AMD Ryzen 7 3700U vs Intel Xeon X5570 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U and the Intel Xeon X5570 represent two vastly different eras and design philosophies in computing. The Ryzen 7 3700U is a modern, power-sipping mobile processor built on a 12 nm process, while the Xeon X5570 is a legacy, high-power server chip from 2009 built on a 45 nm process. Despite the Xeon’s age and much higher power draw, the data places them in an almost identical performance tier, with an average benchmark score of 968 for the AMD part and 967 for the Intel part. This near-parity in overall score, however, masks a dramatic divergence in how they handle specific workloads, making the choice between them less about raw capability and more about context.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a clear picture of workload specialization. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U is the definitive winner in the only direct head-to-head benchmark available, the Cinebench R15 multi-core test. It scores 672 points against the Xeon X5570’s 283, translating to a massive 137.5% advantage. This indicates that in modern, multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Ryzen 7 3700U is in a completely different league, delivering more than double the performance. This is a decisive win that suggests its Zen+ architecture is far more efficient at extracting performance from its four cores and eight threads than the older Nehalem design.

The Intel Xeon X5570, despite losing the only direct comparison, has a clear edge in other critical areas. Its specification sheet shows a base clock of 2.93 GHz and a boost clock of 3.33 GHz, both higher than the Ryzen 7 3700U’s 2.30 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost. While the Ryzen’s boost clock is higher, the Xeon’s higher base clock means it can sustain a higher frequency under sustained all-core loads where boost clocks might not be maintained. Furthermore, the Xeon supports triple-channel DDR3 memory with a specified bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s, while the Ryzen 7 3700U’s memory bandwidth is not listed. This suggests that in memory-bandwidth-sensitive tasks, such as large database queries or scientific simulations that rely on streaming data, the Xeon’s architecture holds a structural advantage.

The Xeon also holds a significant advantage in terms of platform features. It is a server/workstation part with ECC memory support, a feature entirely absent from the Ryzen 7 3700U. For users running critical workloads where data integrity is paramount, the ability to use ECC memory is a non-negotiable feature that the Ryzen part simply cannot offer. The Xeon’s larger shared L3 cache of 8 MB, double the Ryzen’s 4 MB, could also provide a benefit in workloads with a larger working set that needs to be accessed frequently. In contrast, the Ryzen 7 3700U wins on platform modernity, featuring PCIe Gen 3, while the Xeon is limited to PCIe Gen 2, which halves the theoretical bandwidth available to modern GPUs and NVMe storage.

The Verdict

The data suggests a clear verdict based on use case. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U is the superior choice for any modern, client-side workload, particularly rendering and general productivity. Its 137.5% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core is not a marginal difference; it is a generational leap. This processor is for users who need a capable, efficient mobile or compact system that can handle demanding applications like video editing or 3D modeling without breaking a sweat. Its active production status and modern features like PCIe Gen 3 make it a viable choice for a current system, despite its lower launch price point (which is not specified).

The Intel Xeon X5570, on the other hand, is not a processor for new builds. Its end-of-life status, combined with its 95 W TDP—more than six times the Ryzen 7 3700U’s 15 W—makes it an inefficient and impractical choice for most users. Its value lies in a very specific, legacy server context. If you are running an old dual-socket server motherboard with an LGA 1366 socket and require ECC memory for a home lab or a non-critical server, the Xeon’s triple-channel DDR3 support and higher base clock could make it a sensible, low-cost upgrade for an existing platform. The verdict is simple: for new work, the Ryzen 7 3700U wins decisively; for legacy server duty, the Xeon X5570 has a niche, data-backed role, but its performance is severely outdated.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole head-to-head benchmark in the data set is the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, and it is a landslide. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U scores 672, while the Intel Xeon X5570 scores 283. This 389-point difference translates to a deltaPct of 137.5%, meaning the AMD processor is well over twice as fast. This is the most important number in this entire comparison. It shows that the Ryzen 7 3700U’s newer architecture can execute the same instruction set with far greater efficiency.

