AMD Ryzen 5 4680U vs Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits cleanly across generations and workloads, with each processor taking two wins out of the four head-to-head tests. The most dramatic margin belongs to the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 1291 against the Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3's 839 — a 53.9% advantage. That is not a subtle gap; it is the kind of result that flips a rendering job from a waiting game into a quick turnaround. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story, with the Ryzen 5 4680U at 170 versus the Xeon's 118, a 44.1% lead. In that test, the Ryzen's newer architecture and higher boost clock simply overwhelm the older Intel part.

Flip to Cinebench R23, however, and the script reverses. The Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 posts 8330 multi-core versus the Ryzen 5 4680U's 7073, a 15.1% victory. That is a meaningful swing, and it suggests that the Xeon's extra two cores and sixteen threads start to matter as the workload scales up and runs longer. The R23 single-core result is nearly a tie: the Xeon edges ahead 1176 to 1163, a 1.1% margin that is effectively noise but still counts as a win for Intel. Across all benchmarks, the average scores are close — the Ryzen 5 4680U sits at 2424, the Xeon at 2409 — and both processors occupy the 48th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rival list for each confirms they are neck-and-neck: the Ryzen is 0.6% ahead of the Xeon, while the Xeon is 0.1% behind the Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U. In short, these are peers in aggregate, but they achieve parity through very different strengths.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 5 4680U is built on AMD's Zen 2 architecture, specifically the Renoir die, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Xeon E5-2630L v3 uses Intel's Haswell-EP architecture, a 22 nm part from Intel's own fabs, with 8 cores and 16 threads at a 1.80 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. The process node gap is stark — 7 nm versus 22 nm — and it shows in power and density. The Ryzen's TDP is 15 watts; the Xeon's is 55 watts. That is not a small difference in a server rack or a laptop chassis, and it explains why the Ryzen can hit higher clocks on far less power.

Cache configurations diverge sharply. The Ryzen 5 4680U has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Xeon E5-2630L v3 also has 64 KB of L1 per core but only 256 KB of L2 per core, compensated by a much larger 20 MB of shared L3. That larger L3 serves the Xeon's eight cores well in multi-threaded workloads, and the R23 multi-core result reflects that. The Ryzen's smaller L3 is paired with a dual-channel LPDDR4 memory bus delivering 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth, while the Xeon runs quad-channel DDR4 at 59.7 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory; the Ryzen does not. On PCIe, both are Gen 3, but the Xeon offers 40 lanes (CPU only) versus the Ryzen's unspecified lane count — a clear server-oriented advantage.

The Xeon is a server/workstation part on Intel Socket 2011-3, while the Ryzen is a mobile chip on AMD Socket FP6. The Xeon has no integrated graphics; the Ryzen includes Radeon Graphics with 448 SPs. Transistor counts reflect the process and complexity: the Ryzen packs 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Xeon uses 2,600 million on a much larger 356 mm² die. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $612, and it released in September 2014; the Ryzen came out in April 2021 and is now end-of-life, as is the Xeon. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: It depends on the test generation. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins decisively at 170 versus 118, a 44.1% margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 takes a narrow 1176-to-1163 win, just 1.1% ahead.

Q: Why does the Xeon win multi-core in R23 but lose badly in R15?

A: The Xeon has more cores (8 versus 6) and threads (16 versus 12), which helps in sustained, modern multi-threaded loads like R23. But its old Haswell cores are far slower per clock, so in R15 — a shorter, less parallel test — the Ryzen's higher boost clock (4.00 GHz versus 2.90 GHz) and newer Zen 2 architecture dominate, producing a 53.9% win.

Q: Can the Ryzen 5 4680U be used in a server motherboard?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 4680U uses AMD Socket FP6, a mobile socket, and its memory support is LPDDR4 with no ECC. The Xeon E5-2630L v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3 with quad-channel DDR4 and ECC support, making it the appropriate choice for server platforms.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 4680U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Xeon E5-2630L v3 has a TDP of 55 watts. That is a 40-watt difference, which matters for cooling and operating cost in dense deployments.

Q: Which has better memory bandwidth?

A: The Xeon E5-2630L v3, with quad-channel DDR4 at 59.7 GB/s, versus the Ryzen's dual-channel LPDDR4 at 34.1 GB/s. The Xeon's memory subsystem is a clear advantage for memory-intensive server tasks.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: No. Both are end-of-life. The Xeon launched in September 2014, and the Ryzen launched in April 2021.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple split: if you are building a low-power mobile system or need strong single-threaded performance in short bursts, the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is the pick. Its 44.1% single-core R15 lead and 53.9% multi-core R15 lead are decisive, and its 15-watt TDP makes it viable in thin-and-light machines where the Xeon's 55-watt draw would be a non-starter. The Ryzen also brings integrated Radeon Graphics, so no discrete GPU is required for basic display output.

If your workload is sustained multi-threading on a server platform, the Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 wins. Its 15.1% margin in R23 multi-core, combined with quad-channel DDR4, ECC support, and 40 PCIe lanes, makes it the better fit for memory-heavy, reliability-critical tasks. The R23 single-core tie (1.1% apart) means you are not giving up much in lightly threaded work, and the extra two cores and four threads give it headroom as core counts scale. Neither part is a clear overall winner — both sit at the 48th percentile with average scores within 0.6% — so the choice hinges entirely on platform and workload profile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 4680U | Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 55 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 (Renoir) | Haswell (Haswell-EP) |

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 22 nm (Intel) |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | 2,600 million |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 356 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics 448SP | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | April 2021 | September 2014 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $612 |

| Part Number | 100-000000356 | SR209 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins in scenarios that reward high clock speeds and modern IPC without heavy sustained loads. Cinebench R15 is the clearest example: it leads by 53.9% in multi-core and 44.1% in single-core, which translates to snappy responsiveness in everyday applications, faster compile times for short builds, and better performance in lightly threaded software like older games or office suites. Its 15-watt TDP and integrated graphics make it the obvious choice for a laptop or a compact all-in-one where power delivery and thermals are constrained. The 7 nm process and 9,800 million transistors in a 156 mm² die mean it delivers that performance in a physically small package.

The Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 wins where thread count and memory bandwidth rule. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration and 20 MB of L3 cache drive a 15.1% multi-core win in R23, a test that scales well beyond the Ryzen's 6 cores and 12 threads. The quad-channel DDR4 at 59.7 GB/s — nearly double the Ryzen's bandwidth — makes it superior for database queries, virtualization, or any workload that streams large datasets. ECC memory support is a hard requirement for many server environments, and the 40 PCIe lanes allow for more expansion cards, NVMe drives, or network adapters. The Xeon also wins on raw L3 capacity, with 20 MB versus 8 MB, which helps in workloads with large working sets that fit in cache. Its 55-watt TDP is higher, but in a server chassis that is a manageable trade for the platform features it brings.