AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS vs Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS and Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 are evenly matched on paper, each taking two benchmark wins in direct comparison. The Ryzen 5 6600HS dominates in Cinebench R15, posting a 55.1% higher multicore score and a 56.7% higher singlecore score. The Xeon E5-2618L v3 counters in Cinebench R23, leading by 13.9% multicore and 2.1% singlecore. The data indicates the Ryzen 5 6600HS is the stronger choice for legacy rendering workloads and mobile deployments, while the Xeon E5-2618L v3 suits modern multi-threaded rendering tasks and server environments. The Ryzen 5 6600HS delivers 6 cores and 12 threads with a 4.50 GHz boost clock, whereas the Xeon E5-2618L v3 provides 8 cores and 16 threads but at a lower 3.40 GHz boost. The Xeon supports ECC memory and quad-channel DDR4, making it suitable for reliability-focused server workloads. The Ryzen includes integrated Radeon 660M graphics, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic display scenarios. Both processors sit at the 52nd percentile among all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 3122 for the Ryzen and 3066 for the Xeon, a difference of roughly 1.8%. The mobile Ryzen's 35 W TDP contrasts sharply with the Xeon's 75 W TDP, reinforcing distinct use cases despite similar overall performance.

Architecture Differences

The Ryzen 5 6600HS uses AMD's Zen 3+ architecture on a 6 nm TSMC process, with a die size of 208 mm². The Xeon E5-2618L v3 is built on Intel's Haswell-EP architecture using a 22 nm process, with a substantially larger die of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. The Ryzen features 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Xeon offers 8 cores and 16 threads. Cache layouts differ significantly: the Ryzen has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, plus 16 MB shared L3. The Xeon has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with a larger 20 MB shared L3. The Xeon's additional L3 capacity helps it in certain multi-threaded workloads, as seen in its Cinebench R23 lead. Memory support diverges: the Ryzen uses dual-channel DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC, while the Xeon uses quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. The Ryzen integrates Radeon 660M graphics, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics. PCIe lanes also differ: the Ryzen provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes. The Xeon is a server/workstation part, while the Ryzen is a mobile processor. The Ryzen's process advantage (6 nm vs 22 nm) explains its higher clocks and lower TDP despite fewer cores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the Ryzen 5 6600HS comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 1656 against the Xeon's 1068, a 55.1% advantage. This gap indicates the Ryzen's higher boost clock and newer architecture provide a substantial edge in older rendering benchmarks. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the Ryzen scores 235 versus 150, a 56.7% lead, reflecting its 4.50 GHz boost versus the Xeon's 3.40 GHz. The Xeon's largest victory is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 10601 against the Ryzen's 9131, a 13.9% margin. This result suggests the Xeon's 8 cores and 16 threads plus 20 MB L3 cache give it an advantage in modern multi-threaded rendering. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Xeon scores 1496 versus 1465, a slim 2.1% lead, nearly a tie. The average benchmark scores are close: 3122 for the Ryzen and 3066 for the Xeon, with the Ryzen's nearest rival being AMD Ryzen 3 5425U at 3124 (0.1% higher), while the Xeon's nearest rival is AMD Ryzen 7 4980U at 3066 (exact tie). The Ryzen's nearest rivals also include Intel Core i3-13100TE at 3111 (0.4% lower) and AMD Ryzen 5 5625U at 3096 (0.8% lower). The Xeon's nearest rivals include AMD Ryzen 7 1800X at 3068 (0.1% lower) and AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U at 3063 (0.1% higher).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The Ryzen 5 6600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2618L v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 3.30 GHz for the Ryzen and 2.30 GHz for the Xeon; boost clocks are 4.50 GHz and 3.40 GHz respectively. TDP is 35 W for the Ryzen versus 75 W for the Xeon. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP7, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The Ryzen's process node is 6 nm from TSMC, while the Xeon's is 22 nm from Intel. The Xeon has a larger die at 356 mm² versus the Ryzen's 208 mm², and the Xeon features 2,600 million transistors while the Ryzen's transistor count is not recorded. L2 cache differs: 512 KB per core for the Ryzen versus 256 KB per core for the Xeon. Shared L3 is 16 MB for the Ryzen and 20 MB for the Xeon. Memory support: DDR5 dual-channel with 76.8 GB/s for the Ryzen, DDR4 quad-channel with 59.7 GB/s for the Xeon. ECC memory is supported only on the Xeon. PCIe generation and lanes differ: Gen 4 with 20 lanes for the Ryzen, Gen 3 with 40 lanes for the Xeon. The Ryzen has integrated Radeon 660M graphics; the Xeon has none. Market segments are mobile versus server/workstation. The Xeon launched on 2014-09-07 with a launch MSRP of $779, while the Ryzen's release date and launch MSRP are not recorded. Both have locked multipliers. Part numbers are 100-000000546100-000000562 for the Ryzen and SR200 for the Xeon.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 6600HS support ECC memory?

A: No, the Ryzen 5 6600HS does not support ECC memory. The Xeon E5-2618L v3 supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS has a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3's boost clock of 3.40 GHz.

Q: Which CPU wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 wins, scoring 10601 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS's 9131, a 13.9% lead.

Q: Which CPU includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS includes Radeon 660M integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS has an average benchmark score of 3122, while the Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 has 3066, a difference of about 1.8%.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS is the clear winner in Cinebench R15, both multicore and singlecore, with margins of 55.1% and 56.7% respectively. This makes it the preferred choice for users running older rendering software or single-threaded applications that rely on high clock speeds. Its 4.50 GHz boost clock and 6 nm process give it a decisive advantage in latency-sensitive tasks. The Ryzen also offers integrated Radeon 660M graphics, making it suitable for compact mobile systems where a discrete GPU is not necessary. Its 35 W TDP makes it far more power-efficient than the Xeon's 75 W TDP, which is critical for laptops and portable workstations. The Ryzen's dual-channel DDR5 support with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth provides higher memory bandwidth than the Xeon's 59.7 GB/s, which benefits memory-intensive applications.

The Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 wins in Cinebench R23, both multicore and singlecore, with margins of 13.9% and 2.1%. Its 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with 20 MB of shared L3 cache, allow it to outperform in modern multi-threaded rendering workloads that scale well with core count. The Xeon's ECC memory support and quad-channel DDR4 configuration make it suitable for server and workstation environments where data integrity and memory capacity are priorities. Its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide extensive expansion capability for storage and networking cards. The Xeon's server/workstation market segment and active production status indicate ongoing availability for enterprise deployments. The Xeon's launch MSRP of $779 reflects its positioning as a professional-grade processor.

The evenly split benchmark wins (2 each) suggest that neither processor dominates universally. The choice depends on workload generation: the Ryzen 5 6600HS excels in legacy benchmarks and power-constrained mobile scenarios, while the Xeon E5-2618L v3 leads in contemporary rendering tasks and reliability-focused server roles. The Xeon's higher core count and larger L3 cache give it an edge in heavily parallelized modern workloads, while the Ryzen's higher clocks and newer architecture win in older single-threaded tests. Both CPUs sit at the 52nd percentile among all CPUs, indicating similar overall performance tiers despite their architectural differences.