AMD Ryzen 5 5560U vs Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two processors split their four direct comparisons exactly, with each taking two wins, but the magnitude and direction of those wins reveal very different design priorities. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 dominates the Cinebench R23 tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U takes the Cinebench R15 tests. The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Xeon scores 11,285 against the Ryzen's 7,667, a 47.2% advantage. This is the largest single delta in the entire head-to-head set, and it underscores the Xeon's strength in sustained, heavily threaded workloads. The Ryzen's eight-core rival cannot match that output, and the 20 MB shared L3 cache on the Xeon likely plays a role in feeding all sixteen threads efficiently during the longer R23 render.

Single-core R23 also favors the Xeon, though by a smaller margin. The Intel part scores 1,593 versus the Ryzen's 1,260, a 26.4% lead. This is notable because the Ryzen has a higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz compared to the Xeon's 3.80 GHz, yet the Xeon still comes out ahead in this particular render test. The architectural efficiency of Zen 3 does not translate into a win here, at least not in this benchmark generation. The Xeon's Broadwell core design, despite its age, delivers higher single-thread performance in R23 than the newer AMD part.

The R15 results reverse the situation. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen posts 202 against the Xeon's 160, a 20.8% advantage. The delta is nearly as large as the Xeon's R23 single-core win, but it goes the other way. In R15 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 1,280 versus 1,137, an 11.2% lead. This is a substantial reversal from the R23 multi-core result, where the Xeon led by nearly half. The two benchmarks stress the processors differently, and the Ryzen's six cores with 12 threads are enough to outpace the Xeon's eight cores with 16 threads in the older R15 workload. The Ryzen also has a higher single-core boost clock, which helps in the shorter R15 render.

Looking at the average benchmark scores in the database, the Xeon sits at 3,264 and the Ryzen at 3,162, a gap of roughly 3%. Both occupy the 53rd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they land in the same performance tier overall. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 at 3,265 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2516 at 3,277 (-0.4%), the Intel Core i3-12100T at 3,277 (-0.4%), and the Intel Xeon E-2374G at 3,278 (-0.4%). The Ryzen's closest competitors are the Intel Xeon E5-2676 v3 at 3,163 (0%), the AMD Ryzen 3 5300GE at 3,160 (0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5850U at 3,159 (0.1%), and the Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 at 3,154 (0.3%). Both processors are firmly mid-pack, and neither pulls away from its immediate neighbors by more than a fraction of a percent.

The head-to-head wins are split, but the performance profile is not symmetric. The Xeon wins where the workload is long and multi-threaded, while the Ryzen wins in the older, shorter R15 test and in single-threaded R15. The R23 results are more telling for modern workloads, as R23 is a newer render test that scales well with cores and benefits from higher sustained clocks. The Xeon's 47.2% lead in R23 multi-core is definitive, and its 26.4% lead in R23 single-core shows that the older architecture still has teeth even in lightly threaded tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 is the clear choice for heavy multi-threaded rendering. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11,285 versus the Ryzen's 7,667 represents a 47.2% advantage, which translates directly to shorter render times in applications that use the newer R23-style workloads. The Xeon also wins in R23 single-core, scoring 1,593 against 1,260, a 26.4% margin. This means even lightly threaded tasks that use the R23 engine will run faster on the Intel part. The Xeon's 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with 20 MB of shared L3 cache, give it a structural advantage in any workload that can use more than six cores. Its 140 W TDP and quad-channel DDR4 memory with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth further support sustained throughput in memory-intensive rendering scenarios.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5560U wins in the Cinebench R15 suite. It scores 202 in single-core against the Xeon's 160, a 20.8% lead, and 1,280 in multi-core against 1,137, an 11.2% lead. These wins indicate that in older render tests, the Ryzen's Zen 3 architecture is more efficient per clock. The Ryzen's higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz helps in R15, which is a shorter workload that does not stress sustained power delivery as heavily. The Ryzen also has integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely, making it a more complete package for systems that do not use a discrete GPU. Its 15 W TDP is a fraction of the Xeon's 140 W, so it wins decisively in scenarios where power draw and thermal output are primary constraints. The Ryzen's dual-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth is lower than the Xeon's quad-channel setup, but for mobile and compact desktop use, that trade-off is acceptable.

