AMD Ryzen 7 4800U vs Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 and AMD Ryzen 7 4800U represent two very different answers to the question of what an 8-core, 16-thread processor should be. The Xeon is a desktop-class server chip from 2016, built for a 140 W power envelope and a quad-channel memory interface, while the Ryzen is a 15 W mobile part from 2020 with integrated graphics. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 3264 for the Intel against 3218 for the AMD — and both sit at the 53rd percentile of all CPUs. Yet the head-to-head data reveals a split personality: the Intel part wins the newer Cinebench R23 tests decisively, while the AMD part dominates the older R15 tests. The data shows a matchup where generation and workload direction matter more than the raw core count.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload and platform constraints. For users running modern multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 is the stronger choice. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 11285 against the Ryzen’s 8376, a 34.7% advantage. Its single-core R23 result of 1593 is also 29% ahead of the Ryzen’s 1235. This is a substantial lead in the most current rendering benchmark in the pack. The Intel part’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to the Ryzen’s 8 MB, likely contributes to this performance in sustained workloads.

For users prioritizing older benchmark suites or those constrained by power and mobility, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U is the pick. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 1411 against the Xeon’s 1137, a 19.4% margin, and also takes the R15 single-core test with 183 versus 160, a 12.6% lead. This is notable because the Ryzen achieves this while being rated for a 15 W TDP compared to the Xeon’s 140 W — a massive efficiency gap. The Ryzen also includes Radeon RX Vega 8 integrated graphics, so it offers a complete platform in a single chip, whereas the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. The Xeon’s launch MSRP is $1113; the Ryzen’s is not listed.

The head-to-head record is perfectly balanced at two wins each. The decision comes down to whether the workload is modern (favoring Intel) or legacy (favoring AMD), and whether the system must be a low-power mobile design or can accommodate a high-TDP desktop platform. The Xeon’s end-of-life production status and 2016 release date contrast with the Ryzen’s active status and 2020 release, but the data shows the older chip still holds a meaningful edge in the R23 suite.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-EP variant, built on a 14 nm process at Intel’s foundry. It packs 3,400 million transistors into a 246 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Renoir codename, manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC. This newer process allows AMD to fit 9,800 million transistors into a smaller 156 mm² die — nearly three times the transistor count in roughly two-thirds the area.

Cache configurations differ significantly. Both share the same 64 KB L1 cache per core, but the Intel part has 256 KB of L2 per core while the AMD has 512 KB per core. The L3 cache tells a different story: the Xeon has 20 MB shared, while the Ryzen has only 8 MB shared. This gives the Intel chip a 12 MB advantage in last-level cache, which is likely a factor in its R23 wins.

Memory support also diverges. The Xeon uses DDR4 over a quad-channel bus, yielding a maximum memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. The Ryzen uses DDR4 or LPDDR4 over a dual-channel bus, with a peak bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and it does not support ECC. The Xeon provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen offers PCIe Gen 3 without a lane count specified. The Xeon has no integrated graphics; the Ryzen integrates Radeon RX Vega 8.

Power and platform targets are opposites. The Xeon is a desktop segment part with a 140 W TDP, socketed in Intel Socket 2011-3. The Ryzen is a mobile segment part with a 15 W TDP, socketed in AMD Socket FP6. The Xeon’s multiplier is locked, as is the Ryzen’s. The Xeon’s release date is 2016-06-19, and it is marked end-of-life; the Ryzen’s release date is 2020-01-05, and it remains active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U boosts to 4.20 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 boosts to 3.80 GHz. The AMD part also has a lower base clock at 1.80 GHz versus the Intel’s 3.20 GHz.

Q: Why does the Intel Xeon win Cinebench R23 multi-core despite losing R15 multi-core?

A: The data shows the Xeon scores 11285 in R23 multi-core versus the Ryzen’s 8376, a 34.7% lead. In R15 multi-core, however, the Ryzen wins with 1411 against 1137, a 19.4% margin. The benchmark generation itself appears to favor the Xeon’s architecture, likely due to its larger 20 MB L3 cache.

Q: Which chip is more efficient per watt based on the available data?

