AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 vs Intel Xeon E-2186M Comparison

The Intel Xeon E-2186M and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 are both six-core, twelve-thread processors, but they target very different platforms and use cases. The Xeon E-2186M is an end-of-life mobile workstation chip built for Intel's BGA 1440 socket, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 is an active desktop part for AMD Socket AM4. Benchmark data shows the AMD chip winning every single head-to-head test, yet the overall average scores are nearly identical, which makes the comparison more nuanced than it first appears.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 wins all six benchmark comparisons. Across the Cinebench suite, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 consistently leads by a margin of roughly 5%. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD chip scores 1013 against the Xeon's 961, a delta of -5.1% from the Intel part's perspective. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story, with the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 posting 142 versus 135 for the Xeon, a 4.9% gap.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 scores 4224 in multicore, while the Xeon E-2186M manages 4007 — again a 5.1% deficit. In single-core R20, the AMD chip's 595 beats the Intel's 565 by exactly 5%. The newest Cinebench R23 results continue the trend: the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 scores 10058 in multicore and 1419 in single-core, while the Xeon E-2186M trails with 9542 and 1347 respectively, both representing a 5.1% disadvantage.

Despite this clean sweep, the overall average benchmark scores tell a different story. The Xeon E-2186M has an average score of 2912, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 sits at 2909, a difference of just 0.1%. This is possible because the Xeon's benchmark list also includes Geekbench results (multicore 5306, singlecore 1434), which are not present in the Ryzen's test set. When you look at the nearest rivals data, the two chips are effectively tied: the Xeon's nearest rival list shows the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 with a deltaPct of 0.1%, and the Ryzen's list shows the Xeon at -0.1%. In practical terms, these are peer processors in aggregate performance, even though the AMD chip wins every directly comparable test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E-2186M has a lower base clock of 2.90 GHz. However, the Intel chip boasts a much higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz compared to the AMD's 3.60 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E-2186M supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 does not. This is a significant differentiator for workstation and server workloads where data integrity is critical.

Q: What are the cache sizes for each chip?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2186M has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 cache per core, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has larger per-core caches, with 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2, plus a larger 16 MB shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E-2186M includes integrated graphics, specifically the UHD Graphics P630. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required for any display output.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking. The Intel Xeon E-2186M does not have an unlocked multiplier, meaning its clock speeds are locked.

Q: How do their TDP ratings compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2186M has a TDP of 45 W, which is significantly lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600's 65 W TDP. This makes the Intel chip more power-efficient on paper, despite its higher boost clock.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 wins every directly comparable benchmark. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multicore and single-core tests favor the AMD chip by approximately 5%. This makes it the clear choice for raw compute performance in applications that rely on these rendering and CPU-bound workloads. If your priority is maximum throughput in Cinebench-class tasks, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 is the superior part.

The Intel Xeon E-2186M, despite losing all head-to-head Cinebench tests, still has advantages that matter in specific contexts. Its 45 W TDP makes it far more power-efficient than the AMD chip's 65 W. For compact, thermally constrained workstation laptops (given its BGA 1440 socket and mobile-oriented Coffee Lake-H architecture), this power envelope is critical. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 lacks entirely. For server or workstation deployments where memory corruption is unacceptable, the Xeon's ECC support is a decisive feature. Additionally, the Xeon includes UHD Graphics P630, meaning it can run without a discrete GPU, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 requires one.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The Intel Xeon E-2186M uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 uses AMD Socket AM4. This means they are not interchangeable at the platform level. The Xeon's base clock is 2.90 GHz with a boost clock of 4.80 GHz; the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600's base clock is higher at 3.20 GHz, but its boost clock is much lower at 3.60 GHz.

TDP is another major point of differentiation: the Xeon runs at 45 W, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 consumes 65 W. Memory bandwidth is listed for the Xeon at 42.7 GB/s, while the AMD part has no listed memory bandwidth figure. Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration, but only the Xeon supports ECC. The Xeon has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has no PCIe information listed. The Xeon includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics P630), and the Ryzen has none. The Xeon's multiplier is locked, while the Ryzen's is unlocked. Finally, the Xeon's part number is SRCKQ, and the Ryzen's is YD160BBBM6IAE.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is stark. The Intel Xeon E-2186M is built on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake-H codename, using Intel's 14 nm process node with a die size of 154 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 uses the Zen architecture (Summit Ridge), also on a 14 nm node, but fabricated by GlobalFoundries with a larger die size of 192 mm² and 4,800 million transistors.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The Xeon has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 12 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, and a larger 16 MB shared L3. This gives the AMD chip a substantial cache advantage across all levels.

The market segments and production statuses are also different. The Xeon E-2186M is marked for Server/Workstation use and is end-of-life, released in April 2018 with a launch MSRP of $623. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 is a Desktop part that remains in active production, released in June 2017. The Xeon's generation is listed as "Xeon E (Coffee Lake)" while the Ryzen is "Ryzen 5 (Zen (Summit Ridge))". The Xeon's foundry is Intel itself, while the Ryzen uses GlobalFoundries.

The Verdict

The data is clear on raw performance: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head set. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, it beats the Intel Xeon E-2186M by about 5% in both single-core and multicore tests. If your workload is purely about Cinebench-class compute and you can accommodate a 65 W TDP plus a discrete GPU, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 is the better-performing processor.

However, the Xeon E-2186M is not without merit. Its 45 W TDP is a 20 W advantage over the Ryzen, which is significant for laptop or compact workstation designs. The inclusion of ECC memory support is a hard requirement for many server and workstation applications that the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 cannot meet. The integrated UHD Graphics P630 means the Xeon can operate without any discrete GPU, which is a practical advantage for headless servers or basic display tasks.

The aggregate performance picture, based on average benchmark scores, shows these two chips as statistical equals: 2912 for the Xeon versus 2909 for the Ryzen, with a 0.1% difference. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600's 6-0 sweep in head-to-head tests is offset by the Xeon's additional Geekbench results, which are not part of the shared test suite. For a pure performance-per-dollar or performance-per-watt analysis, the data here only supports the wattage aspect: the Xeon wins on power efficiency, while the Ryzen wins on raw speed. Ultimately, choose the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 for maximum compute performance in a desktop build, and choose the Xeon E-2186M for ECC support, lower power draw, and integrated graphics in a mobile or workstation context.