AMD Ryzen 7 4700U vs Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data splits cleanly across generations and workload types. In Cinebench R15, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U dominates the Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3. The multicore test shows the AMD part scoring 1094.5 against 928 for the Xeon, a 17.9% advantage. The single-core gap is even larger: 180 versus 131, a 37.4% lead for the Ryzen. That single-core margin is striking, given that the Xeon carries a higher base clock (2.10 GHz versus 2.00 GHz) and a much higher thermal envelope.

The picture flips in Cinebench R23. Here the Xeon E5-4650 v3 takes the multicore crown with 9212 against 7378, a 19.9% margin. The single-core result also favors the Xeon, though by a smaller 6.1% (1300 versus 1220.5). This reversal is a direct consequence of the workload scaling: R23 multicore rewards the Xeon's 12 cores and 24 threads, while R15's older scheduler and shorter run may not fully engage all those threads. The Ryzen's 8 cores and 8 threads, by contrast, stay consistent across both test versions.

What does this mean for the average score? The Ryzen 7 4700U posts an average benchmark score of 2722, while the Xeon lands at 2664. That is a 2.2% difference in favor of the AMD part, despite the Xeon winning the two most modern benchmarks. The Ryzen's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5-2628L v3 (2724, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-11390H (2715, delta 0.2%), the Intel Xeon D-1577 (2715, delta 0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U (2713, delta 0.3%). The Xeon's nearest rivals cluster around the Intel Core i7-9750HF (2662, delta 0.1%), Intel Core i7-9700T (2668, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i5-9500F (2670, delta -0.2%), and Intel Core i7-1365UE (2677, delta -0.5%). Both CPUs sit at the 50th percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they split the field exactly in half.

The single-core delta in R15 (37.4%) is the largest win in either direction. The Xeon's best single-core result in R23 (1300) barely edges the Ryzen's best (1220.5), yet in the older R15 test the Xeon falls far behind. This inconsistency suggests the Xeon's Haswell architecture, with its lower boost clock of 2.80 GHz, cannot sustain the same single-thread burst performance that the Zen 2 Renoir part achieves at 4.10 GHz. The Ryzen's boost clock is 46% higher than the Xeon's, which explains the R15 single-core rout.

However, the Xeon's multicore advantage in R23 is not a fluke. With 50% more physical cores and 200% more threads, the Xeon can throw far more parallel work at the problem. The 19.9% delta in R23 multicore, while substantial, is actually smaller than the core count difference would suggest. This indicates that the Ryzen's Zen 2 cores are more efficient per thread, even if they cannot match the raw thread count.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct buyers. For single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads, the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U is the clear choice. Its R15 single-core score of 180 versus 131 (37.4% ahead) and its R23 single-core score of 1220.5 versus 1300 (6.1% behind) show that in the newer test the gap narrows, but the Ryzen remains competitive. The Ryzen also wins the head-to-head on average benchmark score (2722 versus 2664, a 2.2% edge). For anyone running legacy software, office tasks, or older game engines that rely on single-core speed, the Ryzen offers a significant performance advantage.

For heavily threaded workloads that scale beyond 8 threads, the Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 is the stronger part. The R23 multicore score of 9212 versus 7378 (19.9% ahead) demonstrates that the Xeon's 12 cores and 24 threads pay off in modern multithreaded rendering. The Xeon's 30 MB of shared L3 cache, triple the Ryzen's 8 MB, also helps in cache-sensitive parallel workloads. The Xeon is an end-of-life server/workstation part, while the Ryzen is an active mobile part, so the Xeon's remaining relevance depends entirely on the workload.

The verdict is not a sweeping recommendation for either. It is a workload-dependent split: choose the Ryzen for responsiveness and single-core tasks, choose the Xeon for sustained multithreaded rendering. The Ryzen's 15 W TDP versus the Xeon's 105 W TDP further reinforces the mobile versus server positioning, though the database does not record power consumption measurements for direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different architectural eras and design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U uses the Zen 2 architecture on the Renoir codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 uses the Haswell architecture on the Haswell-EP codename, built on a 22 nm process at Intel. It packs 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The transistor density difference is stark: the Ryzen crams nearly four times as many transistors into less than half the die area.

