AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G vs Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G and the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 present an unusual benchmark comparison: despite a decade of architectural evolution and a six-core versus twelve-core split, their measured performance is nearly identical. The data shows a statistical dead heat across every Cinebench test, with the Ryzen taking four nominal wins and the Xeon taking two, all by a deltaPct of 0.0%. The Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G posts an average benchmark score of 3977 against the Xeon’s 3959, placing both at the 57th percentile of all CPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are remarkable for their consistency. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both processors score exactly 1379 points, with the Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G credited as the winner by a 0% margin. The single-core R15 test is equally tied at 194 points for both. Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon edges ahead in multi-core with a score of 5749 versus the Ryzen’s 5747, a 0% delta that nonetheless registers as a nominal win for Intel. The R20 single-core test ties again at 811 points, with the AMD chip taking the win on the tiebreaker.

Cinebench R23 shows the same pattern. The multi-core result gives the Xeon a 13690 score versus the Ryzen’s 13685, again a 0% delta, while single-core R23 ties at 1932 points. The Ryzen’s nominal 4-2 win count in the head-to-head is purely a product of tiebreaking rules; the actual data indicates no measurable performance difference in any individual test. The largest absolute gap across all six benchmarks is five points in R23 multi-core, a fraction of a percent. For context, the Ryzen’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-6900K at an average score of 3970 (0.2% delta) and the Intel Xeon E-2336 at 3985 (-0.2% delta). The Xeon’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U at 3958 (0% delta) and the same Core i7-6900K at 3970 (-0.3% delta). The two processors themselves are separated by only 0.5% in average score, with the Xeon listing the Ryzen as a rival at that delta.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these parts is vast, yet it yields identical performance. The Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G uses TSMC’s 7 nm process with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, built on the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, all within a 65 W TDP. The Xeon E5-2669 v3, in contrast, is a 22 nm Haswell-EP part from Intel, with 2,600 million transistors on a much larger 356 mm² die. It offers 12 cores and 24 threads, but clocks far lower at 2.30 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost, consuming 120 W TDP.

The cache hierarchy diverges significantly. Both have 64 KB L1 per core, but the Ryzen has 512 KB L2 per core versus the Xeon’s 256 KB per core. The L3 cache reverses the picture: the Xeon has 30 MB shared, while the Ryzen has only 8 MB shared. The Xeon’s extra 22 MB of L3 and double core count apparently compensate for its much lower clocks and older process. The Ryzen compensates with its 7 nm efficiency and higher clock speeds. Memory support also differs: the Ryzen is dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon is quad-channel DDR3/DDR4 with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The Ryzen integrates Radeon Vega 7 graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

The Verdict

The data supports a simple conclusion: choose either processor and you get the same compute performance in Cinebench workloads. The Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G wins the nominal head-to-head by 4-2, but the 0% deltas make that count meaningless. The Ryzen offers a modern 7 nm platform with an integrated GPU, a 65 W TDP, and a desktop AM4 socket. It is an active production part with a 2020 release date. The Xeon E5-2669 v3 is end-of-life, uses a server/workstation platform with Socket 2011-3, draws 120 W, and lacks integrated graphics. However, the Xeon provides double the cores and threads (12/24 versus 6/12), a 30 MB L3 cache, and quad-channel memory with higher bandwidth. For multi-threaded server workloads that scale beyond Cinebench’s 12-thread ceiling, the Xeon’s additional headroom may prove useful, though the benchmark data here shows no advantage in the tested scenarios. The Ryzen’s higher clock speeds (4.20 GHz boost versus 3.10 GHz) and newer architecture deliver identical results at half the TDP. The percentile ranking of 57 for both reinforces their equivalence. From a purely data-driven standpoint, the Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G is the more sensible choice for new systems given its active production status, lower power draw, and integrated graphics; the Xeon only makes sense if you already have a Socket 2011-3 platform or need its specific server features.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every specification except L1 cache and ECC support. The Ryzen has 6 cores and 12 threads; the Xeon has 12 cores and 24 threads. The Ryzen clocks at 3.70 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost; the Xeon at 2.30 GHz base and 3.10 GHz boost. The Ryzen’s TDP is 65 W; the Xeon’s is 120 W. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4; the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The Ryzen is Zen 2 (Renoir) on 7 nm TSMC; the Xeon is Haswell (Haswell-EP) on 22 nm Intel. Transistor counts are 9,800 million versus 2,600 million; die sizes are 156 mm² versus 356 mm². L2 cache is 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core; L3 cache is 8 MB shared versus 30 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 dual-channel versus DDR3/DDR4 quad-channel; bandwidth is 51.2 GB/s versus 68.3 GB/s. The Ryzen has integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics; the Xeon has none. The Ryzen is a desktop part, active; the Xeon is server/workstation, end-of-life. The Ryzen’s release date is 2020-07-20; the Xeon has no release date listed. PCIe is Gen 3 for both, but the Xeon specifies 40 lanes (CPU only).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 scores 13690 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G’s 13685, a delta of 0%. The Xeon wins nominally, but there is no measurable difference.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G has an average benchmark score of 3977, while the Xeon E5-2669 v3 has 3959. The Xeon lists the Ryzen as a nearest rival with a -0.5% delta.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it features Radeon Vega 7 graphics. The Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do core and thread counts compare?

A: The Xeon has 12 cores and 24 threads, double the Ryzen’s 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite this, their benchmark scores are nearly identical.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ryzen boosts to 4.20 GHz, while the Xeon boosts to 3.10 GHz. The Ryzen also has a higher base clock at 3.70 GHz versus 2.30 GHz.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G is listed as Active, while the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 is End-of-life. The Ryzen also has a release date of 2020-07-20, while the Xeon has none listed.