AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U vs Intel Xeon E5620 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison between the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U and the Intel Xeon E5620 is decisively one-sided. In the only benchmark where both processors share a common test, Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U records a score of 658 against the Intel Xeon E5620's 301. This represents a 118.6% advantage for the AMD chip, meaning it more than doubles the multi-threaded rendering performance of the older Xeon part. The database shows one win for the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U and zero wins for the Intel Xeon E5620 in their shared benchmark suite.

This single result is striking in its magnitude. A 118.6% delta is not a marginal improvement; it is a generational leap. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U, despite being a low-power mobile processor, completely outclasses the server-class Xeon in this particular workload. The Xeon E5620's score of 301 places it in a performance tier that is less than half of what the Ryzen achieves. For users comparing these two on raw computational output, the data offers no ambiguity: the AMD part wins decisively.

However, the benchmark picture is broader than the one shared test. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U also has standalone scores for Geekbench multi-core (2567) and single-core (790), as well as Cinebench R15 single-core (149). The Intel Xeon E5620 has its own set of results for Cinebench R20 and R23, but no overlapping tests beyond R15 multi-core. The average benchmark score for the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is 1041, while the Xeon E5620 averages 1029. The delta here is small, roughly 1.2% in favor of the AMD part, but the composition of those averages is telling. The Ryzen's average is pulled up by strong Geekbench scores, while the Xeon's average relies on its Cinebench R20 and R23 results, which are not comparable to the Ryzen's tests.

Looking at percentile placement, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U sits in the 29th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the Xeon E5620 sits in the 28th. These are nearly identical positions, indicating that both processors are in the same general performance class when averaged across all tests. The Xeon's 1255 in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 2989 in Cinebench R23 multi-core show it is capable in modern multi-threaded workloads, but the lack of a direct comparison with the Ryzen in those tests means we cannot declare a winner there. The only head-to-head measurement is the R15 multi-core, and that belongs to AMD.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is vast. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is built on a 12 nm process node at GlobalFoundries, packing 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5620 uses a 32 nm process from Intel, with just 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die. The transistor count difference is a factor of over 4x, and the process node advantage allows AMD to fit far more complexity into a smaller area. This is the foundation of the performance disparity.

The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U belongs to the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, and is part of the 3000 series. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, a base clock of 2.30 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Xeon E5620 is a Westmere-EP part, based on the Westmere architecture, with 4 cores and 8 threads, a base clock of 2.40 GHz, and a boost clock of only 2.67 GHz. The boost clock difference is significant: the AMD part can ramp up to 4.00 GHz, which is 50% higher than the Xeon's maximum. This directly explains the single-core performance advantage seen in Geekbench, where the Ryzen scores 790 versus the Xeon's absence from that test, but the architecture clearly favors AMD in frequency headroom.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Xeon E5620 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Xeon has 3x more L3 cache, which is typical for server parts of its era, but the Ryzen's larger L1 and L2 per core, combined with its higher clocks, mitigates that advantage. The Xeon's larger L3 was designed for server workloads with high data locality, but the Ryzen's more modern memory hierarchy and clock speeds win in the measured results.

Memory support further separates them. The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U uses DDR4 with a dual-channel memory bus, while the Xeon E5620 uses DDR3 with a triple-channel memory bus. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, which the Ryzen does not. The Ryzen has PCIe Gen 3, while the Xeon has PCIe Gen 2. The Ryzen includes integrated Radeon Vega 10 graphics, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. The Ryzen is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP5, while the Xeon is a server/workstation part on Intel Socket 1366. The Ryzen is still in active production, while the Xeon is end-of-life. The release dates reinforce this: the Ryzen launched in April 2019, while the Xeon launched in March 2010, a gap of nine years.

The TDP difference is stark: the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is rated at 15 watts, while the Xeon E5620 is rated at 80 watts. The Ryzen delivers more than double the multi-core performance in a shared benchmark while consuming less than a fifth of the power budget. This is a direct consequence of the process node advantage and the architectural efficiency of Zen+ over Westmere.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U wins in every measurable shared workload. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 658 is more than double the Xeon's 301. Its Geekbench scores, while not directly comparable to the Xeon, indicate strong performance in both single-core (790) and multi-core (2567) scenarios. The Ryzen's 4.00 GHz boost clock gives it a clear edge in lightly threaded tasks, where the Xeon's 2.67 GHz ceiling is a severe limitation. For users running modern applications that favor high clock speeds and efficient multi-threading, the Ryzen is the superior choice.

