AMD Ryzen 7 1700 vs Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 Comparison

The Verdict

The data in this comparison is unusually one-sided. The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark against the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5, with a 104% advantage in Cinebench R15 multi-core and a 51.5% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core. The Ryzen 7 1700 also sits at the 45th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the Xeon E3-1585L v5 ranks at the 44th percentile. For anyone choosing between these two, the Ryzen 7 1700 is the clear pick for raw compute performance across both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. The Xeon E3-1585L v5 retains a niche appeal only for scenarios that specifically require its integrated Iris Pro Graphics P580, since the Ryzen 7 1700 has no integrated graphics at all. However, if the workload is purely CPU-bound, the Ryzen 7 1700 delivers roughly double the multi-core score and over 50% higher single-core score, making it the decisively stronger processor in every measured category.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 is built on the Zen architecture, specifically the Summit Ridge generation, using a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The chip contains 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die, and it features a substantial cache hierarchy: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 16 MB of L3 cache. The Ryzen 7 1700 is a desktop part, uses the AMD Socket AM4, and has an unlocked multiplier, meaning it is designed for enthusiast overclocking. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, and it can use ECC memory. The PCIe interface is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 is a Skylake-H part, built on the Skylake architecture at Intel's own 14 nm foundry. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, with the same base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The transistor count is 2,300 million on a 171 mm² die, roughly half the transistor budget of the Ryzen. Cache amounts are smaller: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. This Xeon is a server/workstation part, mounted on Intel BGA 1440, and it has a locked multiplier. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode, with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, lower than the Ryzen's 42.7 GB/s. The Xeon also supports ECC memory and has Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes. Its defining feature is the integrated Iris Pro Graphics P580, which the Ryzen 7 1700 lacks entirely.

The process node is identical at 14 nm for both, but the architectural choices diverge sharply. The Ryzen 7 1700 doubles the core count, carries more than twice the L3 cache, and offers higher memory bandwidth. The Xeon E3-1585L v5 counters with a lower 45 W TDP versus the Ryzen's 65 W TDP, and it brings an integrated GPU. The Xeon is also listed as end-of-life in production status, while the Ryzen 7 1700 remains active. Release dates differ: the Xeon launched in May 2016, the Ryzen in March 2017. The launch MSRP was $445 for the Xeon and $329 for the Ryzen, though pricing is not the focus of this analysis.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results paint a clear picture of workload distribution. The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 wins in all recorded multi-core scenarios. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1414 versus the Xeon's 693, a 104% advantage. This makes the Ryzen particularly suited for heavily threaded tasks such as video encoding, 3D rendering, compilation, and scientific computing, where the extra 4 cores and 8 threads translate directly into throughput. Its larger 16 MB L3 cache and higher memory bandwidth also support data-intensive workloads that benefit from reduced cache misses and faster memory access.

The Ryzen 7 1700 also wins the single-core test, scoring 147 in Cinebench R15 single-core against the Xeon's 97, a 51.5% margin. This is more surprising, since both chips run at identical 3.00 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost clocks, but the Zen architecture delivers a significantly higher per-core score in this benchmark. For lightly threaded applications like daily productivity, web browsing, or legacy software that cannot use many cores, the Ryzen still comes out ahead.

The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 has no benchmark wins in this dataset. Its only advantages are architectural, not performance-based. The integrated Iris Pro Graphics P580 means it can drive displays without a discrete GPU, which is relevant for compact workstations or embedded systems. The lower 45 W TDP also makes it more energy-efficient per watt in a strict power envelope, though the database does not record power consumption measurements to quantify that. For any CPU-only benchmark, the Xeon trails significantly.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: How large is the L3 cache on each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 has a shared 16 MB L3 cache. The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 has a shared 8 MB L3 cache, exactly half the size.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 7 1700 and the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 report ECC memory support.

Q: Which chip includes integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 includes integrated graphics, specifically the Iris Pro Graphics P580. The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 has a 65 W TDP. The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 has a 45 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1700 has an average benchmark score of 2015, while the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 has an average of 1989. The Ryzen's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1807B at 2012, while the Xeon's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 at 1991.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data contains two recorded benchmark comparisons, and the AMD Ryzen 7 1700 wins both. The first is Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Ryzen scores 1414 against the Xeon's 693. The delta is 104%, meaning the Ryzen more than doubles the Xeon's output. This is a massive gap, and it aligns with the core count difference: 8 cores and 16 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads. The multi-core score of 1414 places the Ryzen in a performance tier where it competes with processors like the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1807B, which has an average score of 2012 and sits just 0.2% behind the Ryzen's overall average. The Xeon's 693 in this test is far below that range, and its average benchmark score of 1989 places it near rivals like the Intel Core i5-8279U at 1987 and the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X at 1992.

The second head-to-head test is Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Ryzen scores 147 and the Xeon scores 97. The delta is 51.5%, a substantial single-thread advantage. Given that both chips have identical 3.00 GHz base clocks and 3.70 GHz boost clocks, the Ryzen's Zen architecture demonstrates a clear IPC (instructions per clock) advantage in this workload. The single-core result also affects the average benchmark score: the Ryzen's average of 2015 is 1.3% higher than the Xeon's 1989, which is consistent with the Ryzen winning both component benchmarks. The Ryzen's percentile rank of 45 versus the Xeon's 44 is a narrow margin, but the head-to-head deltas are anything but narrow.

The benchmark database also shows that the Ryzen 7 1700 has 2 wins and 0 losses in direct comparisons, while the Xeon E3-1585L v5 has 0 wins and 2 losses. The nearest rival data for the Ryzen includes the Intel Core i5-8300H at an average score of 2005 (0.5% behind) and the Intel Xeon D-1712TR at 2004 (0.5% behind), all clustering within a fraction of a percent of the Ryzen's 2015 average. The Xeon's nearest rivals similarly cluster tightly: the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 at 1991 is only 0.1% behind, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B at 1986 is 0.2% behind. This tight clustering at the average level contrasts with the wide deltas in the head-to-head tests, which shows that the average score smooths out the dramatic differences seen in specific workloads.

For Geekbench, the Ryzen 7 1700 records a multi-core score of 5475 and a single-core score of 1023. The Xeon E3-1585L v5 does not have Geekbench results in this dataset, but it does have Cinebench R20 and R23 scores: 2888 multi-core and 407 single-core in R20, and 6878 multi-core and 971 single-core in R23. These R20 and R23 scores have no direct Ryzen counterpart in the recorded data, so they cannot be compared head-to-head. However, the Cinebench R15 results are consistent across both chips, and the R15 multi-core delta of 104% is the single largest performance gap in this comparison. The R15 single-core delta of 51.5% reinforces the same conclusion: the Ryzen 7 1700 outperforms the Xeon E3-1585L v5 in every measurable CPU benchmark, and the only reason to select the Xeon would be its integrated graphics or its lower TDP, both of which are outside the scope of raw CPU performance.