A: The Ryzen 7 4800U has a 15 W TDP and wins the R15 tests, while the Xeon has a 140 W TDP and wins the R23 tests. In the R15 suite, the Ryzen achieves higher scores at less than a ninth of the TDP rating. In R23, the Xeon’s lead does not compensate for its 125 W higher TDP in efficiency terms.

Q: Does either processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U does not.

Q: What integrated graphics does the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U include?

A: The Ryzen 7 4800U includes Radeon RX Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 has no integrated graphics listed.

Q: How do their production statuses compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U is marked as active. The Xeon was released on 2016-06-19, and the Ryzen on 2020-01-05.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ in nearly every physical and platform specification. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The TDP ratings are 140 W for the Intel and 15 W for the AMD. The Intel uses Intel Socket 2011-3, and the AMD uses AMD Socket FP6.

The architecture and process nodes differ: Intel is Broadwell on 14 nm, and AMD is Zen 2 on 7 nm. The transistor counts are 3,400 million for Intel versus 9,800 million for AMD, with die sizes of 246 mm² and 156 mm², respectively. L2 cache per core is 256 KB on the Intel and 512 KB on the AMD; L3 cache is 20 MB shared on the Intel and 8 MB shared on the AMD.

Memory support differs: the Intel supports DDR4 with a quad-channel bus and 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. ECC support is present on the Intel but absent on the AMD. PCIe is Gen 3 with 40 lanes on the Intel, and Gen 3 with no lane count on the AMD. The Intel has no integrated graphics, while the AMD includes Radeon RX Vega 8. The market segments are Desktop for Intel and Mobile for AMD. The Intel’s launch MSRP is $1113, and the AMD has no listed MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The four head-to-head results split evenly, but the margins tell a nuanced story. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U scores 1411 against the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4’s 1137, a 19.4% win for AMD. This is a substantial margin, especially considering the Ryzen’s 15 W TDP versus the Xeon’s 140 W. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD wins again with 183 versus 160, a 12.6% advantage. These results show the Zen 2 architecture’s strength in the older R15 workload.

The tables turn decisively in Cinebench R23. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 scores 11285 in multi-core against the Ryzen’s 8376, a 34.7% win for Intel. This is the largest margin in the entire head-to-head set. In R23 single-core, the Intel wins with 1593 versus 1235, a 29% lead. The Intel’s 20 MB L3 cache versus the AMD’s 8 MB is the most plausible explanation for this reversal, as the R23 workload appears to scale with cache capacity.

The average benchmark scores are close: the Intel sits at 3264, and the AMD at 3218, a difference of only 1.4%. The Intel’s nearest rival, the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3, scores 3265 with a 0% delta. The AMD’s nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE, scores 3218 with a 0% delta. Both chips land in identical percentile territory at 53, meaning their overall positions relative to all CPUs are statistically indistinguishable.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 wins in modern rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11285 is 34.7% ahead of the Ryzen’s, and its R23 single-core score of 1593 is 29% ahead. This makes it the clear choice for users running current Cinebench-based rendering tasks or similar modern multi-threaded applications. The Xeon also offers advantages in memory capacity and bandwidth, with quad-channel support and 76.8 GB/s, plus ECC memory for data integrity. Its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide more expansion headroom for desktop workstation builds. The 20 MB L3 cache is a significant asset in cache-sensitive workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U wins in legacy benchmarks and efficiency. It takes Cinebench R15 multi-core by 19.4% and single-core by 12.6%, demonstrating that its architecture is better suited to that older workload. Its 15 W TDP is a fraction of the Xeon’s 140 W, making it the only viable choice for fanless or battery-powered mobile designs. The integrated Radeon RX Vega 8 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU in basic display tasks, something the Xeon cannot offer. The Ryzen’s 7 nm process and 9,800 million transistors indicate a more modern design, and its active production status means it remains available for new systems.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward. For a desktop workstation with high power budget, PCIe expansion, ECC memory needs, and modern rendering performance, the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 is the data-backed choice. For a low-power mobile laptop, legacy benchmark compatibility, or a compact integrated system, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U wins. Neither chip dominates the other across all metrics; the balanced 2-2 record in head-to-head tests confirms that the right choice depends entirely on the workload and platform constraints.