The Ryzen's 15-watt TDP makes it ideal for mobile and compact systems where power consumption and heat generation are critical constraints. Its integrated Radeon Vega 10 graphics means it can handle display output without a discrete GPU, which is impossible on the Xeon. The Ryzen's active production status and DDR4 support also make it a more future-proof platform for new builds.

The Intel Xeon E5620 has its own strengths, but they are not visible in the head-to-head data. Its 12 MB of L3 cache and triple-channel DDR3 memory bus were designed for server workloads where memory bandwidth and cache capacity matter more than raw clock speed. Its ECC memory support is a requirement for reliability-critical server environments. In Cinebench R20 and R23, the Xeon scores 1255 and 2989 respectively, showing it can still handle modern multi-threaded benchmarks at a moderate level. However, these scores have no Ryzen counterpart for comparison, so we cannot claim a win for Intel based on them.

The Xeon's end-of-life status and 80-watt TDP make it unsuitable for new mobile or energy-efficient builds. Its PCIe Gen 2 support limits modern GPU and NVMe storage compatibility. For legacy server platforms that already have Socket 1366 motherboards and DDR3 memory, the Xeon could still serve in a homelab or test bench, but only if the workload does not require high single-thread performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has an average benchmark score of 1041, while the Intel Xeon E5620 has an average of 1029. The difference is 12 points, or about 1.2% in favor of AMD.

Q: What is the largest performance gap in the head-to-head results?

A: The only shared test, Cinebench R15 multi-core, shows the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U scoring 658 against the Intel Xeon E5620's 301, a delta of 118.6% in favor of AMD.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon E5620 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Intel Xeon E5620 supports ECC memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, while the Intel Xeon E5620 has a boost clock of 2.67 GHz. The AMD part is able to clock 1.33 GHz higher.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U has a TDP of 15 watts, and the Intel Xeon E5620 has a TDP of 80 watts.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U includes Radeon Vega 10 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E5620 has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear verdict for the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U. In the only shared benchmark, it more than doubles the Intel Xeon E5620's score, delivering a 118.6% advantage in multi-core performance. Its average benchmark score of 1041 is higher than the Xeon's 1029, and its percentile placement of 29th versus 28th is marginally better. The Ryzen achieves this with a 15-watt TDP, integrated graphics, DDR4 support, and an active production status, while the Xeon requires 80 watts, offers no graphics, relies on DDR3, and is end-of-life.

The Intel Xeon E5620 retains a niche for legacy server environments where ECC memory, triple-channel DDR3, and 12 MB of L3 cache are valued. Its Cinebench R20 and R23 scores of 1255 and 2989 show it is not obsolete for multi-threaded workloads, but those tests have no direct comparison with the Ryzen. Given the only head-to-head result, the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U is the superior processor for virtually all modern use cases. Users seeking a low-power, high-efficiency mobile APU should pick the AMD part. Users with an existing Socket 1366 server platform and a need for ECC memory may still consider the Xeon, but they will sacrifice more than half of the multi-core performance available from the AMD alternative.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification category. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U uses a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, while the Intel Xeon E5620 uses a 32 nm node from Intel. The Ryzen has 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die; the Xeon has 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die. The Ryzen's base clock is 2.30 GHz, and its boost clock is 4.00 GHz. The Xeon's base clock is 2.40 GHz, and its boost clock is 2.67 GHz.

The Ryzen's cache hierarchy consists of 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Xeon's cache is 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and does not support ECC memory. The Xeon supports DDR3 memory with a triple-channel bus and supports ECC memory. The Ryzen uses PCIe Gen 3, while the Xeon uses PCIe Gen 2.

The Ryzen includes Radeon Vega 10 integrated graphics; the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP5, with a TDP of 15 watts. The Xeon is a server/workstation processor on Intel Socket 1366, with a TDP of 80 watts. The Ryzen is in active production, launched in April 2019, while the Xeon is end-of-life, launched in March 2010. Both processors have 4 cores and 8 threads, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.