AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE vs Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE across every shared benchmark. The AMD part wins all six head-to-head tests, with the margin remaining remarkably consistent between 3.4% and 3.6%. This uniformity suggests the performance gap is rooted in architectural efficiency rather than any single workload characteristic.

In Cinebench R15, the Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE scores 1314 multicore against the Xeon E5-1681 v3's 1269, a 3.5% advantage. The single-core test shows the same pattern: 185 versus 179, a 3.4% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD chip records 5478 multicore and 773 single-core, while the Intel part manages 5290 and 746 respectively, both representing 3.6% gaps. Cinebench R23 continues the trend with the Ryzen scoring 13044 multicore and 1841 single-core, against the Xeon's 12597 and 1778, again a 3.5% differential.

The consistency of these margins matters. A 3.5% to 3.6% spread across three generations of Cinebench, which stress different instruction paths and memory hierarchies, indicates the Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE holds a steady per-thread efficiency advantage. Interestingly, the Xeon E5-1681 v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads versus the AMD's 6 cores and 12 threads, yet the AMD chip still leads in multicore tests. This is a notable inversion: the lower-core-count processor wins threaded workloads by roughly 3.5%. The Xeon's higher core count does not translate into a win anywhere in the measured data.

The Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE also has a higher average benchmark score of 3732 across all recorded tests, compared to the Xeon's 3643. Both chips sit in the middle of the overall CPU distribution, with the AMD part at the 56th percentile and the Intel part at the 55th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the Intel Xeon Silver 4116 at 3733 (a 0% delta) and the Intel Core i5-11260H at 3721 (a 0.3% delta). The Xeon E5-1681 v3's closest competitors include the Intel Core i9-10885H at 3651 (a -0.2% delta) and the Intel Xeon E5-2658A v3 at 3658 (a -0.4% delta). These proximity figures place both chips in a crowded performance band, but the AMD part sits slightly higher within it.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 uses the Haswell architecture with the Haswell-EP codename, fabricated on a 22 nm process at Intel. This process gap, 7 nm versus 22 nm, explains much of the efficiency difference. The AMD chip has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel part consumes 135 W. That is a 100 W difference in thermal design power, which aligns with the AMD chip's smaller process node and lower transistor count of 9,800 million versus the Intel's 2,600 million. The AMD die size is 156 mm², less than half the Intel's 356 mm².

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 8 MB shared L3. The Xeon E5-1681 v3 also has 64 KB L1 per core, but only 256 KB L2 per core, and a much larger 25 MB shared L3. The larger L3 on the Intel part compensates for its smaller per-core L2, but the benchmark data shows this does not overcome the AMD chip's overall efficiency.

Memory subsystems also diverge. The AMD chip supports dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel part supports quad-channel DDR4 with 68.3 GB/s. The Xeon has a theoretical bandwidth advantage of about 17 GB/s, yet this does not translate into benchmark wins. Both support ECC memory, which is relevant for workstation and server reliability requirements.

The integrated graphics situation is a major separation point. The Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE includes Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics, while the Xeon E5-1681 v3 has no integrated graphics at all. This means the AMD chip can power a display without a discrete GPU, whereas the Intel part requires a separate graphics card. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, but the Intel part offers 40 lanes (CPU only) while the AMD chip's lane count is not specified in the database. The AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 2011-3.

Production status differs clearly: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE is listed as Active, while the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 is End-of-life. Release dates confirm the generational gap, with the Intel chip released in September 2014 and the AMD chip in July 2020.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher core count?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the higher core count of the Xeon lead to better multicore performance?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE wins all multicore Cinebench tests, with a 3.5% lead in R15, a 3.6% lead in R20, and a 3.5% lead in R23, despite having fewer cores.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE has integrated graphics, specifically Radeon Vega 7. The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE has a 35 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 has a 135 W TDP.

Q: Which processor supports quad-channel memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 supports quad-channel DDR4 with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE uses dual-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE is listed as Active, while the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 is listed as End-of-life.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE | Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 135 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Haswell |

| Codename | Renoir | Haswell-EP |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | 2,600 million |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 356 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 25 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 68.3 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 7 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2020-07-20 | 2014-09-07 |

| Part Number | 100-000000153100-100000153MPK | SR1Y2 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE wins every benchmark recorded in the database. Its six wins span all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both multicore and single-core. The margins range from 3.4% to 3.6%, with the single-core and multicore results almost identical in their advantage. This makes the AMD chip the clear choice for any workload captured by these render tests. The fact that it achieves this with a 35 W TDP, integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics, and a smaller process node means it is also the more efficient option for systems where power consumption and thermal output matter.

The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 has no benchmark wins in the head-to-head data. However, the specification sheet shows areas where it could be preferable in a broader system context. The quad-channel memory bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth provides higher theoretical memory throughput, which may matter for memory-bandwidth-sensitive applications not represented in the Cinebench suite. The larger 25 MB L3 cache could also benefit workloads with large working sets that fit within that cache. The 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) provide more direct expansion capability for multiple GPUs or high-speed storage controllers. The server/workstation market segment designation indicates this chip was designed for platforms where those features are prioritized.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE outperforms the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 in every measured test. The 3.5% to 3.6% consistent lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multicore modes, establishes the AMD chip as the faster processor for rendering and compute workloads. Its 6-core, 12-thread configuration beats the Xeon's 10-core, 20-thread layout, which highlights the architectural efficiency of Zen 2 on a 7 nm process against Haswell on 22 nm.

For a system builder choosing between these two today, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE offers lower power consumption (35 W versus 135 W), integrated graphics, an active production status, and a newer release date. It also carries a percentile ranking of 56 versus the Intel's 55, and a higher average benchmark score of 3732 versus 3643. The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 retains advantages only in peripheral specifications: quad-channel memory bandwidth, larger shared L3 cache, and higher PCIe lane count. None of those translate into a performance win in the recorded benchmarks.

The verdict from the data is clear. Anyone prioritizing measured compute performance, power efficiency, or an active platform should select the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GE. The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 is an end-of-life product that loses every head-to-head comparison, and its remaining advantages are confined to memory and expansion specifications that do not appear in the benchmark results.