AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U vs Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U and the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 represent two very different eras of processor design: a modern 15-watt mobile part against a 120-watt server/workstation chip from a previous generation. Despite their contrasting profiles, benchmark data places them in a near-identical performance tier, with the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U holding a consistent, albeit narrow, edge across every Cinebench test. The Xeon E5-2669 v3 offers more cores and threads, but the architectural efficiency of the Ryzen part neutralizes that advantage in the measured workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably one-sided. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U wins all six recorded benchmark comparisons, though the margins are consistently slim. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the AMD part scores 1421 against the Xeon’s 1379, a 3% advantage. The single-core R15 result is nearly identical in percentage terms, with the Ryzen scoring 200 versus 194, a 3.1% delta.

This pattern repeats across newer Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U scores 5922, while the Xeon E5-2669 v3 manages 5749 — again a 3% lead for AMD. The single-core R20 test shows the same 3% gap, with scores of 835 and 811 respectively. The most demanding workload, Cinebench R23, tells the same story: the AMD chip scores 14102 in multicore and 1990 in single-core, while the Intel part scores 13690 and 1932, each a 3% difference.

What makes these results notable is the core count disparity. The Xeon E5-2669 v3 packs 12 cores and 24 threads, a 50% core advantage over the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U’s 8 cores and 16 threads. Yet the AMD part still wins the multicore tests. This indicates that per-core performance and memory architecture efficiency more than compensate for the Xeon’s additional physical resources. The Ryzen’s boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus the Xeon’s 3.10 GHz likely drives much of this, but the Zen 3 architecture’s instruction-level efficiency is also a factor.

The average benchmark score for the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U is 3971, while the Xeon E5-2669 v3 sits at 3959. The delta between them is a mere 0.3%, placing them within the same performance envelope. Both processors occupy the 57th percentile of all CPUs, reinforcing their statistical equivalence. Interestingly, the nearest rival list for the AMD part includes the Xeon E5-2669 v3 at a 0.3% delta, and the Xeon’s list includes the Ryzen at -0.3%, confirming they are direct competitors in aggregate performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U wins every single-core benchmark. In Cinebench R15, it scores 200 versus 194 (3.1% higher); in R20, 835 versus 811 (3% higher); and in R23, 1990 versus 1932 (3% higher).

Q: How do the multicore scores compare despite the Xeon having more cores?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U wins the multicore tests despite having 8 cores versus the Xeon’s 12. The Ryzen scores 1421 in R15 multicore versus 1379, 5922 in R20 versus 5749, and 14102 in R23 versus 13690. Each win is a 3% margin.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U has an average benchmark score of 3971, and the Xeon E5-2669 v3 has 3959. This is a 0.3% difference, placing them statistically in the same tier.

Q: Do both processors have the same overall performance ranking?

A: Yes, both are at the 57th percentile of all CPUs. This confirms that despite their architectural differences, their aggregate measured performance is effectively identical.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U does not. This is a key feature difference for server or workstation reliability use cases.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the Xeon wins?

A: No. The data shows zero wins for the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U wins in every measured performance category. Its advantages are consistent across single-core and multicore Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 workloads. The data suggests this processor is the better choice for any task where raw benchmark performance is the primary selection criterion, including general productivity, content creation, and lightly threaded applications. Its 4.50 GHz boost clock and modern Zen 3 architecture give it a decisive edge in responsiveness and per-thread execution.

The Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3, while losing all benchmark comparisons, still has distinct advantages that the benchmark scores do not capture. Its 12 cores and 24 threads provide more physical parallelism, which can be beneficial in heavily threaded server workloads that are not represented in the Cinebench suite. It also supports ECC memory, a critical requirement for data integrity in server and workstation environments. The Xeon’s quad-channel memory bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth exceeds the Ryzen’s dual-channel 51.2 GB/s, potentially aiding memory-intensive applications. Its PCIe Gen 3 implementation with 40 CPU lanes vastly exceeds the Ryzen’s 8 lanes, making it the superior choice for systems requiring many expansion cards, NVMe drives, or GPUs.

The Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U is the clear winner for mobile or low-power systems. Its 15-watt TDP is a fraction of the Xeon’s 120-watt TDP, making it suitable for laptops and compact designs where thermal and power constraints are paramount. The Xeon, as an end-of-life server part on Socket 2011-3, is positioned for legacy server upgrades or workstation builds where core count, ECC support, and PCIe lane availability outweigh benchmark performance.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ fundamentally in their physical and platform specifications. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The Ryzen is a mobile-market part with a 15-watt TDP, whereas the Xeon is a server/workstation part with a 120-watt TDP.

The core and thread counts differ: the Ryzen has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Xeon has 12 cores and 24 threads. Clock speeds also diverge significantly, with the Ryzen’s base clock at 2000 MHz and boost clock at 4500 MHz, versus the Xeon’s 2300 MHz base and 3100 MHz boost. The Ryzen has 16 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Xeon has 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen’s L2 cache is 512 KB per core, but the Xeon’s is smaller at 256 KB per core.

Memory support differs: the Ryzen supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC, while the Xeon supports DDR3 and DDR4 in a quad-channel configuration with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support. PCIe connectivity is another major split: the Ryzen offers Gen 3 with 8 lanes, while the Xeon offers Gen 3 with 40 lanes. The Ryzen includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, but the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen is still in active production, while the Xeon is end-of-life.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these parts is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U is built on Zen 3 architecture with the codename Cezanne-U, part of the 5000 series. It uses a 7 nm process node from TSMC, with 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 is based on the Haswell architecture with the codename Haswell-EP, using a 22 nm process node from Intel with 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die.

The manufacturing process difference is stark: a 7 nm node versus a 22 nm node. This explains the transistor density disparity — the Ryzen packs over four times more transistors into roughly half the die area. The Ryzen’s cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, while the Xeon uses 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The Xeon compensates with a larger 30 MB shared L3 cache versus the Ryzen’s 16 MB.

The Ryzen’s integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics means it is a complete system-on-chip solution for mobile platforms. The Xeon lacks integrated graphics entirely, requiring a discrete GPU for any display output. The Ryzen is a locked multiplier part, and the Xeon is similarly locked. The Ryzen’s market segment is mobile, whereas the Xeon targets server and workstation environments. The Xeon was released earlier, with no release date listed in the data, while the Ryzen was released in April 2022. These architectural differences explain why the newer, smaller-node Ryzen can match or beat the older, larger-node Xeon despite having fewer cores and a much lower power envelope.