AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U vs Intel Xeon E-2226G Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U and the Intel Xeon E-2226G reveals a split personality. Across the four shared tests, the AMD part claims three wins, but the Intel part takes the most consequential one by a wide margin.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U posts a score of 1207 against the Xeon's 944, a 27.9% advantage. The gap widens dramatically in single-core R15, where AMD scores 218 versus Intel's 133, a 63.9% delta — the largest single-test gap in the comparison. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part again wins, scoring 1363 to Intel's 1322, a much narrower 3.1% margin.

The Intel Xeon E-2226G's only victory is decisive: in Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 9368 against AMD's 6429, a 31.4% advantage. This is the exact inverse of the R15 multi-core result, where AMD led by 27.9%. The two processors effectively trade places depending on the workload generation of the benchmark.

Overall average benchmark scores tell a story of near-parity. The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U averages 2713, while the Xeon E-2226G averages 2709. The delta between them is a mere 0.1% from the AMD side, and -0.2% from the Intel side. Both processors sit at the 50th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are dead center in the performance distribution.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U dominates in short-duration, single-threaded workloads. Its R15 single-core score of 218 absolutely demolishes the Xeon's 133, a 63.9% lead. Even in the more modern R23 single-core test, the AMD chip holds a 3.1% edge at 1363 versus 1322. For applications that are latency-sensitive or lightly threaded, the data clearly favors the AMD part.

The Xeon E-2226G takes the multi-threaded crown, but only in the R23 test. Its 9368 multi-core score is 31.4% ahead of the Ryzen's 6429. This suggests that under sustained, heavily threaded loads—particularly those that scale for extended periods—the Intel processor pulls ahead substantially. The R15 multi-core result contradicts this, however, with AMD leading 1207 to 944.

The discrepancy between R15 and R23 multi-core scores is notable. R15 multi-core is a shorter test, while R23 is longer and more demanding. The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U is a 15W mobile part, while the Xeon E-2226G is an 80W server/workstation processor. The data suggests the Xeon's higher sustained power envelope allows it to maintain performance over longer workloads, while the Ryzen's efficiency advantage shines in bursty, shorter tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U is built on TSMC's 7 nm process and uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne-U. It packs 10,700 million transistors into a 180 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E-2226G uses Intel's 14 nm process with the Coffee Lake architecture, codenamed Coffee Lake-S WS, on a smaller 154 mm² die.

Both parts have 6 physical cores, but the AMD chip supports simultaneous multithreading, bringing thread count to 12, while the Xeon is limited to 6 threads. This is a critical differentiator in multi-threaded workloads, though the benchmark data shows the Xeon still wins in R23 multi-core thanks to its higher clocks and power budget.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Xeon E-2226G runs at a base of 3.40 GHz and boosts to 4.70 GHz. The Intel part's higher clocks, combined with its 80W TDP versus AMD's 15W TDP, explain its stronger sustained multi-core performance.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB L1 per core. The AMD part has 512 KB L2 per core, while the Intel has 256 KB per core. For L3, AMD provides 16 MB shared, while Intel provides 12 MB shared. The AMD part's larger cache hierarchy is offset by Intel's higher clock speeds in some workloads.

Memory support shows a split on ECC. Both support DDR4 in dual-channel configuration. The AMD part has a theoretical memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel part is rated at 42.7 GB/s. Critically, the Xeon E-2226G supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U does not. This is a meaningful differentiator for server and workstation reliability use cases.

PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD part provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The Xeon's additional PCIe lanes matter for expansion in workstation scenarios.

Integrated graphics are present on both. AMD uses Radeon Vega 7, while Intel uses HD Graphics P630. The processors use different sockets—AMD Socket FP6 for the Ryzen, Intel Socket 1151 for the Xeon—and target different market segments: mobile for AMD, server/workstation for Intel.

The production status differs as well. The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U is listed as Active, released 2021-03-15. The Xeon E-2226G is End-of-life, released 2019-05-28. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $255; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U wins in both single-core tests. It scores 218 versus 133 in Cinebench R15 (a 63.9% lead) and 1363 versus 1322 in Cinebench R23 (a 3.1% lead).

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E-2226G win any benchmark?

A: Yes. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by a substantial margin, scoring 9368 against the AMD's 6429, a 31.4% advantage.

Q: What explains the opposite results in R15 and R23 multi-core?

A: The R15 multi-core test favors the AMD part (1207 vs 944, a 27.9% lead), while R23 multi-core favors the Intel part (9368 vs 6429). The R23 workload is longer and more sustained, which appears to benefit the Xeon's higher 80W TDP and 4.70 GHz boost clock, versus the Ryzen's 15W TDP and 4.20 GHz boost.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E-2226G supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U does not support ECC.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U averages 2713, and the Intel Xeon E-2226G averages 2709, a difference of just 0.1% from the AMD perspective and -0.2% from the Intel perspective. Both sit at the 50th percentile.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: Both have 6 physical cores. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U has 12 threads due to simultaneous multithreading. The Intel Xeon E-2226G has 6 threads, with no multithreading support.

The Verdict

The selection between these two processors depends entirely on workload characteristics and platform requirements.

For single-threaded and lightly threaded applications, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U is the clear choice. Its 63.9% lead in R15 single-core and 3.1% lead in R23 single-core demonstrate a consistent advantage in this domain. The Zen 3 architecture's efficiency, combined with the 7 nm process, delivers higher per-clock performance despite lower clock speeds.

For sustained, heavily threaded workloads of longer duration, the Intel Xeon E-2226G is the stronger performer, as evidenced by its 31.4% R23 multi-core lead. The higher 80W TDP and 4.70 GHz boost clock allow it to maintain performance where the 15W mobile part may throttle or exhaust its thermal budget.

The server/workstation context strongly favors the Xeon. ECC memory support is a critical feature for data integrity in professional environments, and the Intel part's 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes offer more expansion headroom than the AMD's 8 lanes. The Xeon's 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, while lower than the AMD's 51.2 GB/s, is sufficient for most workstation tasks.

The mobile context favors the Ryzen. Its 15W TDP, active production status, and integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics make it suitable for laptops and portable devices. The Xeon's 80W TDP and end-of-life status limit its appeal in new mobile designs.

Average scores indicate the processors are essentially tied at 2713 versus 2709, both at the 50th percentile. The data does not support a universal winner. The Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U wins on efficiency, single-thread performance, and modern process technology. The Xeon E-2226G wins on sustained multi-thread performance, ECC support, and PCIe expansion. Choose based on the platform and workload, not on raw averages.