AMD Ryzen 7 4700U vs Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U and Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 are both eight-core processors, but they represent opposite ends of the computing spectrum: a modern 7nm mobile chip against a legacy 22nm server/workstation part. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—2722 for the AMD versus 2703 for the Intel—yet the head-to-head data reveals a split personality where each processor dominates in different workload types.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic divergence appears in the Cinebench R15 suite. In multi-core testing, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U scores 1094.5 against the Xeon's 942, a 16.2% victory for the mobile chip. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided: AMD posts 180 versus Intel's 132, a commanding 36.4% lead. These are the Ryzen's strongest wins, reflecting its superior per-core efficiency and higher 4.10 GHz boost clock compared to the Xeon's 3.40 GHz.

The tables turn dramatically in the newer Cinebench R23 benchmark. Here, the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 scores 9348 in multi-core, eclipsing the Ryzen's 7378 by a 21.1% margin. The Xeon also wins single-core R23, scoring 1319 against AMD's 1220.5—a 7.5% edge. This reversal is striking: the same two chips swap winners depending on which Cinebench version is used, with the older R15 favoring AMD and the newer R23 favoring Intel.

The story becomes clearer when examining the benchmark counts. Both processors claim exactly two wins each from the four head-to-head tests. The Ryzen 7 4700U's victories are decisive in R15, particularly the single-core blowout. The Xeon's R23 multi-core win is substantial, but its single-core advantage is more modest at 7.5%. Notably, the two chips share the same 50th percentile ranking against all CPUs, reinforcing their overall statistical equivalence despite radically different architectures and target markets.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U averages 2722 across its benchmark suite, while the Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 averages 2703—a difference of less than 1%, making them statistically tied in overall performance.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon's 16 threads give it a multi-core advantage?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, yes—the Xeon scores 9348 versus 7378 for the Ryzen, a 21.1% lead. However, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen wins 1094.5 to 942 despite having only 8 threads versus the Xeon's 16.

Q: Which chip has better single-core performance?

A: It depends on the benchmark generation. The Ryzen 7 4700U wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 36.4% (180 vs 132), but the Xeon E5-2640 v3 wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 7.5% (1319 vs 1220.5).

Q: Are these processors comparable in their target markets?

A: No—the Ryzen 7 4700U is a mobile processor with a 15W TDP and integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP, while the Xeon E5-2640 v3 is a server/workstation part with a 90W TDP, no integrated graphics, and ECC memory support.

Q: What are their nearest performance rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 4700U's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 (2724 average, 0.1% behind), while the Xeon E5-2640 v3's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-1185G7E (2703 average, 0% difference).

Q: Which chip has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 supports quad-channel memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen 7 4700U uses dual-channel memory with 51.2 GB/s—a 16.6% advantage for the Xeon.

Architecture Differences

These processors are separated by six years of silicon evolution. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U uses the Zen 2 architecture on a 7nm TSMC process, codenamed Renoir, packing 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 uses the Haswell architecture on Intel's 22nm process, codenamed Haswell-EP, with just 2,600 million transistors on a larger 356 mm² die. The transistor density difference is stark: the AMD chip crams nearly four times more transistors into less than half the die area.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. Both allocate 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the Ryzen provides 512 KB of L2 per core while the Xeon offers only 256 KB per core. The L3 cache tells the opposite story: the Xeon has 20 MB shared L3, more than double the Ryzen's 8 MB shared L3. This larger L3 likely contributes to the Xeon's R23 multi-core advantage, as server workloads often benefit from larger shared pools.

The integrated graphics situation is one-sided. The Ryzen 7 4700U includes Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors, making it a complete APU solution. The Xeon E5-2640 v3 has no integrated graphics whatsoever, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. The Ryzen also supports only non-ECC DDR4 memory, while the Xeon supports ECC memory—a critical feature for mission-critical server reliability.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ meaningfully: both have 8 cores, but the Ryzen 7 4700U has 8 threads (no SMT) while the Xeon E5-2640 v3 has 16 threads via Hyper-Threading. Clock speeds favor AMD in boost—4.10 GHz versus 3.40 GHz—but Intel leads in base clock at 2.60 GHz versus 2.00 GHz. The TDP gap is enormous: 15W for the Ryzen versus 90W for the Xeon, a 6x difference that reflects their mobile versus server positioning.

Memory support shows the Xeon's enterprise pedigree: it uses quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support, while the Ryzen uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s and no ECC. Both use PCIe Gen 3, but the Xeon provides 40 lanes from the CPU alone. Socket compatibility is entirely separate—AMD Socket FP6 for the Ryzen, Intel Socket 2011-3 for the Xeon. Manufacturing details also diverge: TSMC fabricates the AMD chip at 7nm, while Intel's own fabs produce the Xeon at 22nm. The Ryzen's production status is Active with a 2020 release, while the Xeon is End-of-life from a 2014 launch. The Xeon carries a launch MSRP of $939; the Ryzen has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U wins in scenarios favoring modern single-threaded efficiency and low power. Its 36.4% Cinebench R15 single-core lead demonstrates superior per-core execution, making it better suited for responsive everyday computing, lightly threaded applications, and any workload where clock speed and IPC matter more than raw thread count. The 15W TDP makes it viable for thin-and-light laptops where thermal headroom is minimal, and the integrated Radeon Graphics eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. Its smaller die and 7nm process suggest better power efficiency per unit of performance.

The Intel Xeon E5-2640 v3 wins in heavily threaded, sustained workloads where its 16 threads and 20 MB L3 cache shine. The 21.1% Cinebench R23 multi-core victory indicates strength in content creation, rendering, and server-style parallel tasks that scale with thread count. The 59.7 GB/s memory bandwidth from quad-channel support gives it an edge in memory-bandwidth-sensitive applications, while ECC memory support makes it suitable for data integrity-critical environments. The 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide more expansion headroom for workstation peripherals.

The balanced 2-2 win split in head-to-head benchmarks reveals that neither processor is universally superior. The Ryzen 7 4700U is the better choice for mobile computing, single-thread responsiveness, and power-constrained environments. The Xeon E5-2640 v3 is the better choice for server racks, multi-threaded rendering, and workloads that demand ECC reliability. Despite their similar average scores, they serve entirely different masters—one optimized for efficiency in a laptop chassis, the other for endurance in a server room.