AMD Ryzen 7 3700U vs Intel Xeon X3470 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database contains one direct head-to-head comparison between the Intel Xeon X3470 and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, and it is a decisive result. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U scores 672, while the Intel Xeon X3470 scores 287. That is a delta of -57.3% from the AMD part's perspective, meaning the Ryzen 7 3700U delivers roughly 134% higher multi-core performance in this specific workload. The margin is massive, and it reflects the generational gap between the two processors.

Looking at the broader benchmark data, the Xeon X3470 posts a Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 1199 and a single-core score of 169. In Cinebench R23, it scores 2857 multi-core and 403 single-core. The Ryzen 7 3700U, by contrast, has a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 139, which is notably lower than the Xeon's R15 single-core result would imply if extrapolated from its R20 and R23 scores. However, the Ryzen 7 3700U also has Geekbench results: 2377 multi-core and 682 single-core. Those Geekbench numbers are not directly comparable to the Xeon's Cinebench results, but they show a modern mobile chip with competitive single-thread capability.

The average benchmark score across all recorded tests tells a similar story. The Xeon X3470 averages 983, while the Ryzen 7 3700U averages 968. That places them nearly even, with a 1.5% difference favoring the Xeon. But the head-to-head Cinebench R15 multi-core result is the only direct comparison available, and it heavily favors the AMD part. The Xeon's higher average score is buoyed by its Cinebench R20 and R23 results, which are not present for the Ryzen 7 3700U in the database. So the aggregate average can be misleading: the single shared test shows a clear winner.

The nearest rivals for each CPU provide context. The Xeon X3470 sits at the 26th percentile of all CPUs, with rivals like the Intel Core i3-4370T (avg score 983, 0% delta), Intel Core i3-4130T (avg 984, -0.1%), Intel Core i7-875K (avg 984, -0.1%), and Intel Xeon W5590 (avg 986, -0.3%). The Ryzen 7 3700U also sits at the 26th percentile, with rivals including the Intel Core i5-2400S (avg 968, 0%), Intel Xeon X5570 (avg 967, 0.1%), Intel Celeron N5100 (avg 966, 0.2%), and AMD PRO A8-9600 (avg 971, -0.3%). Both processors occupy the same percentile tier, but the Ryzen 7 3700U achieves that standing with far better multi-core performance in the tested workload, while the Xeon relies on its older architecture's single-core strength.

The head-to-head table records exactly one win: the Ryzen 7 3700U wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, while the Xeon X3470 has zero wins in the database. That is a clean sweep in the only direct comparison, and the margin is not close. The Xeon's 287 score versus the Ryzen's 672 represents a 134% improvement, which is the kind of gap that separates generations, not just product tiers.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for anyone choosing between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U is the superior performer in the only benchmark where both chips appear: Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it beats the Intel Xeon X3470 by 57.3%. That result is consistent with the rest of the database, which shows the Ryzen 7 3700U delivering competitive average scores (968) despite being a 15-watt mobile part, while the Xeon X3470 (95-watt, server/workstation) manages an average of 983. The percentiles are identical at 26%, but the Ryzen achieves that with a fraction of the power envelope and a modern feature set.

Pick the Intel Xeon X3470 if you are looking at legacy server or workstation applications that rely on its specific platform, the Intel Socket 1156, and its ECC memory support. The Xeon's 8 MB of shared L3 cache and 21.3 GB/s dual-channel DDR3 bandwidth serve an older ecosystem. But for raw multi-core throughput in a modern test, the Ryzen 7 3700U is the clear winner, and it does so with integrated Radeon Vega 10 graphics, which the Xeon lacks entirely.

Pick the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U if you need a mobile, low-power processor with strong multi-core performance and integrated graphics. It is an active production part, while the Xeon is end-of-life. The Ryzen's 4.00 GHz boost clock and 12 nm process node give it a structural advantage over the Xeon's 3.60 GHz boost and 45 nm node. The benchmark data shows the Ryzen 7 3700U is not just competitive, it is decisively ahead in the one shared test.

For a system builder today, the choice is obvious: the Ryzen 7 3700U outperforms the Xeon X3470 in multi-core workloads, offers integrated graphics, consumes far less power (15 W versus 95 W), and supports DDR4 memory. The Xeon's only advantages are ECC memory support and its historical role in server platforms, both of which are niche requirements in 2024.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors spans more than a decade of design evolution. The Intel Xeon X3470 uses the Nehalem architecture, codenamed Lynnfield, built on a 45 nm process by Intel. It contains 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, built on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. That is more than six times the transistor count on a smaller die, enabled by the much denser manufacturing process.

The cache hierarchies tell a different story. The Xeon X3470 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 7 3700U has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. Despite having half the L3 cache, the Ryzen's larger L1 and L2 caches, combined with the more modern architecture, help it outperform the Xeon in the multi-core benchmark.

Memory support differs as well. The Xeon X3470 uses DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 7 3700U uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus, but the database does not list a bandwidth figure or ECC support. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Xeon provides Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen offers Gen 3, though the lane count is not specified.

The Xeon X3470 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU. The Ryzen 7 3700U includes Radeon Vega 10 integrated graphics, which is a significant feature for compact or mobile systems. The Ryzen's integrated GPU eliminates the need for a separate graphics card in basic desktop or laptop builds, while the Xeon's server/workstation heritage assumes a discrete card is present.

Specification Differences

The recorded specifications show several key differences between the two processors. The Intel Xeon X3470 has a base clock of 2.93 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Ryzen's boost clock is 0.40 GHz higher, which contributes to its single-thread performance despite the lower base clock.

Thermal design power differs enormously: the Xeon X3470 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the Ryzen 7 3700U has a TDP of 15 watts. That is an 84% reduction in power draw for the AMD part, a critical factor for mobile use and cooling requirements. The sockets are incompatible: the Xeon uses Intel Socket 1156, while the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP5, which is a mobile socket.

The market segments also diverge: the Xeon X3470 is a Server/Workstation processor, while the Ryzen 7 3700U is a Mobile processor. The Xeon's production status is End-of-life, while the Ryzen is Active. The Xeon was released on 2009-09-07 and had a launch MSRP of $589. The Ryzen 7 3700U was released on 2019-01-05, and no launch MSRP is recorded in the database.

The process node difference is stark: 45 nm for the Xeon versus 12 nm for the Ryzen. The Xeon's part number is SLBJH, while the Ryzen's is YM370BC4T4MFG. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, and both have locked multipliers. The Xeon belongs to the Xeon (Lynnfield) generation, while the Ryzen belongs to the Ryzen 7 (Zen+ (Picasso)) generation, part of the 3000 series.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance in the recorded benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U wins the only direct comparison, scoring 672 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 287 for the Intel Xeon X3470, a delta of -57.3% for the Xeon.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon X3470 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U has a TDP of 15 watts, making the Ryzen significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread count?

A: Yes, both have 4 cores and 8 threads, but the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U has a higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz compared to the Xeon's 3.60 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon X3470 have integrated graphics?

A: No, the Xeon X3470 has no integrated graphics, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U includes Radeon Vega 10 integrated graphics.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Intel Xeon X3470 supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel bus and ECC support, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel bus and no ECC support.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Xeon X3470 has an average benchmark score of 983, and the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U has an average of 968, a difference of 1.5% in favor of the Xeon, despite the Ryzen winning the direct multi-core test.