AMD Ryzen 7 4980U vs Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a fascinating generational clash. The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U, a 15-watt mobile processor from 2021, and the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4, a 140-watt desktop server chip from 2016, split their four common benchmarks exactly evenly, with two wins each. The Xeon takes the newer Cinebench R23 tests, while the Ryzen dominates the older R15 tests. The database places both at the 52nd percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are remarkably close: 3066 for the AMD and 2978 for the Intel, a gap of just 3%. This is not a case of one chip being categorically superior. The Ryzen 7 4980U is the pick for anyone who cares about raw multi-core throughput in legacy R15 workloads, where it leads by 71.6%, or for single-threaded R15 performance, where it leads by 33.8%. The Xeon E5-1650 v4 is the pick for users running Cinebench R23; it wins multi-core by 4.5% and single-core by 6.9%. The choice hinges entirely on which software generation matters more to the user.

Architecture Differences

These two processors are built on fundamentally different philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is a mobile part from the 4000 series, built on Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename at a 7 nm process node from TSMC. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads into a die size of 156 mm², with a transistor count of 9,800 million. The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 belongs to the Broadwell-EP generation, built on a 14 nm process node from Intel. It has fewer cores, 6 cores and 12 threads, but a larger die size of 246 mm² and a much lower transistor count of 3,400 million. The cache layouts differ significantly. The AMD offers 512 KB of L2 per core and 8 MB of shared L3, while the Intel offers 256 KB of L2 per core but a larger 15 MB of shared L3. The AMD uses LPDDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, delivering 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth, and it lacks ECC support. The Intel uses DDR4 memory in a quad-channel configuration, delivering 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth, more than double the AMD's throughput, and it supports ECC memory. The AMD includes integrated Radeon Graphics with 512 SPs, while the Intel has no integrated graphics at all. The sockets and market segments are entirely different, with the AMD on AMD Socket FP6 targeting mobile, and the Intel on Intel Socket 2011-3 targeting desktop.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do the processors compare in Cinebench R15 multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U scores 1658, while the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 scores 966. The AMD wins by 71.6%.

Q: How do the processors compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 scores 9592, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U scores 9164. The Intel wins by 4.5%.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U does not.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has a quad-channel memory bus and delivers 76.8 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has a dual-channel bus and delivers 34.1 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The recorded data shows these key differences between the two processors:

• Cores: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has 8, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has 6.
• Threads: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has 16, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has 12.
• Base Clock: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is 2000.00 MHz, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is 3.60 GHz.
• Boost Clock: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is 4.40 GHz, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is 4.00 GHz.
• TDP: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is 15 W, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is 140 W.
• Socket: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U uses AMD Socket FP6, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 uses Intel Socket 2011-3.
• Process Node: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is 7 nm, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is 14 nm.
• Transistors: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has 9,800 million, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has 3,400 million.
• Die Size: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is 156 mm², Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is 246 mm².
• L2 Cache: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has 512 KB per core, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has 256 KB per core.
• L3 Cache: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has 8 MB shared, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has 15 MB shared.
• Memory Support: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U uses LPDDR4, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 uses DDR4.
• Memory Bus: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is dual-channel, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is quad-channel.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is 34.1 GB/s, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is 76.8 GB/s.
• ECC Memory: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has none, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 supports it.
• Integrated Graphics: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has Radeon Graphics 512SP, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has none.
• Market Segment: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is mobile, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is desktop.
• Release Date: AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is 2021-04-12, Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 is 2016-06-19.
• Launch MSRP: The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 has a launch MSRP of $621. The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has no listed launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals a split that is unusual in processor comparisons. In Cinebench R15, the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is decisively faster. In the multi-core test, it scores 1658 against the Intel's 966, a delta of 71.6% in favor of AMD. That is a massive margin, nearly three quarters ahead. In the R15 single-core test, the AMD scores 182 against the Intel's 136, a 33.8% lead. The AMD's higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus 4.00 GHz, combined with its newer architecture, likely explains this older-benchmark dominance, though the data does not explicitly state that causation.

The story reverses in Cinebench R23. The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 scores 9592 in multi-core, while the AMD scores 9164. The Intel wins by 4.5%. In single-core R23, the Intel scores 1354 against the AMD's 1260, a 6.9% lead. This is intriguing. The AMD has more cores, a newer process node, and a higher boost clock, yet the Intel pulls ahead in the newer benchmark suite. The Intel's larger 15 MB of shared L3 cache, its quad-channel memory delivering 76.8 GB/s, and its higher base clock of 3.60 GHz versus 2.00 GHz may all contribute, though again, the data does not explicitly state this. The average benchmark scores remain close, with the AMD at 3066 and the Intel at 2978, a difference of only 88 points. The database shows the AMD's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 at a 0% delta, while the Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5675U at a 0.3% delta. Both processors occupy a similar performance tier despite their architectural differences.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U wins decisively in Cinebench R15 workloads. Its 71.6% multi-core advantage and 33.8% single-core advantage make it the clear choice for applications built around that benchmark generation. The data shows it also wins the overall average benchmark comparison, with 3066 versus 2978, a 3% lead. The AMD also offers integrated Radeon Graphics 512SP, a feature the Intel completely lacks, which could be useful in systems without a discrete GPU. Its 8 cores and 16 threads give it a core-count advantage, and its 512 KB per core L2 cache is double the Intel's allocation.

The Intel Xeon E5-1650 v4 wins in Cinebench R23, both multi-core and single-core. The 4.5% multi-core lead and 6.9% single-core lead indicate the Intel handles newer, more demanding rendering workloads better. Its 15 MB of shared L3 cache is nearly double the AMD's 8 MB, and its quad-channel memory bus provides 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than double the AMD's 34.1 GB/s. The Intel also supports ECC memory, a critical feature for workstation or server reliability that the AMD does not offer. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz is significantly higher than the AMD's 2.00 GHz, which may help in sustained workloads. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $621, while the AMD has no listed launch MSRP. For users prioritizing legacy R15 performance or needing integrated graphics, the AMD is the data-backed choice. For users prioritizing R23 performance or requiring ECC memory support, the Intel is the clear winner. The split is clean, and the benchmark data supports both conclusions without ambiguity.