AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 vs Intel Xeon D-1715TER Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data places these two processors in an extraordinarily tight contest. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 wins every single comparison, but the margins are razor-thin — the largest delta is just 0.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the other five tests show the AMD part ahead by 0.4% each. The average benchmark scores confirm the near-parity: the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 sits at 2246, while the Xeon D-1715TER scores 2238, a difference of only 0.4% in the AMD processor's favor. Both CPUs land at the 47th percentile among all CPUs tracked in the database, meaning they occupy the same performance tier.

Given this data, the choice between them hinges entirely on platform attributes rather than raw compute results. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is a desktop part with an unlocked multiplier and is built for AMD Socket AM4, making it the pick for someone who wants overclocking headroom or a mainstream desktop platform. The Xeon D-1715TER is a server/workstation processor on Intel BGA 2227 with a locked multiplier, triple-channel memory, ECC support, and PCIe Gen 4 connectivity — features that point squarely at embedded or datacenter workloads. If the workload demands ECC memory or higher memory bandwidth, the Xeon is the only option in this pairing. If the goal is a desktop system where the user might want to tune clocks, the AMD part is the logical selection. The data shows neither CPU offers a meaningful compute advantage over the other; the decision is architectural and platform-driven.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing nodes, foundries, and design generations. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 uses the Zen architecture (Summit Ridge) on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, featuring a 192 mm² die with 4,800 million transistors. The Intel Xeon D-1715TER uses the Ice Lake-D architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, though the transistor count and die size are not listed in the data. The AMD part belongs to the 1000 series and the Ryzen 5 generation, while the Xeon is part of the Xeon D family under the Ice Lake-D codename.

Cache layouts differ as well. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 16 MB L3 cache. The Xeon D-1715TER has 80 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a smaller shared 10 MB L3. The Xeon's larger L2 per core could benefit certain access patterns, but the overall benchmark scores do not show a consistent advantage in the Cinebench suite.

Memory architecture is a major divergence. The AMD processor supports DDR4 over a dual-channel memory bus and has no ECC support. The Xeon supports DDR4 over a triple-channel bus with a listed memory bandwidth of 64.0 GB/s, and it does support ECC memory — a critical distinction for reliability-sensitive server workloads. The Xeon also brings PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen's PCIe information is not listed. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier; the Xeon's multiplier is locked. The Ryzen launched on 2017-06-28, and the Xeon on 2022-02-23, placing them roughly five years apart in release timing, though both remain in active production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results show a consistent, if small, AMD lead across the board. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 scores 782 versus the Xeon's 779, a 0.4% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows the AMD part at 110 against 109, a 0.9% edge — the largest win for either CPU in this comparison. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core result is 3261 for AMD versus 3249 for Intel, again a 0.4% delta, and the single-core result is 460 versus 458, another 0.4% margin. The Cinebench R23 tests follow the same pattern: multi-core 7766 versus 7738, and single-core 1096 versus 1092, both reflecting 0.4% differences.

These numbers indicate that the two processors are functionally equivalent in Cinebench workloads. The largest gap — 0.9% in R15 single-core — is well within run-to-run variance for most benchmark environments. The data does not reveal any test where the Xeon D-1715TER takes the lead; the AMD processor wins all six head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are so small that they would not be perceptible in real-world usage. The average benchmark score of 2246 for AMD versus 2238 for Intel reinforces this: the delta is 0.4%, which is negligible. For practical purposes, a user choosing between these two on compute performance alone would see no meaningful difference in these workloads.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two CPUs in the FACT PACK:

• Base Clock: AMD 3.50 GHz vs Intel 2.40 GHz
• Boost Clock: AMD 3.70 GHz vs Intel 3.50 GHz
• TDP: AMD 65 W vs Intel 50 W
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4 vs Intel BGA 2227
• Architecture: Zen vs Ice Lake
• Codename: Zen vs Ice Lake-D
• Generation: Ryzen 5 (Zen (Summit Ridge)) vs Xeon D (Ice Lake-D)
• Process Node: 14 nm vs 10 nm
• Foundry: GlobalFoundries vs Intel
• Transistors: 4,800 million vs not listed
• Die Size: 192 mm² vs not listed
• L1 Cache: 96 KB per core vs 80 KB per core
• L2 Cache: 512 KB per core vs 1.25 MB per core
• L3 Cache: 16 MB shared vs 10 MB shared
• Memory Bus: Dual-channel vs Triple-channel
• Memory Bandwidth: not listed vs 64.0 GB/s
• ECC Memory: false vs true
• PCIe: not listed vs Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only)
• Market Segment: Desktop vs Server/Workstation
• Release Date: 2017-06-28 vs 2022-02-23
• Multiplier Unlocked: true vs false
• Part Number: YD150BBBM4GAE vs SRLBX

Fields that match include core count (4), thread count (8), memory support (DDR4), integrated graphics (none listed for either), production status (Active), and launch MSRP (not listed for either).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 has an average benchmark score of 2246, while the Intel Xeon D-1715TER scores 2238, giving the AMD part a 0.4% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon D-1715TER support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon D-1715TER supports ECC memory, whereas the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 does not offer ECC support.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 boosts to 3.70 GHz, while the Intel Xeon D-1715TER boosts to 3.50 GHz.

Q: What is the memory bus width difference between these two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 uses a dual-channel memory bus, while the Intel Xeon D-1715TER uses a triple-channel memory bus with a listed bandwidth of 64.0 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Intel Xeon D-1715TER has a locked multiplier.

Q: In how many head-to-head benchmarks does the AMD processor win?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench benchmarks against the Intel Xeon D-1715TER, with margins ranging from 0.4% to 0.9%.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, but the margins are minimal. The data shows its largest advantage is 0.9% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and every other test shows a 0.4% lead. This suggests the AMD part holds a slight edge in the Cinebench suite, which could translate to marginally better responsiveness in single-threaded scenarios. Additionally, the unlocked multiplier positions it as the choice for users who plan to overclock, since the Xeon's multiplier is locked. The Ryzen's higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz) and boost clock (3.70 GHz versus 3.50 GHz) contribute to its benchmark wins, though the Xeon's lower TDP (50 W versus 65 W) indicates it may be more power-efficient under load.

The Intel Xeon D-1715TER, despite losing all six benchmarks, wins in platform attributes that the AMD part does not offer. Its triple-channel memory bus with 64.0 GB/s bandwidth provides a memory bandwidth advantage that the Ryzen's dual-channel setup cannot match, and its ECC memory support is essential for error-correcting workloads in server environments. The Xeon's PCIe Gen 4 support with 16 lanes (CPU only) offers modern connectivity that the Ryzen's PCIe details are not listed for. Its BGA 2227 socket and server/workstation market segment indicate it is designed for embedded or compact server deployments, where the locked multiplier and lower TDP may be acceptable trade-offs. The Xeon also benefits from a larger L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 512 KB), which could aid certain cache-sensitive workloads even if the Cinebench results do not show it. For users prioritizing ECC, memory bandwidth, or PCIe Gen 4, the Xeon D-1715TER is the data-backed selection; for those seeking a desktop-friendly socket, overclocking capability, and a marginal compute edge, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is the winner.