AMD Ryzen 5 4680U vs Intel Xeon D-1541 Comparison

The Intel Xeon D-1541 and AMD Ryzen 5 4680U are both 48th-percentile performers, but they achieve that ranking through opposite design philosophies. The Xeon D-1541 is a 45W server chip with 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 4680U is a 15W mobile processor with 6 cores and 12 threads. The benchmark data shows a split decision: the AMD chip dominates the older Cinebench R15 tests, while the Intel chip wins the newer R23 tests. This creates a nuanced picture where the "better" chip depends entirely on which workload you prioritize.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, where the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U scores 1291 against the Intel Xeon D-1541's 852. That is a 34% advantage for AMD, a massive gap that cannot be explained by core count alone — the Intel chip actually has two more cores and four more threads. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern, with AMD at 170 versus Intel's 120, a 29.4% lead. These are the largest deltas in the entire comparison, and they suggest the Ryzen 5 4680U extracts far more performance per clock in legacy workloads.

The story flips completely in Cinebench R23. In the multicore test, the Intel Xeon D-1541 scores 8463 against AMD's 7073, giving Intel a 19.7% victory. This is a remarkable reversal — the same two chips, but the Intel part goes from being 34% behind to nearly 20% ahead. The R23 single-core test is much closer, with Intel at 1194 and AMD at 1163, a slim 2.7% margin. Interestingly, the Intel chip wins R23 single-core despite having a lower boost clock (2.70 GHz versus 4.00 GHz), which points to architectural differences in how the two processors handle newer instruction sets and scaling.

The head-to-head record is exactly even at 2 wins each. But the magnitude of those wins matters: AMD's R15 victories are blowouts (34% and 29.4%), while Intel's R23 wins are more moderate (19.7% and 2.7%). If you average the deltas, AMD's total advantage across all four tests is larger, but the R23 results are more recent and arguably more relevant to modern software. The average benchmark scores reflect this tension — the Intel chip sits at 2447, barely ahead of AMD's 2424, a difference of less than 1%.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is the clear winner for single-threaded and lightly-threaded legacy applications. Its R15 single-core score of 170 is nearly 42% higher than Intel's 120, which translates to snappier responsiveness in older games, office productivity, and general desktop use where most tasks hit one or two cores. The R15 multicore result of 1291 also indicates that even fully-loaded older workloads run substantially faster on the AMD chip, despite its lower core count.

The Intel Xeon D-1541 takes the crown for modern multi-threaded workloads. Its R23 multicore score of 8463 represents a 19.7% advantage over AMD, and this is the test that best reflects contemporary rendering, video encoding, and scientific computing. The Xeon also edges out AMD in R23 single-core (1194 vs 1163), meaning it is not merely a multi-core brute — it is also slightly faster in current single-threaded benchmarks. For anyone running Cinebench R23-class software, the Intel chip is the superior choice across the board.

A practical split emerges: choose the AMD for legacy software compatibility and older game engines, choose the Intel for modern production workloads. The R15 benchmarks are not obsolete — many enterprise and industrial applications still rely on those code paths. But if your software stack has been updated within the last few years, the R23 results are the stronger predictor of real-world performance.

Architecture Differences

These chips are separated by six years of design philosophy and two different foundries. The Intel Xeon D-1541 uses the Broadwell architecture on a 14 nm process, manufactured by Intel itself with 3,200 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U uses Zen 2 on a 7 nm process, built by TSMC with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The transistor density difference is stark: AMD packs three times as many transistors into a smaller area, which explains its superior power efficiency (15W TDP versus 45W).

Cache configurations diverge significantly. Both share the same 64 KB L1 per core, but the L2 cache differs: Intel uses 256 KB per core while AMD uses 512 KB per core, giving AMD double the L2 on a per-core basis. The L3 cache is organized differently — Intel provides 1.5 MB per core, while AMD provides 8 MB shared across all cores. For a 6-core chip, AMD's shared pool is effectively larger per core, but Intel's per-core allocation can benefit workloads that repeatedly access the same data.

Memory support is a major differentiator. The Intel chip supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, with ECC memory enabled. The AMD chip only supports LPDDR4, also dual-channel, with a specified memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s and no ECC support. For server deployments, the Xeon's ECC support is critical; for mobile use, the Ryzen's LPDDR4 is more power-efficient. The Intel chip also offers 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD chip lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count.

Integrated graphics separate these chips entirely. The Intel Xeon D-1541 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU or a server BMC for display output. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U includes Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors, making it a complete APU solution for thin-and-light laptops. The production status also differs: the Intel chip is listed as Active, while the AMD chip is End-of-life.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear recommendation for each use case. If you are building or upgrading a server or workstation where ECC memory, 24 PCIe lanes, and DDR3/DDR4 flexibility matter, the Intel Xeon D-1541 is the only choice — the AMD chip cannot even use ECC memory. The Intel chip's R23 multicore win (8463 vs 7073) also makes it the better pick for modern multi-threaded server workloads, provided your software is compiled with contemporary optimizations.

If you are looking for a mobile processor or a compact system where power efficiency and integrated graphics are essential, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins decisively. Its 15W TDP is one-third of the Intel chip's 45W, and the built-in Radeon Graphics eliminate the need for a separate GPU. The R15 benchmark results (1291 vs 852 multicore, 170 vs 120 single-core) show that for older applications, the AMD chip is dramatically faster. The 4.00 GHz boost clock versus 2.70 GHz gives it a massive frequency advantage that older software can exploit.

For a head-to-head production decision, weigh the R23 results more heavily if you run current software. The Intel chip is 19.7% ahead in R23 multicore and 2.7% ahead in R23 single-core, making it the faster overall processor for modern workloads. But the AMD chip's power efficiency and integrated graphics make it the more versatile component for systems where space, heat, and cost of the surrounding platform matter more than raw multi-threaded performance. Both chips sit at the 48th percentile of all CPUs, meaning neither is a performance leader — they are mid-pack parts with distinct strengths.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R15 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U, scoring 1291 versus the Intel Xeon D-1541's 852. That is a 34% advantage for AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon D-1541 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins both Cinebench R23 tests. It scores 8463 in multicore (19.7% ahead of AMD's 7073) and 1194 in single-core (2.7% ahead of AMD's 1163).

Q: What is the core and thread count for each chip?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1541 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U support ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory is only supported by the Intel Xeon D-1541. The AMD chip supports LPDDR4 memory without ECC.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has integrated graphics, featuring Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors. The Intel Xeon D-1541 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The Intel Xeon D-1541 has a TDP of 45 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U has a TDP of 15 watts — exactly one-third the power draw.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon D-1541 | AMD Ryzen 5 4680U |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.70 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1667 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Broadwell | Renoir |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | 3,200 million | 9,800 million |

| Die Size | 246 mm² | 156 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 1.5 MB (per core) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | LPDDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 34.1 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Graphics 448SP |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2015-10-31 | 2021-04-12 |

| Launch MSRP | $581 | Not specified |

| Part Number | SR2DE | 100-000000356 |