AMD Ryzen 5 4680U vs Intel Xeon D-1540 Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-1540 and AMD Ryzen 5 4680U occupy nearly the same overall performance percentile, both sitting at 48, yet they achieve this through starkly different design philosophies. The Xeon D-1540 is a server-class Broadwell part with 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 4680U is a mobile Zen 2 processor with 6 cores and 12 threads. Their average benchmark scores are close — 2467 for the Intel and 2424 for the AMD — but the head-to-head Cinebench results reveal a split decision: each wins two tests, with the Intel taking the R23 rounds and the AMD taking the R15 rounds.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher core count?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1540 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel part also has a higher TDP of 45 watts compared to the AMD's 15 watts.

Q: How do their single-core Cinebench R15 scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins this test with a score of 170 against the Intel Xeon D-1540's 121. This represents a 28.8% advantage for the AMD processor in this specific benchmark.

Q: Which chip wins the multi-core Cinebench R23 test?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1540 takes the R23 multi-core test with a score of 8531, which is 20.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U's 7073. Despite the AMD having a higher boost clock, the Intel's extra two cores and four threads matter in this workload.

Q: What are the process nodes for these two processors?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1540 is built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U uses a 7 nm process from TSMC. The AMD chip also integrates more transistors, with 9,800 million compared to Intel's 3,200 million.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon D-1540 supports ECC memory, which aligns with its server/workstation market segment. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U does not support ECC memory and is designed for the mobile segment.

Q: What is the market segment for each processor?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1540 is classified as a Server/Workstation part and remains in active production. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is a Mobile processor and has reached end-of-life status.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge fundamentally in their architectural foundations. The Intel Xeon D-1540 uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-DE generation, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U, by contrast, employs the Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename, manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. This process advantage allows AMD to pack 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, whereas Intel fits 3,200 million transistors into a larger 246 mm² die.

Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. Both processors share a 64 KB L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: Intel provides 256 KB per core, while AMD doubles this to 512 KB per core. The L3 cache structure is even more divergent. The Intel Xeon D-1540 allocates 1.5 MB of L3 per core, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U uses a shared 8 MB L3 pool across all cores. This reflects different design goals: Intel's per-core allocation suits its server heritage, while AMD's shared pool benefits the mobile workload profile.

Memory support and platform features further separate them. The Intel part supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with ECC memory enabled. The AMD part supports only LPDDR4 in dual-channel mode, with a specified memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, and lacks ECC support. For PCIe, the Intel Xeon D-1540 offers Gen 3 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U provides Gen 3 connectivity without a lane count specified. The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon Graphics with 448 SP, whereas the Intel Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

Clock speeds tell another story. The Intel Xeon D-1540 has a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 2.60 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U starts at a higher 2.20 GHz base and boosts much further to 4.00 GHz. The AMD's higher clocks partially compensate for its lower core count in some workloads, but the Intel's additional cores and threads provide an advantage in heavily threaded tasks.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clean split between the two processors across four Cinebench tests, with each winning two. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U dominates in the R15 tests, while the Intel Xeon D-1540 takes the R23 tests. This pattern suggests that workload characteristics and benchmark versions influence the outcome.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U scores 1291 against the Intel's 859, a 33.5% margin in AMD's favor. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The single-core R15 test follows a similar direction, with AMD scoring 170 versus Intel's 121, a 28.8% advantage. These results align with the AMD's significantly higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz compared to Intel's 2.60 GHz.

The Cinebench R23 tests reverse the outcome. In multi-core R23, the Intel Xeon D-1540 scores 8531, beating the AMD's 7073 by 20.6%. This demonstrates the value of the Intel's 8 cores and 16 threads in a more demanding multi-threaded workload. The single-core R23 test is much closer: Intel scores 1204 against AMD's 1163, a slim 3.5% margin. Notably, the AMD's single-core advantage from R15 disappears in R23, where the Intel chip actually edges ahead.

