AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X vs Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X is unusually one-sided. Across all six shared Cinebench tests, the Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 records the higher score, though the margins are consistently narrow. The largest advantage appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Xeon scores 210 against the Ryzen's 204, a 2.9% lead. Every other test shows a 2.8% delta in favor of the Xeon, creating a remarkably uniform pattern of performance separation.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon posts 1493 points while the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X reaches 1452. The R20 multi-core run shows the same story: 6222 for the Xeon versus 6054 for the AMD part. Moving to R23, the Xeon's 14815 multi-core score tops the Ryzen's 14415, and the single-core result is 2091 versus 2035. The R20 single-core test completes the sweep with 878 against 854.

The fact that the Xeon wins every benchmark despite having more than twice the core count of the Ryzen (18 cores versus 8) suggests that the older Haswell architecture scales effectively in threaded workloads, while the Ryzen's higher clock speeds are not enough to overcome the Xeon's additional execution resources. The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X does have a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, compared to the Xeon's 2.10 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost, yet the single-core tests still favor the Xeon by roughly 3%.

The average benchmark score for the Xeon sits at 4285 across all recorded tests, while the Ryzen averages 4114. That difference places the Xeon in the 58th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with the Ryzen just one point behind at the 57th percentile. The Xeon's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5750G at 4296 (0.3% lower) and the Intel Core i7-7820X at 4321 (0.8% higher). The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X, meanwhile, sits near the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS, which scores 4121, a 0.2% gap.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and market segments. The Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 is built on the Haswell-EP architecture using a 22 nm process at Intel's foundry, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X uses the Zen architecture on a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The die size difference is stark: the Xeon measures 662 mm², while the Ryzen's die is just 192 mm². AMD's chip integrates 4,800 million transistors, whereas the Xeon's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Core configurations diverge sharply. The Xeon packs 18 cores and 36 threads, while the Ryzen offers 8 cores and 16 threads. Cache hierarchies also differ in both size and organization. The Xeon provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 45 MB L3 pool. The Ryzen counters with 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 16 MB L3. Despite the Ryzen's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, the Xeon's 45 MB shared L3 dwarfs the AMD part's 16 MB.

Memory infrastructure reflects their respective market positions. The Xeon supports quad-channel DDR4 with a recorded memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while the Ryzen uses dual-channel DDR4 with no bandwidth figure listed in the database. Both support ECC memory, which is notable for a desktop-oriented part like the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X. The Xeon provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen's PCIe configuration is not recorded.

The Xeon uses the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform, a server and workstation socket, and its multiplier is locked. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket AM4, is unlocked for overclocking, and belongs to the 2000 series generation with the Pinnacle Ridge codename. The Xeon's generation is listed as Xeon E5 (Haswell-EP), and its production status is end-of-life, while the Ryzen remains active. The Xeon was released in May 2015, and the Ryzen arrived in September 2018. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $7007.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 wins every benchmark where both processors have recorded results, but the margins are small enough that the practical implications depend heavily on workload characteristics. Multi-threaded rendering tasks favor the Xeon by 2.8% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests. That consistency across three generations of Cinebench suggests the Xeon's 18 cores and 36 threads provide a durable advantage in heavily parallel workloads, even against a much newer architecture with higher clock speeds.

Single-threaded performance also belongs to the Xeon, with 2.9% leads in R15 and 2.8% leads in R20 and R23. This is the more surprising result, given that the Ryzen's boost clock of 4.10 GHz is substantially higher than the Xeon's 2.90 GHz. The recorded data shows that raw clock speed does not automatically translate into higher Cinebench single-core scores, likely due to architectural efficiency differences.

The Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X does hold one advantage not reflected in the head-to-head benchmark table: it has additional Geekbench scores in the database. The Ryzen records 6645 in Geekbench multi-core and 1256 in Geekbench single-core, while no Geekbench results are listed for the Xeon. For users who rely on Geekbench as a reference point, the Ryzen offers measured data that the Xeon lacks.

Workloads that benefit from the Xeon include server and workstation tasks that can use 36 threads and take advantage of the 45 MB shared L3 cache. The Ryzen's unlocked multiplier makes it the more flexible choice for overclocking, and its active production status means it remains a current product. The Ryzen also draws less power, with a 95 W TDP versus the Xeon's 135 W, which could matter in systems where thermal and power budgets are constrained.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 has 18 cores and 36 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Xeon in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The Xeon scores 14815 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Ryzen scores 14415. That is a 2.8% advantage for the Xeon.

Q: Does the Ryzen win any shared benchmarks?

A: No. Across the six shared Cinebench tests, the Xeon wins all of them. The Ryzen does have Geekbench results in the database, but no Geekbench scores are recorded for the Xeon, so no direct comparison is possible there.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Xeon has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The Ryzen has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Xeon and the Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor is unlocked for overclocking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 does not.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-4669 v3 | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 18 | 8 |

| Threads | 36 | 16 |

| Base clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| Boost clock | 2.90 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 135 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Zen |

| Codename | Haswell-EP | Zen (Pinnacle Ridge) |

| Generation | Xeon E5 (Haswell-EP) | Ryzen 7 (Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge)) |

| Process node | 22 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 4,800 million |

| Die size | 662 mm² | 192 mm² |

| L1 cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 45 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 68.3 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Not recorded |

| Market segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Production status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release date | 2015-05-31 | 2018-09-18 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part number | SR22M QH9B | Not recorded |

| Average benchmark score | 4285 | 4114 |

| Percentile vs all CPUs | 58 | 57 |