When we look at the broader benchmark landscape, the picture becomes more nuanced. The Xeon X5570 has scores in other, more modern Cinebench versions that the Ryzen part lacks. For instance, the Xeon scores 1180 in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 2810 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 396 in Cinebench R23 single-core. The Ryzen 7 3700U does not have these scores listed, so a direct comparison is impossible. However, the Xeon’s single-core score of 166 in Cinebench R20 highlights its weakness: its older architecture is not competitive in single-threaded performance, a key metric for many everyday applications.

The average benchmark scores for both CPUs are virtually identical, at 968 for the AMD and 967 for the Intel. This is a fascinating data point. It suggests that when you average their performance across a wide variety of workloads (including those not in the direct head-to-head), they balance out. The Ryzen 7 3700U’s massive win in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test is offset by the Xeon’s presumably better performance in other tests that are not listed in the head-to-head section. This reinforces the idea that the Xeon X5570, despite its age, still holds ground in certain server-like tasks, but its overall performance ceiling is much lower than the Ryzen's modern capabilities.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U faster than the Intel Xeon X5570?

A: In the only direct benchmark comparison, yes. The Ryzen 7 3700U scores 672 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is 137.5% higher than the Xeon X5570’s score of 283, indicating a massive performance advantage in this multi-threaded rendering task.

Q: What are the main hardware differences between these two CPUs?

A: The most significant differences are in process node and power. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U uses a 12 nm process and has a 15 W TDP, while the Intel Xeon X5570 uses a 45 nm process and has a 95 W TDP. The Ryzen is a mobile processor with integrated Radeon Vega 10 graphics, whereas the Xeon is a server chip with no integrated graphics and supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher clock speed?

A: The Intel Xeon X5570 has a higher base clock at 2.93 GHz compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U’s 2.30 GHz. However, the AMD processor has a significantly higher boost clock at 4.00 GHz, compared to the Xeon’s 3.33 GHz.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Xeon X5570 has a larger 8 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U has an average score of 968, and the Intel Xeon X5570 has an average score of 967, placing them in the same performance tier based on this metric.

Q: Which processor is better for a modern laptop?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U is the only viable option for a modern laptop. It is designed for the mobile market segment, has a low 15 W TDP, and is currently in active production. The Intel Xeon X5570 is an end-of-life server processor with a 95 W TDP, making it unsuitable for mobile use.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two processors is immense. The AMD Ryzen 7 3700U is built on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, and fabricated on a 12 nm process by GlobalFoundries. This modern design incorporates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Xeon X5570 uses the much older Nehalem architecture, codenamed Gainestown, fabricated on a 45 nm process by Intel. This older process houses only 731 million transistors on a larger 263 mm² die. The transistor density difference alone explains why the Ryzen can deliver significantly more performance while consuming a fraction of the power.

The memory architectures also differ fundamentally. The Ryzen 7 3700U uses a dual-channel DDR4 memory bus, while the Xeon X5570 uses a triple-channel DDR3 bus with a specified 32.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Xeon’s support for ECC memory is a key feature for server reliability, which is completely absent from the Ryzen part. Furthermore, the Ryzen integrates a Radeon Vega 10 GPU, a feature the Xeon lacks entirely, meaning a discrete graphics card is mandatory for the Intel platform. The PCIe support also differs, with the Ryzen offering Gen 3 and the Xeon being limited to the older Gen 2 standard.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal several crucial differences. The most striking is the TDP: the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U is rated at 15 W, while the Intel Xeon X5570 is rated at 95 W. This makes the Ryzen vastly more power-efficient and suitable for thermally constrained environments. The process nodes are equally distinct, with the Ryzen using a 12 nm process and the Xeon using a 45 nm process. The Ryzen 7 3700U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, whereas the Xeon X5570 has a base clock of 2.93 GHz and a boost clock of 3.33 GHz.

The cache configurations differ as well. The Ryzen 7 3700U has 96 KB of L1 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, while the Xeon X5570 has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache is 4 MB on the AMD chip and 8 MB on the Intel chip. The memory support is another key differentiator, with the Ryzen using DDR4 and the Xeon using DDR3. Additionally, the Ryzen 7 3700U is a mobile processor with an integrated GPU, while the Xeon is a server/workstation part without one. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a feature not available on the Ryzen. Finally, the production status is "Active" for the AMD part and "End-of-life" for the Intel part.