Looking at the overall benchmark averages, the two processors are nearly identical. The Intel Xeon D-1540 has an average benchmark score of 2467, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U sits at 2424. The nearest rivals for each confirm their comparable standing: the Intel's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-12100TE with a score of 2475, just 0.3% higher, while the AMD's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-8500B at 2423, essentially a tie.

The Verdict

The data presents a nuanced picture rather than a clear winner. The Intel Xeon D-1540 and AMD Ryzen 5 4680U both sit at the 48th percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores differ by less than 2%. The choice between them should be guided by the specific workload and platform requirements.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded performance in newer Cinebench R23 workloads, the Intel Xeon D-1540 offers a 20.6% advantage in multi-core and a 3.5% edge in single-core. Its 8 cores, 16 threads, ECC memory support, and 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes make it suited for server or workstation environments where reliability and expansion matter. The Intel part remains in active production, which may appeal to those needing ongoing availability.

For users focused on mobile efficiency and legacy Cinebench R15 performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U delivers a 33.5% multi-core and 28.8% single-core advantage. Its 15-watt TDP, integrated Radeon Graphics, and 7 nm process make it far more power-efficient for battery-powered devices. However, its end-of-life production status and lack of ECC support limit its appeal for long-term server deployments.

The single-core R23 result is particularly telling: Intel wins by 3.5%, despite AMD's much higher boost clock. This suggests architectural efficiency in the Intel Broadwell design for that specific test. Conversely, the R15 results show AMD's clock speed advantage dominating. Neither processor is universally superior; the right choice depends entirely on which benchmark generation and workload type matters more.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The Intel Xeon D-1540 uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U uses 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2000 MHz for Intel and 2.20 GHz for AMD; boost clocks are 2.60 GHz and 4.00 GHz respectively. The Intel part has a 45-watt TDP, triple the AMD's 15 watts.

Socket and platform differ completely: Intel uses BGA 1667, AMD uses Socket FP6. The Intel architecture is Broadwell on a 14 nm process from Intel's foundry, while AMD uses Zen 2 on a 7 nm process from TSMC. Transistor counts are 3,200 million for Intel versus 9,800 million for AMD, and die sizes are 246 mm² versus 156 mm².

Cache configurations diverge: both have 64 KB L1 per core, but L2 is 256 KB per core for Intel and 512 KB per core for AMD. L3 is 1.5 MB per core for Intel versus 8 MB shared for AMD. Memory support sees Intel offering DDR3 and DDR4 dual-channel with ECC, while AMD offers only LPDDR4 dual-channel at 34.1 GB/s without ECC.

The Intel Xeon D-1540 has 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has Gen 3 without a specified lane count. The AMD includes integrated Radeon Graphics with 448 SP; the Intel has none. Market segments are Server/Workstation for Intel and Mobile for AMD. The Intel is in active production with a launch MSRP of $581, while the AMD is end-of-life with no launch MSRP listed.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon D-1540 wins in scenarios that demand sustained multi-threaded throughput and platform reliability. Its 20.6% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core demonstrates strength in modern rendering workloads. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration, combined with ECC memory support and 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, positions it for server virtualization, database workloads, or workstation compilation tasks where data integrity and I/O expansion are critical. Its active production status also makes it a viable choice for new server builds.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins in power-constrained and legacy benchmark scenarios. Its 33.5% and 28.8% advantages in Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core respectively show strong performance in older application versions. The 15-watt TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermal management take priority. The integrated Radeon Graphics with 448 SP provides display output without a discrete GPU, and the 7 nm process with 9,800 million transistors suggests efficiency for mobile workloads.

The data also shows where each processor is not the right choice. The Intel Xeon D-1540's 45-watt TDP and lack of integrated graphics make it poor for mobile or fanless designs. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U's end-of-life status and lack of ECC support disqualify it for mission-critical server roles. In the R23 single-core test, the Intel wins by only 3.5%, indicating that the AMD is nearly competitive there, but the R15 results show the AMD clearly ahead. For users running primarily R15-era software, the AMD is the better performer; for R23-era software, the Intel takes the lead.