AMD Ryzen 5 4600U vs Intel Xeon D-1537 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data presents a stark contrast between these two processors. In the two benchmark tests where both have been measured—Cinebench R15 multicore and singlecore—the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U wins decisively. The multicore score shows the AMD at 1089 against the Intel Xeon D-1537's 637, a delta of 71% in favor of the Ryzen. That is not a marginal edge; it is a near-total rout in a test that typically scales with core count and architecture efficiency. The singlecore result is even more lopsided: the Ryzen scores 175.5 versus the Xeon's 90, a 95% advantage. This means the AMD chip delivers roughly double the per-thread performance of the Intel part in this workload.

Looking at the broader average score, the two processors are effectively tied. The Ryzen 5 4600U has an average benchmark score of 1832, while the Xeon D-1537 sits at 1830. The nearestRivals data shows a deltaPct of 0.1% between them, with the Ryzen marginally ahead. This apparent contradiction—a tie in average score but a massive disparity in the head-to-head tests—is explained by the fact that the average includes different benchmark suites. The Xeon D-1537 has additional scores in Cinebench R20 and R23, which are not present for the Ryzen. Those extra data points pull its average up, masking the fact that in directly comparable tests, the AMD is far faster. The percentileVsAllCpus field is identical for both at 42, placing them in the same tier relative to all other CPUs in the database, but this metric is a coarse grouping and does not reflect the head-to-head deltas.

The Ryzen's wins are not close calls. In Cinebench R15 multicore, a 71% lead suggests the Zen 2 architecture's efficiency and the 4.00 GHz boost clock are overwhelming the Xeon's older Broadwell design, which tops out at 2.30 GHz. The singlecore delta of 95% is even more telling: it indicates that for any lightly threaded task, the Ryzen 5 4600U is in a completely different performance class. The Xeon D-1537's only counterargument comes from its additional benchmark scores in R20 and R23, but those are not directly comparable to the Ryzen's results. In the only apples-to-apples comparisons available, the AMD processor wins both by landslide margins.

FAQ

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U compare to the Intel Xeon D-1537 in average benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 5 4600U has an average benchmark score of 1832, while the Xeon D-1537 scores 1830. The deltaPct between them is 0.1%, meaning they are statistically tied on this aggregate metric, despite the Ryzen's dominance in head-to-head tests.

Q: What is the singlecore performance difference between the two?

A: In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the Ryzen 5 4600U scores 175.5 versus the Xeon D-1537's 90, giving the AMD chip a 95% advantage. This is the largest delta in any shared benchmark.

Q: Does the Xeon D-1537 win any benchmark where both are tested?

A: No. The headToHeadBenchmarks data shows two tests—Cinebench R15 multicore and singlecore—and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U wins both. The winsA field is 2 and winsB is 0.

Q: Why does the Xeon D-1537 have a similar average score despite losing head-to-head?

A: The Xeon has additional benchmark results in Cinebench R20 and R23 that are not available for the Ryzen 5 4600U. These extra scores, such as 6327 in R23 multicore, contribute to its average and offset the poor R15 results.

Q: What is the multicore delta in Cinebench R15?

A: The Ryzen 5 4600U scores 1089, and the Xeon D-1537 scores 637, resulting in a 71% advantage for the AMD processor.

Q: Which processor has a higher percentile ranking among all CPUs?

A: Both are identical at the 42nd percentile, indicating they are in the same performance tier when compared against the entire database of CPUs tested.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous for anyone prioritizing raw performance in shared workloads. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is the superior choice in every directly comparable benchmark. It delivers 71% higher multicore throughput and 95% higher singlecore throughput in Cinebench R15. For tasks like general productivity, web browsing, or any single-threaded application, the Ryzen is in a different league. Its 4.00 GHz boost clock and Zen 2 architecture simply outclass the Xeon's 2.30 GHz Broadwell design.

The Intel Xeon D-1537, however, is not without a rationale for selection. Its 8 cores and 16 threads outnumber the Ryzen's 6 cores and 12 threads, and it supports ECC memory, which the Ryzen does not. It also has a lower transistor count (3,200 million versus 9,800 million) and a larger die size (246 mm² versus 156 mm²), but those are architectural details, not performance advantages. The Xeon's additional Cinebench R20 and R23 scores indicate it can sustain reasonable performance in modern render tests, but without Ryzen scores in those same tests, no direct comparison is possible.

