AMD Ryzen 5 5600U vs Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U records an average benchmark score of 3053, while the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 scores 2978. The Ryzen sits slightly above its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U (3063), by -0.3%, while the Xeon trails its closest competitor, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5675U (2988), by -0.3%.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U wins with a score of 1371 versus 1354 for the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4, a delta of 1.3%. This is a narrow margin, indicating near parity in that specific workload.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U does not. This makes the Xeon the relevant choice for systems requiring error-correcting memory.

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

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has a quad-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U uses a dual-channel bus at 51.2 GB/s. The Xeon offers roughly 50% more theoretical memory bandwidth.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U is listed as Active, while the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is End-of-life. The Ryzen remains in production, the Xeon does not.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has 15 MB of shared L3 cache. The difference is 1 MB.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne-U, using a 7 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 uses the older Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-EP, on Intel's 14 nm process, with 3,400 million transistors and a die size of 246 mm². The process node gap is significant: 7 nm versus 14 nm, which explains the large difference in transistor density despite the Xeon's larger physical die.

Both processors have 6 cores and 12 threads, so the core topology is identical. The Ryzen 5 5600U carries 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, while the Xeon E5-1650 v4 also has 64 KB of L1 per core but only 256 KB of L2 per core. The L3 cache is close: 16 MB shared on the AMD versus 15 MB shared on the Intel.

The memory subsystems diverge sharply. The Ryzen uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and does not support ECC. The Xeon uses quad-channel DDR4 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The Xeon also offers far more PCIe connectivity with 40 lanes of Gen 3 versus the Ryzen's 8 lanes of Gen 3.

The Ryzen 5 5600U is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, while the Xeon E5-1650 v4 is a desktop part with a 140 W TDP. The Intel chip consumes substantially more power, consistent with its server heritage. The Ryzen includes integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen is socketed in AMD Socket FP6, the Xeon in Intel Socket 2011-3. The base clock of the Xeon is higher at 3.60 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, but the Ryzen boosts higher at 4.20 GHz versus 4.00 GHz.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split by workload type. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U wins 4 of the 6 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, including all single-core tests and the Cinebench R15 multicore test. It is the better choice for single-threaded responsiveness, older Cinebench versions, and any task that favors the newer Zen 3 core design.

The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test by a wide margin and edges out the Ryzen in Geekbench multicore by a very slim margin. It is the better choice for sustained multi-threaded rendering in the Cinebench R23 workload and for systems that require ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth, or 40 PCIe lanes.

For mobile users, the Ryzen 5 5600U is the only realistic option given its 15 W TDP and active production status. The Xeon is a desktop part with a 140 W TDP and is end-of-life. The Ryzen also delivers significantly better single-core performance, which matters for general responsiveness. The Xeon remains relevant for workstation builds where memory capacity, ECC support, and PCIe expansion take priority over single-core speed.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 140 W |

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

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Broadwell |

| Codename | Cezanne-U | Broadwell-EP |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

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

| Die Size | 180 mm² | 246 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 15 MB (shared) |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 7 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

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

| Launch MSRP | None listed | $621 |

| Part Number | 100-000000287 | SR2P7 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U at 1321 versus 966 for the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4, a delta of 36.7% in favor of AMD. This is the largest multicore advantage for the Ryzen in the recorded data. The Cinebench R15 single-core test is even more lopsided: 223 versus 136, a 64% lead for the AMD part. That 64% delta is the biggest margin in any head-to-head comparison between these two processors.

The Cinebench R23 multicore test flips the result decisively. The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 scores 9592 against 7792.5 for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U, giving Intel an 18.8% advantage. This is the largest multicore win for the Xeon. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen wins again but by the slimmest margin in the entire set: 1371 versus 1354, a 1.3% difference.

The Geekbench multicore test is nearly a tie. The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 scores 6060 versus 6043 for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U, a delta of only -0.3%. In Geekbench single-core, the AMD part wins by a substantial 39.7%, scoring 1567 against 1122.

The overall benchmark distribution shows a pattern: the Ryzen 5 5600U dominates single-core performance across all three test suites, while the Xeon E5-1650 v4 takes the lead only in the two multicore tests where the workload scales heavily with memory bandwidth and sustained throughput. The Ryzen's wins are often larger in percentage terms, with three of its four victories exceeding 36%, while the Xeon's two wins are either very narrow (0.3%) or substantial (18.8%).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U is the clear winner in single-threaded workloads. It leads the Xeon E5-1650 v4 by 64% in Cinebench R15 single-core, by 39.7% in Geekbench single-core, and by 1.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core. Applications that depend on per-core speed, such as everyday desktop use, legacy software, and lightly threaded productivity tasks, will benefit from the Ryzen's newer Zen 3 architecture and higher 4.20 GHz boost clock.

The Ryzen also wins the Cinebench R15 multicore test by 36.7%, despite the Xeon having a higher base clock and quad-channel memory. This suggests that the Zen 3 core design is more efficient in this older workload. The Ryzen is additionally the only one of the two with integrated graphics, so systems without a discrete GPU can rely on the Radeon Vega 7.

The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test by 18.8%, which is its strongest result. This workload appears to favor the Xeon's higher 3.60 GHz base clock combined with its 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Xeon also wins Geekbench multicore by 0.3%, a statistical tie but still a recorded win. For rendering tasks that resemble Cinebench R23, the Xeon holds the advantage.

The Xeon's quad-channel memory bus and ECC support make it suitable for memory-intensive workstation tasks, even though the benchmark data does not directly measure that. Its 40 PCIe lanes also allow for far more expansion capability than the Ryzen's 8 lanes. The Xeon is the pick for users who need ECC, high memory throughput, or extensive PCIe connectivity. The Ryzen is the pick for single-core performance, mobile deployments, and any workload where the 15 W TDP matters.