For a database-driven recommendation, the Xeon fits workstations that prioritize render performance above all else, especially with the R23 engine. The Ryzen fits mobile or low-power systems where the R15 workload is representative and where integrated graphics and low power consumption matter more than raw multi-threaded throughput. The average benchmark scores place both at the 53rd percentile, so neither is a top-tier part, but their strengths are clearly separated by workload generation and thread count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 scores 11,285 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U scores 7,667. The Xeon leads by 47.2%.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U win any benchmark against the Xeon?

A: Yes. The Ryzen wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 202 against 160, a 20.8% lead, and Cinebench R15 multi-core with 1,280 against 1,137, an 11.2% lead.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The Xeon has an average benchmark score of 3,264, and the Ryzen has 3,162. The Xeon is about 3% higher, and both sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen supports dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory.

Q: Does the Ryzen have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 5560U includes Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics. The Xeon E5-1660 v4 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Xeon has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Ryzen has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Specification Differences

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 and AMD Ryzen 5 5560U differ across nearly every core specification. The Xeon has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Ryzen has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.20 GHz for the Xeon and 2.30 GHz for the Ryzen, but the boost clocks flip the order: the Xeon boosts to 3.80 GHz, while the Ryzen boosts to 4.00 GHz. The TDP difference is extreme: the Xeon draws 140 W, the Ryzen only 15 W.

The cache layouts differ substantially. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Xeon has 256 KB of L2 per core while the Ryzen has 512 KB per core. The L3 cache is 20 MB shared on the Xeon versus 8 MB shared on the Ryzen. The memory bus is quad-channel on the Xeon with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, versus dual-channel on the Ryzen with 51.2 GB/s. Both support DDR4 and ECC memory. The PCIe implementation also differs: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon has no integrated graphics; the Ryzen includes Radeon Vega 6.

The sockets are incompatible: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3, and the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP6. The production status also differs, with the Xeon marked end-of-life and the Ryzen active. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $1113, while the Ryzen has no recorded launch MSRP. The Xeon is a desktop segment part, and the Ryzen is a mobile segment part. The Xeon has a part number of SR2PK, while the Ryzen has none recorded. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors spans five years of silicon evolution. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-EP codename, using Intel's 14 nm process node with the die manufactured by Intel. It contains 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 5 5560U is built on Zen 3, codename Cezanne-U, using TSMC's 7 nm process node. It contains 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Ryzen packs more than three times the transistor count into a smaller die, reflecting the density advantage of the 7 nm node.

The Xeon's architecture is a server-derived design with a large shared L3 cache of 20 MB, whereas the Ryzen's Zen 3 design uses a smaller 8 MB shared L3 cache but larger per-core L2 caches at 512 KB per core. The Xeon's 3,400 million transistors are spread across a 246 mm² die, while the Ryzen's 10,700 million transistors fit into 180 mm². The Ryzen's integrated Radeon Vega 6 graphics block is absent from the Xeon, which relies on a discrete GPU. The Xeon's memory controller supports quad-channel DDR4, while the Ryzen supports dual-channel.

The release dates reflect the generational divide. The Xeon was released on June 19, 2016, and the Ryzen on January 11, 2021. The Xeon targets desktop workstations with a 140 W TDP and 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the Ryzen targets mobile systems with a 15 W TDP and 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. Both use DDR4 memory and support ECC, but the Xeon's quad-channel configuration gives it 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth versus the Ryzen's 51.2 GB/s. The Xeon's 14 nm process and Broadwell architecture represent an older design philosophy focused on multi-threaded throughput and memory bandwidth, while the Ryzen's 7 nm process and Zen 3 architecture prioritize power efficiency and per-core performance within a mobile power envelope. The transistor counts tell the story: the Ryzen has 10,700 million transistors, a figure that dwarfs the Xeon's 3,400 million, even though the Ryzen targets a much lower power budget. The Xeon's end-of-life status and the Ryzen's active production status further highlight the generational shift.