AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X vs Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X and Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 are two very different processors aimed at distinct markets, yet they land remarkably close in aggregate performance. The AMD part is a desktop-focused 8-core part from the 1000 series, while the Intel chip is a 10-core server/workstation part from the Haswell-EP generation. Despite the Xeon’s two additional cores, the data shows the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X wins every single head-to-head benchmark in this comparison, making it the definitive performance leader in this matchup.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 failing to secure a single victory. The consistency of the margin is striking, as every single test shows a delta of either 5% or 5.1% in favor of the AMD part.

In multi-core workloads, the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X’s advantage is clear despite having 8 cores to the Xeon’s 10. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 1333 against the Intel’s 1269, a 5% lead. The story repeats in Cinebench R20, where the AMD posts 5555 versus 5290, again a 5% difference. The most demanding test, Cinebench R23 multi-core, shows the AMD part scoring 13227 compared to 12597 for the Intel, maintaining that exact 5% gap. This is a notable result, as it indicates the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X’s Zen architecture and higher clock speeds more than compensate for the Xeon’s two extra physical cores.

Single-core performance tells a similar tale, where the AMD part’s higher base and boost clocks become decisive. The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X runs at a 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, while the Xeon E5-1681 v3 is significantly slower at 2.90 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD scores 188 versus 179, a 5% win. Cinebench R20 single-core shows the AMD at 784 against 746, with the largest margin of the entire comparison at 5.1%. Finally, Cinebench R23 single-core has the AMD at 1867 and the Intel at 1778, closing out the sweep with another 5% advantage.

Interestingly, the Geekbench results are only available for the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X, with the part scoring 5355 in multi-core and 1076 in single-core. The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 has no Geekbench scores listed in the data, so a direct comparison on that test is impossible. However, the available Cinebench data paints a consistent and complete picture of AMD dominance across every measured workload.

The Verdict

From the data, the choice is clear for anyone prioritizing raw benchmark performance: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is the superior processor. It wins every single head-to-head test by a consistent 5% margin, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. For users running Cinebench-style rendering or similar workloads, the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is the definitive pick.

The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3, despite its 10 cores and 20 threads, cannot overcome the architectural and clock speed advantages of the AMD part. Its only potential saving grace would be in scenarios not captured by these benchmarks, such as memory bandwidth, where the Xeon’s quad-channel DDR4 configuration and 68.3 GB/s bandwidth dwarf the AMD’s dual-channel 42.7 GB/s. However, the benchmark data provided shows no such advantage translating into performance wins.

The production status also favors the AMD part, which is listed as "Active," while the Intel Xeon is "End-of-life." The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X also offers an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking, whereas the Xeon E5-1681 v3 is locked. For a system builder looking at current performance and future flexibility, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is the only rational choice based strictly on this data. The Xeon’s 55th percentile ranking versus the Ryzen’s 56th percentile among all CPUs confirms that the AMD part sits slightly higher in the overall performance hierarchy.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has an average benchmark score of 3673, while the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 has an average score of 3643.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 win any benchmark comparison?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X winning all 6 benchmark comparisons, with the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 recording 0 wins.

Q: What is the clock speed difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 has a lower base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 has more cores and threads, with 10 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is listed as "Active," while the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 is listed as "End-of-life."

Q: How do the processors compare in terms of memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 offers significantly higher memory bandwidth at 68.3 GB/s, compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X's 42.7 GB/s.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference is core count: the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 packs 10 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X has 8 cores and 16 threads. Clock speeds favor the AMD part, which runs at a 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost, versus the Intel chip’s 2.90 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost. Thermal design power also differs substantially, with the AMD rated at 95W and the Intel at a higher 135W.

The memory interfaces are fundamentally different. The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 uses a quad-channel memory bus with a theoretical bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is limited to a dual-channel bus at 42.7 GB/s. Both support DDR4 memory and ECC memory. PCIe lane counts from the CPU also differ, with the Intel part offering 40 Gen 3 lanes versus the AMD’s 16 Gen 3 lanes.

The sockets are incompatible, as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The AMD processor has an unlocked multiplier, enabling overclocking, whereas the Intel Xeon is locked. Finally, the market segments differ: the AMD is a Desktop part, while the Intel is positioned as a Server/Workstation processor. The AMD part was released on 2017-06-28, and the Intel on 2014-09-07.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors spans several generations and fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Summit Ridge, using a 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. It contains 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The cache layout features 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 16 MB L3 cache.

The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3 is based on the Haswell architecture, specifically Haswell-EP, manufactured on Intel’s older 22 nm process. It has 2,600 million transistors on a much larger 356 mm² die. Its cache configuration is different, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and a larger shared 25 MB L3 cache. The Intel part’s larger L3 cache is a direct result of having 10 cores to serve.

The process node advantage is significant. AMD’s 14 nm process is two generations ahead of Intel’s 22 nm, which explains how the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X achieves higher clock speeds and lower power consumption despite having a smaller die. The Intel Xeon E5-1681 v3’s larger die and higher power draw are consequences of the older manufacturing technology. Neither processor includes integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required in both cases. The production status also reflects their ages, with the AMD part still active and the Intel part marked as end-of-life.