AMD Ryzen 7 4980U vs Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 has an average benchmark score of 3082, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U scores 3066. The difference is only 16 points, or roughly 0.5%, placing both processors at the 52nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded Cinebench R15, and by how much?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U wins decisively in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 1658 versus Intel’s 1074. That is a 35.2% advantage for AMD in this older rendering test.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon ever beat the AMD in multi-core performance?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 scores 10656 against AMD’s 9164, giving Intel a 16.3% lead. This is a complete reversal from the R15 result.

Q: What about single-core performance — which is faster?

A: The results are split by test generation. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD wins with 182 versus 151, a 17% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel wins with 1504 versus 1260, a 19.4% lead.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each CPU according to the data?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-6850K at 3079 average (0.1% delta), followed by the Intel Core i7-8700B at 3086 (-0.1%). The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U’s closest rival is the Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 at 3066 (0% delta), with the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X at 3068 (-0.1%).

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock and lower TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus Intel’s 3.50 GHz. AMD also has a dramatically lower TDP of 15 watts compared to Intel’s 140 watts.

The Verdict

The data presents a genuinely split decision. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 and AMD Ryzen 7 4980U each win exactly two of the four head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and their average scores are nearly identical (3082 vs 3066). Neither chip dominates the other in raw performance.

Pick the Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 if your workload targets modern rendering engines. It leads by 16.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and by 19.4% in R23 single-core. This suggests that newer software that scales well with the latest instruction sets and caching behavior will favor Intel’s part. The Xeon also offers quad-channel DDR4 memory with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, ECC support, and 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes — features that matter for workstation builds where memory throughput and data integrity are critical.

Pick the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U if you prioritize older benchmark compatibility and efficiency. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 35.2% and R15 single-core by 17%. More importantly, its 15-watt TDP and integrated Radeon Graphics 512SP make it a self-contained mobile solution. The 7 nm TSMC process and 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die show that AMD packed far more silicon into a much smaller footprint. For a compact, low-power system where the CPU must also drive a display, the Ryzen is the sensible choice.

For a fixed desktop workstation with a discrete GPU, the Xeon’s memory bandwidth, ECC capability, and R23 wins tip the balance. For a thin laptop or an all-in-one where power draw and integrated graphics are non-negotiable, the Ryzen 7 4980U is the only option that fits.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The four benchmark results tell a story of generational divergence. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U posts 1658 against the Intel Xeon’s 1074. This 35.2% margin is the largest gap in either direction across all tests. The R15 single-core test shows AMD ahead again, 182 to 151, a 17% edge. In both cases, the Ryzen’s higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus 3.50 GHz likely explains the advantage.

However, the Cinebench R23 results reverse the narrative. Intel takes multi-core with 10656 versus 9164, a 16.3% lead. The single-core R23 test shows Intel ahead 1504 to 1260, a 19.4% margin. This flip-flop suggests that the Intel architecture handles the newer R23 workload’s instruction patterns more efficiently, despite its lower clock speeds and older 22 nm process.

Looking at the nearest rivals puts these results in context. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3’s average of 3082 is essentially tied with the Core i7-6850K (3079, +0.1%) and the Core i7-8700B (3086, -0.1%). The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U’s average of 3066 is exactly matched by the Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 (0% delta) and is within 0.1% of the Ryzen 7 1800X. Both CPUs sit in a dense performance cluster where no single chip has a meaningful overall advantage.

The win count is 2-2, but the magnitude of the wins differs. AMD’s R15 multi-core win (35.2%) is more than double Intel’s largest win (19.4% in R23 single-core). Conversely, Intel’s R23 multi-core win (16.3%) is substantial but smaller than AMD’s R15 margin. This asymmetry matters: if your software suite resembles R15’s workload, AMD offers a much bigger performance swing than Intel does in the R23 scenario.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every physical and electrical specification. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 uses the Intel Socket 2011-3, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U uses the AMD Socket FP6. Intel’s base clock is 3.00 GHz with a 3.50 GHz boost; AMD’s base clock is listed as 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz) with a 4.40 GHz boost. The TDP gap is enormous: 140 watts for Intel versus 15 watts for AMD.

Memory support separates them clearly. Intel supports DDR4 with a quad-channel bus and 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, plus ECC memory. AMD supports LPDDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, with no ECC. PCIe connectivity also differs: Intel provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), while AMD lists simply "Gen 3" without a lane count.

The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable. The AMD part is locked. Intel includes no integrated graphics, while AMD integrates Radeon Graphics 512SP. Intel’s market segment is Server/Workstation; AMD’s is Mobile. Both are end-of-life products. The Intel part number is SR20N; AMD’s is 100-000000354.

Architecture Differences

These processors come from fundamentally different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 is built on the Haswell architecture (codename Haswell-EP) using a 22 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. It packs 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. Cache is organized as 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 20 MB shared L3.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U uses the Zen 2 architecture (codename Renoir) on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It contains 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die — nearly four times the transistor count in less than half the die area. Cache is 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core (double Intel’s L2), but only 8 MB shared L3 (less than half of Intel’s 20 MB).

The transistor density difference is stark: Intel crams 2.6 billion transistors into 356 mm², while AMD fits 9.8 billion into 156 mm². This is a direct consequence of the 22 nm versus 7 nm process gap. The AMD’s smaller die and higher density allow for the massive TDP reduction from 140 to 15 watts, while still delivering comparable or better performance in many tests. The Intel part relies on a larger, older process and a higher power budget to achieve its results.

The cache hierarchy differences suggest distinct optimization targets. Intel’s larger 20 MB L3 cache benefits workloads with large shared working sets. AMD’s larger per-core L2 (512 KB) helps with per-thread locality. The L3 size difference likely contributes to the R23 results, where the Xeon’s bigger shared cache may improve scaling across 16 threads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-1660 v3 wins in modern multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads, as shown by its Cinebench R23 victories (16.3% multi-core, 19.4% single-core). It also wins in any scenario that requires ECC memory, quad-channel bandwidth (68.3 GB/s), or 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. This makes it suited for server racks, workstation builds with multiple GPUs or NVMe drives, and memory-intensive database or scientific applications where data integrity is paramount. Its unlocked multiplier adds overclocking headroom for those who can manage the 140-watt TDP.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U wins in legacy rendering workloads, taking Cinebench R15 multi-core by 35.2% and single-core by 17%. It wins decisively in power efficiency: 15 watts versus 140 watts is a 10x reduction. It also wins in system integration, offering Radeon Graphics 512SP for display output without a discrete GPU. The 4.40 GHz boost clock provides raw single-thread speed when needed. This makes it ideal for thin-and-light laptops, fanless designs, embedded systems, or any mobile form factor where battery life and thermals dictate the design.

The head-to-head win split of 2-2 reflects a genuine trade-off. If your benchmark suite is older (R15-era), the AMD chip is the clear winner. If you are running current software that resembles R23, the Intel chip pulls ahead. The average benchmark scores being nearly tied (3082 vs 3066) mask this divergence — the choice depends entirely on which workload generation you target. For a user who cannot predict future software trends, the AMD’s much lower power draw and integrated graphics make it the safer all-around recommendation. For a user with a specific modern workstation workload, the Xeon’s R23 wins and memory features justify its higher power consumption.