AMD Ryzen 7 4980U vs Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U and Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 present a fascinating contrast in CPU design philosophy, separated by nearly seven years of architectural evolution. Despite their vastly different origins—one a low-power mobile part, the other a server/workstation processor—they land at an identical average benchmark score of 3066, placing both at the 52nd percentile of all CPUs. The data reveals a split decision: the AMD chip dominates in older Cinebench R15 workloads, while the Intel part takes the lead in the more demanding Cinebench R23 tests, creating a nuanced picture of generational strengths and workload-specific performance.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic divergence appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U scores 1658 against the Intel Xeon’s 1068, a decisive 55.2% advantage. This is a substantial margin that highlights how effectively the Zen 2 architecture handles the R15 workload’s parallel threading demands. The single-core R15 result follows a similar pattern, with the Ryzen 7 4980U posting 182 versus the Xeon’s 150, a 21.3% lead. These wins demonstrate that in legacy workloads, the AMD processor’s higher boost clock and modern instruction set provide a clear edge.

However, the tables turn completely in Cinebench R23. The Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 scores 10601 in multi-core, while the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U manages 9164, giving Intel a 13.6% victory. The single-core R23 test shows an even larger gap: Intel’s 1496 beats AMD’s 1260 by 15.8%. This reversal is striking—the Xeon, with its older Haswell architecture, outperforms the newer Ryzen in the more recent benchmark iteration. The data suggests that R23’s longer-running workload may favor the Xeon’s larger 20 MB L3 cache and higher sustained memory bandwidth, while R15’s shorter bursts favor the Ryzen’s raw clock speed advantage.

The head-to-head tally ends at two wins apiece, but the magnitude of the wins matters. AMD’s R15 multi-core victory is 55.2%, while Intel’s largest win is a comparatively modest 15.8% in R23 single-core. This asymmetry suggests that while the Xeon is competitive, the Ryzen 7 4980U’s wins are more lopsided. For users running R15-style workloads, the AMD part is clearly superior; for R23-heavy tasks, the Intel chip holds the advantage, though by a smaller relative margin.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is profound. The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U employs the Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process node fabricated by TSMC, packing 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 uses the Haswell architecture on Intel’s 22 nm process, with 2,600 million transistors on a much larger 356 mm² die. This transistor density difference is staggering—AMD crams nearly four times as many transistors into less than half the die area, a signal of process node advancement.

Both processors feature 8 cores and 16 threads, but their cache hierarchies differ significantly. The Ryzen 7 4980U has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon E5-2618L v3 also has 64 KB L1 per core but only 256 KB L2 per core, compensated by a much larger 20 MB shared L3 cache. The Xeon’s 2.5x L3 cache advantage likely explains its R23 multi-core strength, as larger caches reduce memory latency for repetitive workloads.

Clock speeds tell another story. The Ryzen 7 4980U runs at a 2000 MHz base clock with a 4.40 GHz boost, while the Xeon operates at 2300 MHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The AMD part’s 1 GHz higher boost clock is a major factor in its R15 single-core dominance. Power consumption diverges dramatically: the Ryzen sips 15 W TDP versus the Xeon’s 75 W TDP. This 5x difference in thermal envelope reflects their intended markets—ultraportable laptops versus server racks—and explains why the Xeon requires a larger Socket 2011-3 platform.

Memory support reinforces their different roles. The Ryzen 7 4980U supports dual-channel LPDDR4 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC, while the Xeon E5-2618L v3 supports quad-channel DDR4 with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth and full ECC support. The Xeon’s 75% higher memory bandwidth is critical for server workloads, though the Ryzen’s LPDDR4 efficiency suits mobile power constraints. The Xeon also offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen provides standard Gen 3 connectivity without the same lane count.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: Both the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U and Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 have identical average benchmark scores of 3066, placing them at exactly the same 52nd percentile of all CPUs.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U scores 1658 versus Intel’s 1068, giving AMD a 55.2% advantage in this legacy multi-threaded workload.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core (10601 vs 9164, a 13.6% lead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (1496 vs 1260, a 15.8% lead).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: Both the AMD Ryzen 7 4980U and Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 have 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U supports dual-channel LPDDR4 memory, while the Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with ECC functionality.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U boosts to 4.40 GHz, compared to the Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3’s 3.40 GHz boost clock.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every measurable specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U has a 2000 MHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost, while the Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 runs at 2300 MHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. TDP is a stark contrast: 15 W for AMD versus 75 W for Intel. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3.

Process technology separates them widely: the Ryzen 7 4980U is built on TSMC’s 7 nm node with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Xeon uses Intel’s 22 nm process with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. Cache configurations differ in L2 and L3: the Ryzen has 512 KB L2 per core and 8 MB shared L3, whereas the Xeon has 256 KB L2 per core and 20 MB shared L3. Both share 64 KB L1 per core.

Memory support varies: the Ryzen uses LPDDR4 with dual-channel configuration and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon uses DDR4 with quad-channel configuration and 59.7 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is unsupported on the Ryzen but supported on the Xeon. The Xeon offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), a feature not specified for the Ryzen. Integrated graphics exist only on the Ryzen (Radeon Graphics 512SP), while the Xeon has none.

Market positioning differs: the Ryzen 7 4980U targets mobile devices and is end-of-life, while the Xeon E5-2618L v3 targets server/workstation use and remains active. The Ryzen released on 2021-04-12, while the Xeon launched on 2014-09-07. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $779; the Ryzen has no listed MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is the clear choice for Cinebench R15 workloads, both multi-core and single-core, where it leads by 55.2% and 21.3% respectively. Its 4.40 GHz boost clock and 7 nm process efficiency make it particularly well-suited for latency-sensitive, short-duration tasks where raw clock speed matters more than cache size. The 15 W TDP also makes it the only viable option for fanless or passively-cooled mobile designs, offering desktop-class multithreading in a power envelope suitable for ultrabooks.

The Intel Xeon E5-2618L v3 wins in Cinebench R23, taking both multi-core (13.6% lead) and single-core (15.8% lead) results. Its 20 MB L3 cache and 59.7 GB/s quad-channel memory bandwidth give it an edge in sustained, memory-intensive workloads that R23 represents. The Xeon’s ECC memory support and 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes make it appropriate for server environments where data integrity and expansion capability are critical. Its active production status also means continued availability for enterprise deployments.

For users running legacy benchmark suites or older applications, the Ryzen 7 4980U offers superior performance with a fraction of the power draw. For modern, cache-hungry workloads or server infrastructure requiring ECC and large memory bandwidth, the Xeon E5-2618L v3 is the stronger performer. The equal average scores of 3066 suggest that neither chip is universally superior; the choice depends entirely on workload characteristics, power constraints, and platform requirements.