For a mobile or low-power system where the 15W TDP of the Ryzen is a clear benefit, the choice is obvious. The Xeon's 35W TDP is double that, making it less suitable for thin-and-light laptops. For a server or workstation where ECC memory and 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are essential, the Xeon D-1537 is the only option that meets those needs. The data shows the Ryzen wins on speed, but the Xeon wins on feature set for enterprise reliability. Most buyers will prefer the Ryzen's performance; the Xeon is for a niche that cannot compromise on ECC.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Xeon D-1537 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ryzen's base clock is 2.10 GHz, boosting to 4.00 GHz; the Xeon's base clock is listed as 1700.00 MHz (1.70 GHz) and boosts to 2.30 GHz. The Ryzen has a TDP of 15 watts, the Xeon a TDP of 35 watts. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP6, the Xeon uses Intel BGA 1667. The Ryzen's L2 cache is 512 KB per core, the Xeon's is 256 KB per core; the Ryzen has 8 MB of shared L3, the Xeon has 1.5 MB per core. The Ryzen supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 memory, the Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4. The Ryzen has integrated Radeon RX Vega 6 graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen does not support ECC memory; the Xeon does. The Ryzen's PCIe is Gen 3 with no lane count specified; the Xeon has Gen 3 with 24 lanes (CPU only). The Ryzen has 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die; the Xeon has 3,200 million on a 246 mm² die. The Ryzen uses a 7 nm process from TSMC; the Xeon uses Intel's 14 nm process. The Ryzen was released in January 2020, the Xeon in October 2015. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $470; the Ryzen has no listed MSRP.

Architecture Differences

These are not just different chips; they are different design philosophies separated by five years of silicon evolution. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is built on Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, using a 7 nm process from TSMC. This is a modern, power-efficient design aimed at mobile computing, with a transistor density that is staggering: 9,800 million transistors packed into a 156 mm² die. The Intel Xeon D-1537, in contrast, is a Broadwell-DE part on a 14 nm process from Intel, with 3,200 million transistors on a larger 246 mm² die. The node advantage alone explains much of the performance gap—7 nm transistors switch faster and leak less current than 14 nm ones, allowing the Ryzen to hit higher clocks at a fraction of the power.

The cache hierarchy also tells a story. The Ryzen uses 512 KB of L2 per core and 8 MB of shared L3. The Xeon uses 256 KB of L2 per core and 1.5 MB of L3 per core. The Ryzen's larger L2 and shared L3 are better suited for the bursty, latency-sensitive workloads common in client computing. The Xeon's per-core L3 allocation is a server-oriented design, but its absolute size is smaller per core. The Ryzen has no ECC support, reinforcing its client focus, while the Xeon's ECC support is a hallmark of server reliability. The Xeon also has 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes directly from the CPU, which is a server feature for adding controllers and accelerators; the Ryzen's PCIe lane count is unspecified but is Gen 3 as well.

The integrated graphics are a major architectural split. The Ryzen includes a Radeon RX Vega 6 GPU, making it a complete APU. The Xeon has no integrated graphics at all, which is standard for server parts that assume a discrete GPU or no display output. This means the Ryzen can power a laptop display on its own, while the Xeon requires a separate graphics card. The memory controllers also differ: the Ryzen supports DDR4 and LPDDR4, the latter being common in ultraportables, while the Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4, which is useful for upgrading older server platforms. The Ryzen's memory bandwidth is rated at 51.2 GB/s; the Xeon's is not listed, but its DDR3 support suggests lower bandwidth ceilings.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U dominates in every benchmark where both are tested, so its winning territory is broad. It wins in Cinebench R15 multicore by 71% and in singlecore by 95%. Any workload that is latency-sensitive or lightly threaded—such as office applications, web browsing, or coding in a single-threaded editor—will see a massive benefit from the Ryzen's 4.00 GHz boost clock. The 15W TDP also makes it the clear winner for fanless or thin-and-light designs, where thermal headroom is the limiting factor. Its integrated Radeon RX Vega 6 GPU means it can handle basic graphics tasks without a discrete card, which is a win for compact systems.

The Intel Xeon D-1537 has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head data, but its specification sheet reveals where it could win in practice. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide more parallel capacity on paper, though the Ryzen's higher IPC makes that advantage moot in the R15 multicore test. The Xeon's ECC memory support is a decisive win for any application that cannot tolerate silent data corruption—think financial modeling, scientific computing, or long-running server processes. Its 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) allow for more direct I/O expansion, which is a win for network cards, storage controllers, or FPGA accelerators in a server chassis. The Xeon's support for DDR3 memory is also a win for organizations with existing DDR3 inventory, allowing them to reuse memory modules. And its 35W TDP, while higher than the Ryzen's 15W, is still low enough for passive cooling in some embedded or networking appliances, where the lack of integrated graphics is a non-issue because a management processor handles display.

In short, the Ryzen wins on speed, efficiency, and integrated features. The Xeon wins on reliability features (ECC) and server-specific I/O (PCIe lanes, DDR3 compatibility). For a laptop or desktop replacement, the Ryzen is the only logical choice. For a rack-mounted server that needs ECC and direct PCIe expansion, the Xeon is the data's pick, despite its slower clock speeds and older architecture. The benchmark data only knows how to measure speed, and there, the Ryzen is the undisputed winner.