AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS vs Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS boosts to 4.20 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 reaches 4.00 GHz. The AMD part also starts from a lower 3.00 GHz base clock versus the Intel's 3.40 GHz.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 records an average benchmark score of 3494, placing it in the 55th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS scores 3447 on average, sitting at the 54th percentile. The difference is less than 1.5%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS does not. This is a notable distinction for workstation or server-oriented tasks.

Q: Which chip has a higher thread count?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads, giving the Intel part a 33% advantage in thread count.

Q: What are the memory channel configurations?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 uses a quad-channel memory bus with 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS uses dual-channel memory with 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS features Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for display output.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and fabrication generations. The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 uses the Broadwell-EP architecture built on Intel's 14 nm process node, with a die size of 246 mm² and 3,400 million transistors. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS uses the Zen 3 architecture on TSMC's 7 nm node, with a smaller 180 mm² die but a much higher transistor count of 10,700 million. This reflects the denser 7 nm process and the integration of additional logic.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Intel part has 256 KB of L2 per core while the AMD part has 512 KB per core. In L3 cache, the Intel Xeon offers 20 MB shared, while the Ryzen 5 provides 16 MB shared. The Intel chip's larger L3 pool helps compensate for its older architecture, but the AMD part's larger per-core L2 is beneficial for certain workloads.

The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 is a desktop-class processor on the Intel Socket 2011-3, part of the Xeon E5 family. Its production status is end-of-life. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP6, part of the 5000 series, and is currently active in production. The Intel chip has a 140 W TDP, while the AMD chip draws only 35 W, a fourfold difference in thermal envelope.

The Intel Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with ECC, and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only). The AMD Ryzen supports dual-channel DDR4 without ECC, and provides PCIe Gen 3 without a specified lane count. The Intel part also has a launch MSRP of $1723, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results reveal a split decision, with each processor winning two tests in the head-to-head comparison. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS dominates the Cinebench R15 tests. In R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 1563 versus Intel's 1217, a 22.1% advantage for AMD. In R15 single-core, the AMD scores 223 versus Intel's 171, a 23.3% lead. These are substantial wins for the Zen 3 architecture in the older benchmark.

The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 strikes back decisively in Cinebench R23. In R23 multi-core, the Intel scores 12080 versus AMD's 9564, giving Intel a 26.3% lead. In R23 single-core, Intel scores 1705 versus AMD's 1367, a 24.7% advantage. This reversal suggests that the newer R23 workload scales better with the Intel chip's 8 cores and 20 MB L3 cache, despite the AMD part's superior per-core performance in R15.

The overall benchmark scores are nearly identical: Intel's average is 3494, AMD's is 3447. The Intel Xeon's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E-2246G with an average score of 3492 and a delta of 0.1%, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-10870H with a score of 3446 and a delta of 0%. Both processors sit at similar percentile rankings (55th for Intel, 54th for AMD), indicating they occupy essentially the same performance tier in the database's aggregate metrics.

Specification Differences

The specification table shows distinct differences across nearly every category:

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 35 W |

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

| Architecture | Broadwell | Zen 3 |

| Process node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Transistors | 3,400 million | 10,700 million |

| Die size | 246 mm² | 180 mm² |

| L2 cache | 256 KB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 20 MB shared | 16 MB shared |

| Memory bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 68.3 GB/s |

| ECC support | Yes | No |

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

| Integrated graphics | None | Radeon Vega 7 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release date | 2016-06-19 | 2021-01-11 |

| Part number | SR2P8 | 100-000000296 |

The Intel chip is larger in die size, has more cores and threads, more L3 cache, higher base clock, quad-channel memory, and ECC support. The AMD chip is smaller, has a higher boost clock, more L2 per core, integrated graphics, a much lower TDP, and a newer release date.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Xeon E5-1680 v4 wins in:

• Multi-core heavy Cinebench R23 workloads: The 26.3% advantage in R23 multi-core suggests the Intel part handles sustained, thread-heavy rendering tasks better. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide more parallel execution resources.
• Single-core Cinebench R23 workloads: The 24.7% lead in R23 single-core is notable, indicating that the Broadwell architecture's high base clock and large L3 cache offer strong performance in modern single-threaded tasks.
• ECC memory scenarios: With ECC support and quad-channel DDR4, the Intel Xeon is suited for error-sensitive workstation applications where data integrity is critical.
• Memory bandwidth: The 76.8 GB/s quad-channel bandwidth exceeds the AMD's 68.3 GB/s, benefiting memory-intensive workloads.

AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS wins in:

• Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core: The AMD chip leads by 22.1% and 23.3% respectively in the older R15 benchmark, showing that Zen 3's per-core efficiency and higher boost clock (4.20 GHz) deliver strong performance in that test.
• Power efficiency: With a 35 W TDP versus Intel's 140 W, the AMD processor delivers competitive performance at a fraction of the power draw, making it ideal for thin-and-light laptops or compact systems.
• Integrated graphics: The Radeon Vega 7 GPU allows for display output and basic graphics acceleration without a discrete card, a feature the Intel Xeon entirely lacks.
• Modern platform: Being active in production and released in 2021, the AMD part benefits from newer process technology (7 nm) and a denser transistor count (10,700 million) that enables more of its features to be packed into a smaller die.

Overall assessment: The two chips are nearly equal in aggregate performance, with a 1.4% difference in average benchmark scores. The choice hinges on context: the Intel Xeon is a server-grade desktop part with ECC, quad-channel memory, and higher thread count, while the AMD Ryzen is a mobile part with integrated graphics, drastically lower power consumption, and superior results in the R15 benchmark suite. For a database user, the Intel chip is the pick for legacy workstation builds needing ECC and high L3 cache, while the AMD chip is the pick for portable systems where power efficiency and integrated graphics are paramount. The head-to-head record is tied at 2 wins each, reflecting the balanced but differently weighted nature of the two processors.