Cache configurations differ significantly. Both parts share a 64 KB L1 cache per core. The L2 cache is 512 KB per core on the Ryzen, double the Xeon's 256 KB per core. The L3 cache favors the Xeon massively: 30 MB shared versus 8 MB shared on the Ryzen. This 22 MB gap matters for data sets that exceed the Ryzen's smaller pool.

The integrated graphics story is one-sided. The Ryzen includes Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. This is a functional difference: the Ryzen can drive a display without a discrete GPU, the Xeon requires one.

Memory support differs in channel count and ECC capability. Both support DDR4, but the Ryzen uses a dual-channel bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon uses a quad-channel bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the Ryzen does not. PCIe generation is the same (Gen 3), but the Xeon offers 40 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen's lane count is not recorded in the database.

Specification Differences

The specification table highlights where the two parts diverge. The Ryzen has 8 cores and 8 threads; the Xeon has 12 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are close: 2.00 GHz for the Ryzen, 2.10 GHz for the Xeon. Boost clocks favor the Ryzen at 4.10 GHz versus 2.80 GHz. TDP differs by a factor of seven: 15 W for the Ryzen, 105 W for the Xeon.

Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP6 for the Ryzen, Intel Socket 2011-3 for the Xeon. Process nodes differ: 7 nm (TSMC) for the Ryzen, 22 nm (Intel) for the Xeon. The Ryzen's release date is 2020-01-05, the Xeon's is 2015-05-31. The Ryzen's production status is Active, the Xeon's is End-of-life.

The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $2838, though the database records no launch MSRP for the Ryzen. The Ryzen's part number is 100-000000083, the Xeon's is SR22J. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier. The market segments differ: Mobile for the Ryzen, Server/Workstation for the Xeon.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U boosts to 4.10 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 boosts to 2.80 GHz. This 1.30 GHz gap explains the Ryzen's large single-core wins in Cinebench R15.

Q: Why does the Xeon win Cinebench R23 multicore despite losing R15 multicore?

A: The Xeon has 12 cores and 24 threads versus the Ryzen's 8 cores and 8 threads. R23 multicore scales better with thread count, allowing the Xeon's extra threads to overcome the Ryzen's per-core efficiency. The recorded scores show 9212 versus 7378, a 19.9% Xeon advantage.

Q: Does the Ryzen support ECC memory?

A: No. The database records ECC memory support as false for the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U. The Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Ryzen offers 51.2 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR4 bus. The Xeon offers 68.3 GB/s over a quad-channel DDR4 bus. The Xeon has 33.4% more bandwidth.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U includes integrated graphics, specifically Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors. The Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen's average benchmark score is 2722, while the Xeon's is 2664. The Ryzen is 2.2% higher. Both CPUs sit at the 50th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700U wins in scenarios that favor high boost clocks and modern architecture. Its 4.10 GHz boost clock delivers a 37.4% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core (180 versus 131). This makes it the better choice for interactive tasks, legacy single-threaded applications, and any workload that cannot utilize more than 8 threads. The Ryzen also wins on average benchmark score (2722 versus 2664), meaning a typical mixed workload will slightly favor the AMD part. Its 7 nm process and 15 W TDP position it for mobile systems where thermal and power constraints matter. The integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP means it can operate without a discrete GPU, a capability the Xeon lacks entirely.

The Intel Xeon E5-4650 v3 wins in sustained multithreaded rendering and server-style workloads. Its 12 cores and 24 threads produce a 19.9% advantage in Cinebench R23 multicore (9212 versus 7378). The 30 MB shared L3 cache, triple the Ryzen's 8 MB, helps with larger working sets. The quad-channel memory bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, a 33.4% increase over the Ryzen, benefits memory-bound parallel code. The Xeon's ECC memory support is a requirement for many workstation and server deployments. Its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only) provide more expansion headroom for GPUs and storage controllers, though the exact lane count for the Ryzen is not recorded.

The split is clean: single-core and efficiency favor the Ryzen, parallel throughput and memory capacity favor the Xeon. The R15 wins for the Ryzen (2) and R23 wins for the Xeon (2) result in a 2-2 tie in head-to-head benchmark wins, leaving the final decision to the specific workload mix.