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz compared to the Intel's 3.00 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results illustrate a clear generational and architectural split. The most significant victory for the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X comes in the Cinebench R15 single-core test. Here, the AMD scores 154 points, while the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 manages only 97 points. This 58.8% delta is the largest performance gap in any test between the two processors. This suggests that in the era when Cinebench R15 was the standard benchmark, the AMD's higher base clock and architectural efficiency provided a massive advantage in lightly-threaded tasks.

The AMD also wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, scoring 805 versus the Intel's 693. This 16.2% advantage shows that even in a multi-threaded test from that period, the Ryzen 5 1500X outperformed the Xeon. This is likely attributable to its higher base clock and larger 16 MB L3 cache, which can reduce memory latency for frequently accessed data.

However, the tables turn dramatically in the newer Cinebench R23 tests. The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 wins the multi-core test by a landslide, scoring 6878 points compared to the AMD's 4597. This 33.2% margin is the largest win for either side, demonstrating that the Xeon's architecture scales much better with the more demanding, multi-threaded rendering workload of R23. The Xeon's performance here is likely related to its design and power efficiency, allowing it to sustain boost clocks effectively under load within its 45W TDP.

In the Cinebench R23 single-core test, the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 again takes the lead, but by a much smaller margin. It scores 971 points versus the AMD's 947, a 2.5% difference. This near-parity in modern single-threaded performance is striking, given the AMD's 58.8% victory in the older R15 single-core test. It highlights how benchmark software evolution can change the relative performance landscape, with the Intel part pulling ahead in the modern test while the AMD dominates the legacy test. The overall win count is even at 2-2, but the sheer magnitude of the wins differs, with the Intel's R23 multi-core victory being the most decisive performance statement.