AMD Ryzen 5 2600H vs Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent, though narrow, advantage for the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H across every recorded Cinebench test. The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 does not win a single head-to-head comparison in the database. The Ryzen 5 2600H wins all six recorded benchmarks, with the largest margin coming in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it leads by 1.3%.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 5 2600H scores 685 against the Xeon E3-1535M v5's 677, a 1.2% difference. The single-core result in R15 is nearly identical in proportional terms: 96 versus 95, or 1.1% ahead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore gap is 2856 versus 2824, again 1.1%, while the single-core test shows 403 versus 398, the largest relative gap at 1.3%. Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern: 6801 versus 6726 in multicore (1.1%) and 960 versus 949 in single-core (1.2%).

These margins are small enough that they could be considered within typical run-to-run variance, but the direction is uniform. The Ryzen 5 2600H's average benchmark score of 1967 places it in the 44th percentile of all CPUs, and its closest rival in the database, the AMD Ryzen 3 2300X, scores 1968, a negligible 0.1% difference. The Xeon E3-1535M v5, with an average score of 1945, sits in the same 44th percentile; its nearest competitor, the Intel Xeon E3-1230 v5, scores 1947, just 0.1% higher. The data indicates the two processors occupy essentially the same performance tier, with the AMD part holding a slight edge in every measured workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies and eras. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H uses the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,950 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 uses the Skylake architecture with the Skylake-H codename, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by Intel, with 2,300 million transistors on a 122 mm² die. The AMD chip has more than twice the transistor count and a substantially larger die, reflecting its integrated Vega graphics and different design priorities.

Both processors have 4 cores and 8 threads, and both run at a 45 W TDP. The base clocks differ: the Ryzen 5 2600H starts at 3.20 GHz while the Xeon E3-1535M v5 starts lower at 2.90 GHz. The boost clocks tell a different story: the Intel part boosts higher to 3.70 GHz, while the AMD part reaches 3.60 GHz. The AMD chip's higher base clock helps explain its consistent, if modest, lead in single-core tests despite the Intel chip's higher boost ceiling.

Cache configurations differ notably. The Ryzen 5 2600H has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Xeon E3-1535M v5 has smaller per-core caches: 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2, but doubles the shared L3 to 8 MB. Memory support also diverges. The AMD part supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel access and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel part supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a lower rated bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The AMD chip does not support ECC memory; the Intel Xeon does.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 5 2600H features Radeon Vega 8, while the Xeon E3-1535M v5 carries HD Graphics P530. PCIe lane counts favor the Intel chip: it provides 16 CPU lanes on Gen 3, whereas the AMD part provides only 8 lanes. The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP5 for the Ryzen, Intel BGA 1440 for the Xeon. The AMD processor is from the 2000 series and remains active in production; the Intel Xeon is marked end-of-life and was released in late 2015, while the AMD part arrived in late 2018.

Where Each One Wins

The data shows a clear sweep in favor of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H, so the question is not which chip wins a given benchmark, but rather which workloads show the largest relative advantages. The AMD part's biggest edge comes in Cinebench R20 single-core at 1.3%, suggesting a slight strength in lightly threaded tasks. Its multicore margins hover between 1.1% and 1.2% across R15, R20, and R23, indicating a small but consistent throughput advantage in fully threaded rendering workloads.

The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 does not win any recorded benchmark, but its architecture offers features that matter outside pure CPU throughput. The inclusion of ECC memory support makes it suitable for reliability-oriented tasks, and the higher 16-lane PCIe Gen 3 connection provides more expansion bandwidth for workstation peripherals. Its larger 8 MB shared L3 cache could benefit workloads with high data reuse, though the benchmark data does not isolate cache-sensitive scenarios.

For practical use, the Ryzen 5 2600H is the stronger choice in all measured Cinebench tests, whether single-core or multi-core. The margins are slim, but they are consistent. The Xeon's advantages lie in platform features: ECC memory, more PCIe lanes, and its server/workstation market segment designation. The AMD chip targets mobile with its Radeon Vega 8 graphics, making it a more self-contained solution for a laptop.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher benchmark score in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H scores 6801, which is 1.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5's 6726.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads, and both are rated at a 45 W TDP.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H does not.

Q: How do the boost clocks compare?

A: The Intel chip boosts higher at 3.70 GHz, while the AMD chip boosts to 3.60 GHz. However, the AMD chip has a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 2.90 GHz.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H has an average score of 1967, and the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 has an average score of 1945. The AMD part leads by about 1.1%.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 provides 16 Gen 3 lanes, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H provides 8 Gen 3 lanes.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a simple conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H outperforms the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 in every benchmark test in the database. The margins are narrow, between 1.1% and 1.3%, but they appear across six separate Cinebench tests covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. For anyone choosing strictly on CPU performance as measured by these benchmarks, the Ryzen 5 2600H is the pick.

The Xeon E3-1535M v5 does have a compelling counterargument, but it is not visible in the benchmark scores. It supports ECC memory, offers twice as many PCIe lanes, and has a larger 8 MB L3 cache. Its 2,300 million transistors on a 122 mm² die is a more efficient physical design than the AMD chip's 4,950 million transistors on 210 mm². It also boosts higher, at 3.70 GHz, and carries a launch MSRP of $623. However, the Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD chip remains active in production.

Buyers needing ECC memory or maximum expansion bandwidth should consider the Xeon. Buyers seeking the best raw Cinebench performance, a higher memory bandwidth rating of 51.2 GB/s, or integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics should choose the Ryzen 5 2600H. The data does not show any scenario where the Xeon wins a benchmark, so the decision rests on platform features rather than CPU speed.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H uses the Zen architecture with the Raven Ridge codename, while the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 uses Skylake with the Skylake-H codename. The AMD chip is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die; the Intel chip is also 14 nm but fabricated at Intel with 2,300 million transistors on a 122 mm² die.

Base clocks differ: 3.20 GHz for the AMD part versus 2.90 GHz for the Intel part. Boost clocks are 3.60 GHz and 3.70 GHz, respectively. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support: the AMD chip supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel access and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth; the Intel chip supports DDR3 and DDR4, dual-channel, with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the Intel part.

PCIe connectivity differs: the AMD part provides 8 Gen 3 lanes, the Intel part provides 16 Gen 3 lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8 on the AMD chip and HD Graphics P530 on the Intel chip. Sockets are AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel BGA 1440. The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H is from the 2000 series, released in 2018, and remains active in production; the Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 was released in 2015 and is end-of-life. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $623; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Both are locked against multiplier adjustment.