AMD Ryzen 7 4800U vs Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 and AMD Ryzen 7 4800U are both 8-core, 16-thread processors, yet they are built for entirely different worlds: a 140 W server/workstation part from 2014 versus a 15 W mobile chip from 2020. The benchmark data reveals a fascinating split, with each processor dominating in different Cinebench versions, ultimately leaving the overall win count tied at 2-2. This head-to-head is less about a single victor and more about identifying which workload generation favors which architecture.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the complete reversal of fortunes between Cinebench R15 and R23. In the older Cinebench R15 multicore test, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U delivers a score of 1411, which is 19.4% higher than the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3's 1137. This is a significant margin, showcasing the Ryzen's efficiency in a workload that is less demanding on memory bandwidth and scaling. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern, with the AMD part scoring 183 against the Xeon's 160, a 12.6% advantage for the Ryzen. In these legacy tests, the newer Zen 2 architecture's higher 4.20 GHz boost clock and superior instructions-per-clock are clearly decisive.

However, the tables turn dramatically when looking at Cinebench R23, which is a more modern and demanding render workload. Here, the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 asserts its dominance with a multicore score of 11289, crushing the Ryzen 7 4800U's 8376 by a massive 34.8%. The Xeon's 20 MB of shared L3 cache and quad-channel DDR4 memory bus, which provides 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth, likely provide the necessary data throughput for this heavier scene. The advantage extends to single-core performance in R23 as well, with the Intel part scoring 1593 versus the AMD's 1235, a 29% lead. This is a counter-intuitive result, as the Xeon's 3.80 GHz boost clock is lower than the Ryzen's 4.20 GHz, but the data clearly shows the older architecture handling this specific workload more efficiently.

Looking at the broader picture, the average benchmark scores are remarkably close. The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 holds an average score of 3265, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U sits at 3218. The Xeon's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v4 with a delta of 0%, while the Ryzen's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE, also with a 0% delta. Both processors land in the 53rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating that despite their vastly different designs and release dates, they offer similar overall compute capabilities when averaged across their respective benchmark suites. The key takeaway is that the Xeon is a specialist for heavy, sustained multi-threaded loads, while the Ryzen 7 4800U is a more balanced performer that punches above its weight in lighter, more common tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 is significantly faster, scoring 11289 compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U's 8376, a 34.8% difference.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 7 4800U wins the Cinebench R15 multicore test (1411 vs 1137) and the R15 single-core test (183 vs 160).

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 3265, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U averages 3218. Both are in the 53rd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth and how does it affect performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U uses dual-channel DDR4/LPDDR4 with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. This likely contributes to the Xeon's large lead in the more memory-intensive Cinebench R23 test.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U includes Radeon RX Vega 8 integrated graphics, while the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: What is the production status of each chip?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 is listed as end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U is listed as active.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear, though unconventional, verdict. For users running modern, heavily-threaded workstation tasks like 3D rendering in Cinebench R23, the Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 is the unequivocal choice, offering a 34.8% performance advantage over the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U. Its superior memory subsystem and larger cache prove critical in these sustained workloads. However, for users whose primary applications are older or lighter workloads, such as those represented by Cinebench R15, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U is the better performer, with a 19.4% lead in multicore and a 12.6% lead in single-core tests. The Ryzen 7 4800U also brings the benefit of integrated graphics and a drastically lower 15 W TDP, making it suitable for systems where power consumption and space are at a premium. The Xeon, with its 140 W TDP and server/workstation market segment, is designed for a completely different class of machine. Ultimately, the choice depends entirely on the specific software and its generation; there is no universal winner here.

Specification Differences

The core specifications highlight the fundamental design philosophy differences between a desktop/server part and a mobile processor. The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U has a much lower 1800.00 MHz base clock but a higher 4.20 GHz boost clock. The power envelope is the biggest differentiator, with the Xeon consuming 140 W compared to the Ryzen's 15 W. The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 2011-3, while the Ryzen uses the AMD Socket FP6. Memory support also differs: the Xeon supports DDR4 with a quad-channel bus, while the Ryzen supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4 with a dual-channel bus. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the Ryzen, and offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, whereas the Ryzen's PCIe support is simply listed as "Gen 3" without a lane count.

Architecture Differences

These two CPUs are separated by over two generations of architectural evolution. The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 is based on the Haswell architecture (codename Haswell-EP), built on a 22 nm process by Intel. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800U uses the Zen 2 architecture (codename Renoir), manufactured by TSMC on a far more advanced 7 nm node. This process difference is stark, with the AMD chip packing 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip has only 2,600 million transistors on a much larger 356 mm² die. The cache configurations also differ significantly. While both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, the Ryzen 7 4800U has 512 KB of L2 cache per core, double the Xeon's 256 KB. However, the Intel part has a much larger 20 MB shared L3 cache compared to the Ryzen's 8 MB shared L3 cache. The Xeon also features an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, while the Ryzen 7 4800U's multiplier is locked.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-1680 v3 wins in scenarios that stress sustained multi-core performance and high memory throughput. Its massive 34.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore points to its strength in modern 3D rendering, video encoding, and complex scientific simulations that can utilize its 16 threads and benefit from the quad-channel memory bus. Its large 20 MB L3 cache and 68.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth are assets for data-heavy workloads. This is a processor for a dedicated workstation that sits in a server socket and is expected to churn through heavy compute tasks for extended periods.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4800U wins in scenarios involving lighter, less demanding workloads, as evidenced by its strong showing in Cinebench R15. Its higher boost clock and more efficient Zen 2 architecture give it the edge in single-threaded tasks and older software that may not scale perfectly across many cores. Its integrated Radeon RX Vega 8 graphics make it a complete system-on-a-chip, ideal for a thin-and-light laptop where a discrete GPU is not an option. Furthermore, its 15 W TDP makes it the obvious choice for any battery-powered or thermally constrained environment. The Ryzen 7 4800U is about efficiency and versatility, while the Xeon is about raw, unyielding computational power.