AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS vs Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS and the Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 occupy different corners of the processor market. The Ryzen is a mobile part from the 4000 series, built on Zen 2, while the Xeon is a server and workstation processor from the Haswell generation. In the database's recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the Ryzen wins both tests, but the two chips have very different feature sets. This analysis walks through the benchmark results, architecture differences, and specification gaps to show where each processor fits.

Where Each One Wins

In the two head-to-head benchmarks recorded in the database, the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS wins both. The Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 does not win any of the compared tests. The Ryzen takes the Cinebench R15 multicore test with a score of 1863 against 875, a 112.9% advantage. In the single-core test, the Ryzen scores 193 against 123, a 56.9% lead. These are the only direct comparisons available, so the Ryzen holds a clean sweep in the recorded data.

The Ryzen's wins are substantial, especially in multi-core where it more than doubles the Xeon's score. This suggests that for workloads that scale with core count and clock speed, the Ryzen has a clear edge. The Xeon's higher base clock (3.40 GHz vs 3.00 GHz) does not translate into a win, as the Ryzen's boost clock of 4.30 GHz is significantly higher.

Looking at the overall average benchmark score, the Ryzen records 2573, while the Xeon records 2511. The Ryzen sits 0.6% behind its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon E5-4620 v3 (avgScore 2587), and 0.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS (avgScore 2557). The Xeon is 0.1% behind the Intel Xeon E-2144G (avgScore 2514) and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 (avgScore 2507). Both processors sit at the 49th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on very different foundations. The Ryzen 9 4900HS uses AMD's Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir, on a 7 nm process from TSMC. It packs 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die. The Xeon E5-2643 v3 uses Intel's Haswell architecture, codenamed Haswell-EP, on a 22 nm process from Intel. It contains 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. The Ryzen is a mobile chip, while the Xeon is a server and workstation part.

Core and thread counts differ: the Ryzen has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Xeon has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Ryzen's base clock is 3.00 GHz and boost clock is 4.30 GHz. The Xeon's base clock is 3.40 GHz and boost clock is 3.70 GHz. The Ryzen has a much lower TDP of 35 W, while the Xeon draws 135 W.

Cache layouts are also distinct. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, but the Ryzen has 512 KB of L2 per core, while the Xeon has 256 KB per core. The Ryzen has 8 MB of shared L3, while the Xeon has 20 MB of shared L3. The Xeon's larger L3 cache is typical for server parts, but the Ryzen's higher clock speeds and newer architecture compensate in the recorded benchmarks.

Memory support: both use DDR4, but the Ryzen is dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon is quad-channel with 68.3 GB/s. The Xeon supports ECC memory, the Ryzen does not. The Ryzen has integrated Radeon Graphics with 512 shader processors, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics. The Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP6, the Xeon uses Intel Socket 2011-3. The Ryzen is PCIe Gen 3, the Xeon is also Gen 3 but with 40 lanes (CPU only).

Production status: the Ryzen is active, the Xeon is end-of-life. The Ryzen was released on 2020-03-06, the Xeon on 2014-09-07. The Xeon has a launch MSRP of $1552, but that is the only price information in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records two direct head-to-head comparisons. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen scores 1863, the Xeon scores 875. The Ryzen wins by 112.9%. This is a massive margin, more than double the Xeon's output. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the Ryzen scores 193, the Xeon scores 123, a 56.9% lead for the Ryzen. Both tests show the Ryzen ahead by a wide margin.

The multi-core result is particularly striking because the Xeon has a higher base clock (3.40 GHz vs 3.00 GHz) and a larger L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB). However, the Ryzen's 8 cores and 16 threads outnumber the Xeon's 6 cores and 12 threads, and its boost clock of 4.30 GHz is well above the Xeon's 3.70 GHz. The single-core result also favors the Ryzen, indicating that its per-core performance is superior despite the Xeon's higher base clock.

The Xeon also records additional Cinebench scores in the database: 3646 in R20 multicore, 514 in R20 singlecore, 8682 in R23 multicore, and 1225 in R23 singlecore. The Ryzen has no recorded scores for those tests, so they cannot be compared directly. The available head-to-head data, however, consistently points to the Ryzen as the faster processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS does not.

Q: What are the TDPs of the two processors?

A: The Ryzen 9 4900HS has a TDP of 35 W, and the Xeon E5-2643 v3 has a TDP of 135 W.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ryzen 9 4900HS has a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the Xeon E5-2643 v3 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz.

Q: Which processor is newer?

A: The Ryzen 9 4900HS was released on 2020-03-06, while the Xeon E5-2643 v3 was released on 2014-09-07.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Ryzen 9 4900HS has Radeon Graphics with 512 shader processors, while the Xeon E5-2643 v3 has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, the AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS is the clear performance winner. It wins both head-to-head benchmarks by large margins, has a higher average benchmark score (2573 vs 2511), and offers more cores, threads, and a higher boost clock. Its lower TDP (35 W vs 135 W) makes it far more power-efficient. The Xeon E5-2643 v3, however, brings server-oriented features: ECC memory support, quad-channel memory with higher bandwidth (68.3 GB/s vs 51.2 GB/s), and a larger L3 cache (20 MB vs 8 MB). It also has more PCIe lanes (40 vs unspecified for the Ryzen). For workloads that require ECC and high memory bandwidth, the Xeon may be the only choice. But for raw performance in the recorded benchmarks, the Ryzen is the superior part. The Xeon is end-of-life, while the Ryzen is active, which also points to the Ryzen as the more future-proof option.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS | Intel Xeon E5-2643 v3 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 135 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP6 | Intel Socket 2011-3 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Haswell |

| Codename | Renoir | Haswell-EP |

| Generation | Ryzen 9 (Zen 2 (Renoir)) | Xeon E5 (Haswell-EP) |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 22 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 9,800 million | 2,600 million |

| Die Size | 156 mm² | 356 mm² |

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

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 20 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Quad-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 68.3 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics 512SP | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2020-03-06 | 2014-09-07 |

| Launch MSRP | None | $1552 |