AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G vs Intel Xeon W-2155 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score across all tested workloads?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2155 records an average benchmark score of 5072, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G scores 5002. This places the Xeon W-2155 at the 60th percentile of all CPUs, versus the 59th percentile for the Ryzen part.

Q: How large is the performance gap in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2155 scores 17538, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G scores 17490. The Xeon leads by 0.3%—a margin that is statistically negligible but consistent with the overall pattern.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G win any of the direct head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. Across all six head-to-head comparisons (R15, R20, and R23 in both multi-core and single-core), the Intel Xeon W-2155 wins every test, with deltas ranging from 0.2% to 0.4%.

Q: What is the significance of the 7 nm process node for the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G?

A: The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G is built on TSMC's 7 nm process with 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Xeon W-2155 uses Intel's 14 nm process with a 484 mm² die, making the AMD chip substantially more transistor-dense per unit area.

Q: How do the two processors compare in terms of memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2155 has a quad-channel DDR4 memory bus delivering 85.3 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s. The Xeon offers 67% more theoretical memory bandwidth, despite both supporting DDR4 and ECC memory.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G features Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon W-2155 has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Xeon W-2155 and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G represent two fundamentally different design philosophies separated by nearly four years of silicon evolution. The Xeon W-2155, released on 2017-08-28, uses Intel's Skylake-W architecture on a 14 nm process with a massive 484 mm² die. It is a server/workstation part designed for socket 2066, featuring 10 cores and 20 threads. The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G, released on 2021-05-31, uses AMD's Zen 3 Cezanne architecture on TSMC's 7 nm process with a 180 mm² die containing 10,700 million transistors. It is a desktop part on socket AM4 with 6 cores and 12 threads.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The Xeon W-2155 has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, with 13.75 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G also has 64 KB L1 per core but only 512 KB L2 per core, compensated by 16 MB of shared L3. This means the Ryzen has more total L3 (16 MB vs 13.75 MB) despite fewer cores, while the Xeon has more L2 per core.

The Xeon W-2155 is a quad-channel memory part with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G is dual-channel at 51.2 GB/s. Both support DDR4 and ECC memory. PCIe capability also differs: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The Ryzen includes Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics; the Xeon has none.

The Xeon W-2155 is end-of-life with a launch MSRP of $1440, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G is active and has no launch MSRP listed. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The Xeon's foundry is Intel; the Ryzen's is TSMC.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably close across every test, with the Intel Xeon W-2155 winning all six comparisons by margins that never exceed 0.4%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon scores 1767 versus 1762 for the Ryzen, a 0.3% advantage. The R15 single-core test shows a 0.4% lead for the Xeon at 249 versus 248.

Cinebench R20 continues the pattern: multi-core scores 7365 for the Xeon and 7345 for the Ryzen (0.3% delta), while single-core scores 1039 and 1036 (0.3% delta). The R23 results are nearly identical, with the Xeon at 17538 and the Ryzen at 17490 in multi-core (0.3% delta), and 2475 versus 2469 in single-core (0.2% delta).

These sub-0.5% differences are within typical run-to-run variance for Cinebench workloads. The data shows the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G, despite having only 6 cores versus 10, and 12 threads versus 20, manages to nearly match the Xeon W-2155 in multi-threaded rendering. This is a striking result given the core-count disparity. The Ryzen also has additional benchmark data not present for the Xeon: Geekbench multi-core score of 7911 and single-core of 1754, which are not directly comparable but suggest strong single-threaded performance.

The Xeon's wins are consistent but marginal. There is no workload in the head-to-head set where the Ryzen takes the lead. The largest margin is 0.4% in R15 single-core, and the smallest is 0.2% in R23 single-core. The average delta across all six tests is approximately 0.3%, favoring Intel.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon W-2155 | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G |

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

| Cores | 10 | 6 |

| Threads | 20 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Zen 3 |

| Codename | Skylake-W | Cezanne |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 484 mm² | 180 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 13.75 MB (shared) | 16 MB |

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

| Memory Bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 48 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Vega 7 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2017-08-28 | 2021-05-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $1440 | None |

| Part Number | SR3LR | 100-000000255 |

The Verdict

The data presents a close contest that defies expectations based on core counts alone. The Intel Xeon W-2155, with 10 cores and 20 threads, edges out the 6-core, 12-thread AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G in every Cinebench test. The margins are tiny—all under 0.5%—but perfectly consistent across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants.

For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded rendering performance, the Xeon W-2155 is the nominal winner in this dataset. It also offers substantially higher memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s), quad-channel support, and 48 PCIe lanes versus 16, making it the more capable platform for memory-hungry or I/O-intensive workloads.

However, the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G achieves 99.7% of the Xeon's multi-core performance (17490 vs 17538 in R23) using only 60% of the cores and 65 watts of TDP versus 140 watts. It also has a higher base clock (3.90 GHz vs 3.30 GHz) and a slightly lower boost clock (4.40 GHz vs 4.50 GHz). The Ryzen's integrated graphics capability means it can function in systems without a discrete GPU, something the Xeon cannot do.

For new system builds, the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G is an active product on a mainstream platform (AM4), while the Xeon W-2155 is end-of-life on the 2066 platform. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $1440, which reflects its workstation positioning, but no current pricing is available. The choice hinges on platform requirements: the Xeon wins on memory bandwidth, PCIe lane count, and raw Cinebench scores, while the Ryzen wins on efficiency, process technology, and integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Xeon W-2155 wins on:

• All six head-to-head Cinebench benchmarks, with deltas of 0.2% to 0.4%
• Memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s) and quad-channel memory bus
• PCIe lane count (48 vs 16 lanes, both Gen 3)
• L2 cache per core (1 MB vs 512 KB)
• Thread count (20 vs 12) and core count (10 vs 6)

AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G wins on:

• Power efficiency (65 W TDP vs 140 W TDP)
• Process node (7 nm vs 14 nm) and transistor density (10,700 million on 180 mm² vs 484 mm² die)
• Base clock speed (3.90 GHz vs 3.30 GHz)
• L3 cache capacity (16 MB vs 13.75 MB)
• Integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 7 vs none)
• Production status (Active vs End-of-life)
• Geekbench scores (7911 multi-core, 1754 single-core) are available, though not directly compared to the Xeon

The real-world takeaway is workload-specific. For memory-bandwidth-bound tasks like large dataset processing or multi-GPU compute, the Xeon W-2155's quad-channel memory and 48 PCIe lanes make it the stronger platform. For single-threaded responsiveness or compact, low-power desktops where integrated graphics are sufficient, the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G is the more modern and efficient choice. The benchmark parity means the decision should rest on platform features rather than raw Cinebench scores.