AMD Ryzen 5 4680U vs Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data splits the two processors evenly, with two wins apiece across the four Cinebench comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U takes the older Cinebench R15 tests decisively, while the Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 dominates the newer Cinebench R23 suite. This split highlights how workload generation and test methodology can favor different architectural strengths.

Starting with the AMD side, the Ryzen 5 4680U posts a Cinebench R15 multicore score of 1291 against the Xeon’s 875, a 32.2% advantage. That is the largest margin in either direction across the entire head-to-head set. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: 170 for the Ryzen versus 123 for the Xeon, a 27.6% gap. These are substantial wins, and they indicate that the Zen 2 core design in the Ryzen delivers significantly better performance per thread in that particular benchmark version.

The Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 answers back in Cinebench R23. Its multicore score of 8682 beats the Ryzen’s 7073 by 22.7%, a reversal of the R15 multicore outcome. The single-core R23 result is closer: 1225 for the Xeon versus 1163 for the Ryzen, a 5.3% edge. While the Xeon wins both R23 tests, the single-core margin is modest compared to the Ryzen’s R15 single-core dominance. This suggests the newer R23 workload scales better with the Xeon’s larger shared L3 cache and higher sustained power envelope, whereas R15 rewards the Ryzen’s higher boost clock and newer instruction pipeline.

Looking at the aggregate benchmark scores, the Xeon E5-2643 v3 averages 2511 across all recorded tests, placing it in the 49th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Ryzen 5 4680U averages 2424, sitting at the 48th percentile. The Xeon’s nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon E-2144G at 2514 (0.1% faster), the Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 at 2507 (0.2% slower), and the Intel Core i5-1155G7 at 2496 (0.6% slower). The Ryzen’s closest competitors are the Intel Core i5-8500B at 2423 (0% difference), the Intel Core i7-9850HE at 2421 (0.1% slower), and the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U at 2413 (0.5% slower). Both processors sit in a crowded mid-pack where small percentage swings separate adjacent entries.

The overall win count is 2-2, but the magnitude of the wins matters. The Ryzen’s R15 wins are larger in percentage terms (32.2% and 27.6%) than the Xeon’s R23 wins (22.7% and 5.3%). However, the Xeon’s R23 multicore advantage is the most relevant for modern multi-threaded productivity workloads, as Cinebench R23 is the more recent and demanding test.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload priority. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U is the right choice for users running legacy or lightly threaded applications that resemble Cinebench R15 conditions. Its 27.6% single-core and 32.2% multicore leads in that test are too large to ignore. The Ryzen also delivers this performance from a 15 W TDP, making it suitable for thermally constrained mobile systems.

The Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 is the better pick for modern multi-threaded rendering or compute tasks that mirror Cinebench R23. Its 22.7% multicore lead over the Ryzen is significant, and even its single-core R23 score edges ahead by 5.3%. The Xeon also offers ECC memory support and quad-channel DDR4 bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, features absent from the Ryzen’s dual-channel LPDDR4 configuration at 34.1 GB/s.

For a server or workstation environment where data integrity and memory bandwidth matter, the Xeon’s feature set and R23 performance make it the stronger candidate. For a mobile laptop or power-sensitive deployment, the Ryzen’s R15 results and 15 W TDP are more compelling. The overall average benchmark scores are close (2511 versus 2424), but the workload-specific differences are stark enough to guide a clear decision.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and foundries. The Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 uses the Haswell-EP architecture built on Intel’s 22 nm process, with a die size of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U uses the Zen 2 Renoir architecture on TSMC’s 7 nm process, packing 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die. The smaller process node and higher transistor count give the AMD part a density advantage, but the Xeon’s larger die reflects its server-oriented design.

Cache configurations differ notably. Both parts have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core for the Xeon versus 512 KB per core for the Ryzen. The L3 cache is where the Xeon pulls ahead: 20 MB shared versus 8 MB shared for the Ryzen. This larger L3 pool helps the Xeon in the R23 multicore test, where repeated data access patterns benefit from more on-die storage.

Memory architecture is another major divergence. The Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 with a theoretical bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s and full ECC. The Ryzen supports dual-channel LPDDR4 at 34.1 GB/s with no ECC. The Xeon also provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen lists PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count in the database. The Xeon has no integrated graphics, whereas the Ryzen includes Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors.

