AMD Ryzen 5 5625U vs Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U and Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 represent two very different eras of processor design, with the data showing a split decision across benchmark generations. The Ryzen 5 5625U, a 7nm mobile chip from 2022, and the Xeon E5-1660 v3, a 22nm workstation part from 2014, each claim two head-to-head wins in the shared benchmark suite, making this a genuine architectural showdown rather than a one-sided rout.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic disparity emerges in the Cinebench R15 tests, where the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U delivers a decisive performance sweep. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 5 5625U scores 1447 against the Xeon's 1074, a 34.7% advantage. This is a substantial margin that highlights how far mobile processor efficiency has come; the Ryzen chip, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, outpaces an 8-core, 16-thread Xeon from a higher power envelope. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: the Ryzen 5 5625U posts 223 points versus the Xeon's 151, a 47.7% lead. That near-50% delta in single-core performance confirms the IPC gains delivered by the Zen 3 architecture over the aging Haswell design.

However, the narrative flips when moving to the more modern Cinebench R23 workload. Here, the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 asserts its core-count advantage, scoring 10656 in multicore against the Ryzen's 8290. The Xeon wins by 22.2%, leveraging its two additional cores and four additional threads to overcome the Ryzen's architectural superiority. The single-core R23 result is closer, with the Xeon edging ahead 1504 to 1379, an 8.3% margin. Interestingly, the R23 single-core scores are both higher than their R15 counterparts relative to the multicore scores, suggesting the newer benchmark scales differently with the Xeon's Haswell architecture.

Data from other benchmarks in the FACT PACK reinforces this split. The Ryzen 5 5625U achieves a Geekbench multicore score of 5718 and a single-core score of 1521, while the Xeon E5-1660 v3 does not have Geekbench results listed, instead showing a Cinebench R20 multicore score of 4475 and a single-core score of 631. The average benchmark score for both CPUs is remarkably close: the Ryzen 5 5625U sits at 3096, while the Xeon E5-1660 v3 sits at 3082, a difference of only 0.5% as shown in the nearestRivals data. Both processors occupy the 52nd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they land in the same overall performance tier despite their divergent strengths.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is the superior choice for workloads that prioritize single-threaded responsiveness and legacy application compatibility. Its 47.7% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 34.7% lead in R15 multicore suggest it will feel snappier in everyday tasks and older software that is not optimized for high thread counts. The Ryzen also carries integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics, making it a self-contained solution for systems without a discrete GPU.

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 is the pick when raw multi-threaded throughput in modern, well-parallelized workloads is the goal. Its 22.2% victory in Cinebench R23 multicore demonstrates that its 8 cores and 16 threads can still deliver substantial compute power, even with an older architecture. The Xeon's quad-channel memory bus and 68.3 GB/s memory bandwidth, compared to the Ryzen's dual-channel 51.2 GB/s, further reinforce its workstation pedigree for memory-intensive tasks. Server and workstation users running current rendering or simulation software will find the Xeon's higher core count more valuable than the Ryzen's per-core efficiency.

Neither chip is a universal winner. The Ryzen 5 5625U is the better all-rounder for mobile and compact systems, while the Xeon E5-1660 v3 remains a viable budget workstation processor for heavily threaded applications. The 0.5% average score delta between them is statistically negligible, so the deciding factor should be software compatibility and workload characteristics, not raw benchmark averages.

Architecture Differences

The architectural chasm between these two processors is vast. The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is built on TSMC's 7 nm process node, packing 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die. Its Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Barcelo, features 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3, in contrast, uses Intel's 22 nm process with just 2,600 million transistors spread across a 356 mm² die. Its Haswell-EP architecture provides 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The cache layout differs significantly: L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 drops to 256 KB per core, but L3 expands to 20 MB shared. The Xeon's larger L3 cache partially compensates for its slower per-core performance, but the fundamental IPC deficit of Haswell versus Zen 3 is evident in the single-core benchmarks.

The Ryzen 5 5625U integrates Radeon Vega 7 graphics directly on the die, a feature entirely absent from the Xeon E5-1660 v3, which requires a discrete GPU. The Ryzen also supports ECC memory, a feature shared with the Xeon, but the Xeon's quad-channel memory bus is a notable architectural advantage for bandwidth-sensitive server workloads. The Ryzen's PCIe implementation offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 CPU lanes, giving the workstation chip significant expansion headroom.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification gap is power consumption. The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U carries a 15W TDP, while the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 consumes 140W. This nearly 10x difference in thermal design power explains the Ryzen's suitability for mobile platforms and the Xeon's requirement for robust cooling solutions in workstation chassis. The Ryzen uses the AMD Socket FP6, while the Xeon uses the Intel Socket 2011-3, making them physically incompatible with each other's platforms.

Clock speeds also differ substantially. The Ryzen's boost clock of 4.30 GHz is 0.8 GHz higher than the Xeon's 3.50 GHz boost, while the Xeon's base clock of 3.00 GHz is 0.7 GHz higher than the Ryzen's 2.30 GHz base. The Ryzen's higher boost clock directly contributes to its single-core dominance. Thread counts favor the Xeon at 16 threads versus the Ryzen's 12, despite both having similar core-to-thread ratios. The Ryzen's multiplier is locked, whereas the Xeon's multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking potential on the older chip.

Memory bandwidth figures highlight another divergence: the Ryzen 5 5625U offers 51.2 GB/s, while the Xeon E5-1660 v3 provides 68.3 GB/s. Both support DDR4 and ECC memory, but the Xeon's quad-channel configuration gives it a 33.4% bandwidth advantage. The Ryzen's production status is Active, while the Xeon is End-of-life, a critical factor for system longevity and replacement availability. The Ryzen was released on 2022-01-05, while the Xeon launched on 2014-09-07, a gap of over seven years.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R15 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U wins decisively with a score of 1447 versus the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3's 1074, a 34.7% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 outperform the Ryzen in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Xeon wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 10656 against the Ryzen's 8290, a 22.2% lead, and also edges out the Ryzen in R23 single-core with 1504 versus 1379.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5625U has 6 cores and 12 threads, giving the Xeon a two-core, four-thread advantage.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 5625U has an average benchmark score of 3096, while the Xeon E5-1660 v3 scores 3082, a negligible 0.5% difference in favor of the AMD chip.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Both processors support ECC memory, but the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 offers a quad-channel memory bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, versus the Ryzen's dual-channel 51.2 GB/s.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5625U is marked as Active production, while the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 is End-of-life, meaning the Xeon is no longer in active manufacturing.