The Xeon is a server/workstation part on Intel Socket 2011-3, while the Ryzen is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP6. The Xeon’s base clock is 3.40 GHz with a 3.70 GHz boost, and a 135 W TDP. The Ryzen’s base clock is 2.20 GHz with a 4.00 GHz boost, and a 15 W TDP. The Ryzen’s higher boost clock explains its R15 single-core advantage, while the Xeon’s higher base clock and power budget support sustained multicore throughput.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs share 6 cores and 12 threads, but nearly every other specification differs. The Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U runs at 2.20 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. TDP is starkly different: 135 W for the Xeon versus 15 W for the Ryzen.

Memory support separates them clearly. The Xeon uses DDR4 with a quad-channel bus and 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC. The Ryzen uses LPDDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, without ECC. The Xeon’s socket is Intel Socket 2011-3; the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP6. The Xeon provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU; the Ryzen lists PCIe Gen 3 with no lane count.

Cache differs as described: L2 is 256 KB per core for the Xeon versus 512 KB per core for the Ryzen, and L3 is 20 MB shared versus 8 MB shared. Process node, foundry, transistors, and die size all differ as noted. The Xeon has no integrated graphics; the Ryzen includes Radeon Graphics 448SP. The Xeon launched on 2014-09-07 with a launch MSRP of $1552 and is end-of-life. The Ryzen launched on 2021-04-12 with no launch MSRP recorded and is also end-of-life. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 has an average benchmark score of 2511, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4680U averages 2424. The Xeon also sits one percentile higher, at 49 versus 48.

Q: How large is the Ryzen’s win in Cinebench R15 multicore?

A: The Ryzen 5 4680U scores 1291 versus the Xeon’s 875, a 32.2% advantage. This is the largest performance gap in the entire head-to-head comparison.

Q: Does the Xeon win any single-core test?

A: Yes, the Xeon wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 1225 versus the Ryzen’s 1163, a 5.3% margin. The Ryzen wins R15 single-core by 27.6% (170 versus 123).

Q: What memory features does the Xeon offer that the Ryzen lacks?

A: The Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth and ECC memory. The Ryzen supports dual-channel LPDDR4 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC support.

Q: How do the TDP ratings compare?

A: The Xeon has a TDP of 135 W, while the Ryzen is rated at 15 W. This makes the Ryzen far more suitable for power-constrained mobile designs.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The Xeon has 20 MB shared L3 cache, compared to 8 MB shared for the Ryzen. The Ryzen compensates with 512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB per core for the Xeon.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4680U wins in legacy and single-threaded scenarios. Its Cinebench R15 results are emphatic: a 27.6% single-core lead and a 32.2% multicore lead over the Xeon. The Ryzen’s 4.00 GHz boost clock and newer Zen 2 pipeline give it a clear edge in applications that rely on high per-thread throughput or older benchmark code paths. The 15 W TDP also makes it the only viable choice for fanless or thin-and-light mobile designs. The integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP means no discrete GPU is required for basic display output, a feature the Xeon lacks entirely.

The Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 wins in modern multi-threaded rendering and server workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 8682 beats the Ryzen’s 7073 by 22.7%, showing that the Xeon’s higher TDP and 20 MB L3 cache translate into sustained performance under current-generation compute loads. The single-core R23 result also favors the Xeon, though by a narrower 5.3%. The Xeon’s quad-channel DDR4 with ECC and 68.3 GB/s bandwidth make it the better fit for database servers, virtualized environments, or workstation builds where memory reliability and bandwidth are critical. Its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide expansion headroom that the Ryzen’s mobile platform cannot match.

When neither wins outright, the aggregate data shows near-parity. The Xeon’s average score of 2511 and the Ryzen’s 2424 place them within 3.6% of each other, and both processors sit adjacent to similar rivals in the database. The Xeon’s closest competitor, the Intel Xeon E-2144G, is only 0.1% faster on average, while the Ryzen’s nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-8500B, matches it exactly. For workloads not covered by the four Cinebench tests, the two CPUs should perform similarly, with the Xeon favoring sustained multi-threaded tasks and the Ryzen favoring bursty, single-threaded or power-limited operations. The choice ultimately comes down to platform requirements and the specific benchmark generation that mirrors your application.