AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS vs Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors across very different workloads. The Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3 takes the multi-threaded crown in the newer Cinebench R23 test, scoring 13,843 versus the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS's 12,745.5, a lead of 8.6%. It also dominates in single-core performance within that same benchmark, posting 1,954 points against 1,475.5, a 32.4% advantage. This is a significant margin, suggesting the Xeon's architecture scales better in R23's rendering workload despite its age.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, however, sweeps the older Cinebench R15 tests. It scores 2,041 in multi-core versus 1,395 for the Xeon, a 31.7% deficit for the Intel part. In single-core R15, the Ryzen again wins, 236.5 to 196, a 17.1% gap. The Ryzen also has an extensive 3DMark thread-scaling dataset, with scores ranging from 871 in single-thread, 1,690 in 2-thread, 3,133 in 4-thread, 5,049 in 8-thread, 5,992 in max-thread, and 6,011 in the 16-thread test. No comparable 3DMark data exists for the Xeon in the database, so direct comparison is impossible there.

The wins are split evenly: two for each processor across the head-to-head benchmark suite. The Xeon wins the newer, more demanding R23 tests; the Ryzen wins the legacy R15 tests. This split points to different optimization targets. The Xeon's 8.6% R23 multi-core win is modest, while its 32.4% R23 single-core win is decisive. The Ryzen's R15 multi-core win is massive at 31.7%, and its single-core R15 win is a solid 17.1%. Users running older software that resembles R15's workload will see the Ryzen pull ahead; users on modern renderers that track R23 will prefer the Xeon.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from opposite ends of the design spectrum. The Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3 is a Haswell-EP server part built on Intel's 22 nm process. It packs 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. Its thermal design power is 135 W, and it uses the Intel Socket 2011-3 platform. The chip integrates 2,600 million transistors on a 356 mm² die. Cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a large 40 MB shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 over a quad-channel bus, delivering 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth. It supports ECC memory and offers PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes from the CPU. This is a server and workstation part, now end-of-life, with a part number of SR21T and no integrated graphics.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS is a Zen 3 mobile processor, codenamed Cezanne, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its TDP is just 35 W, a fraction of the Xeon's 135 W. It uses the AMD Socket FP6 platform. The die contains 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² area, which is a much higher transistor density than the Intel part. Cache is 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 over a dual-channel bus, but the bandwidth is identical to the Xeon at 68.3 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. PCIe is Gen 3, and it includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics. This chip is active in production, released on January 11, 2021, with part number 100-000000300.

The core count difference is stark: 16 cores versus 8, 32 threads versus 16. The Xeon doubles the Ryzen's thread count. Yet the Ryzen has much higher clocks, 4.60 GHz boost versus 3.40 GHz, and a far more modern 7 nm process versus 22 nm. The transistor counts tell the story: the Ryzen packs over four times the transistors into half the die area. The Xeon's 40 MB L3 cache dwarfs the Ryzen's 16 MB, but the Ryzen's larger L2 (512 KB per core versus 256 KB) helps per-core performance. Both support DDR4, and their memory bandwidth figures are equal at 68.3 GB/s, though the Xeon uses quad-channel and the Ryzen dual-channel. The Xeon's ECC support and 40 PCIe lanes mark it as a workstation/server tool; the Ryzen's integrated Vega 8 graphics and 35 W TDP mark it as a mobile powerhouse.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload and platform. The Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3 should be the choice for users running modern multi-threaded rendering or single-thread-heavy applications that resemble Cinebench R23. Its 8.6% multi-core lead and 32.4% single-core lead over the Ryzen in that test are decisive. The 16-core, 32-thread configuration with 40 MB of L3 cache suits heavily parallel server or workstation tasks, and the quad-channel DDR4 with ECC support fits a reliability-focused environment. The 57th percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 4,004, with its nearest rival being the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G at 4,010 (0.2% ahead) and the Intel Core i5-12400T at 4,019 (0.4% ahead), shows it sits in a competitive mid-range position despite being end-of-life.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS should be the pick for legacy workload users and anyone prioritizing power efficiency. Its 31.7% multi-core and 17.1% single-core wins in Cinebench R15 make it the better option for older applications. The 35 W TDP versus 135 W means dramatically lower power draw and heat generation, a critical factor for mobile systems. Its 3DMark results show strong scaling from 871 single-thread to 6,011 at 16 threads, indicating good thread utilization. The 56th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 3,924, with nearest rivals including the Intel Xeon E-2278GE at 3,939 (0.4% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE at 3,906 (0.5% behind), place it in the same performance tier as the Xeon overall. The Ryzen is active in production, so it remains a viable current option.

There is no universal winner. The Xeon wins where modern rendering and per-thread speed matter most; the Ryzen wins where legacy compatibility and low power draw are priorities. A user with a server socket and high TDP headroom should take the Xeon. A user with a mobile chassis and a 35 W budget should take the Ryzen.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3 scores 13,843, which is 8.6% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS's 12,745.5.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 2,041, beating the Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3's 1,395 by 31.7%.

Q: What is the core count difference between these two chips?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3 has a TDP of 135 W, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS has a TDP of 35 W.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory bandwidth?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. The Xeon uses a quad-channel bus, and the Ryzen uses a dual-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3 has no integrated graphics.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The four head-to-head comparisons in the database reveal two distinct performance profiles. Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS delivers 2,041 points against the Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3's 1,395. That is a 31.7% deficit for the Xeon, the largest gap in either direction across all tests. The Ryzen's 8-core, 16-thread configuration with 4.60 GHz boost clocks outperforms the Xeon's 16-core, 32-thread setup with 3.40 GHz boost in this older benchmark. This suggests R15 favors the higher clock speed and newer Zen 3 architecture rather than raw core count.

In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Ryzen again takes the win, scoring 236.5 versus 196. That is a 17.1% margin. The Ryzen's boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus the Xeon's 3.40 GHz explains much of this. The newer 7 nm process and Zen 3 IPC advantage show clearly in a test that relies on a single thread.

The picture flips in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Intel Xeon E5-2698B v3 scores 13,843, beating the Ryzen's 12,745.5 by 8.6%. Here, the Xeon's doubled core count and 32 threads finally assert themselves. The Ryzen's higher clocks cannot fully compensate for having half the cores in this more demanding renderer. The 40 MB shared L3 cache on the Xeon likely helps with larger workloads.

Cinebench R23 single-core is the Xeon's biggest win. It scores 1,954, a 32.4% lead over the Ryzen's 1,475.5. This is surprising given the Ryzen's much higher boost clock. The data indicates the Xeon's Haswell architecture, despite its age, executes R23's single-threaded workload more efficiently than the Zen 3 chip in this specific test. The Xeon's 32.4% single-core margin is larger than its 8.6% multi-core margin, which is an unusual pattern.

The 3DMark results from the Ryzen provide additional context, though no direct Xeon comparison exists. The Ryzen scores 871 in single-thread, 1,690 in 2-thread, 3,133 in 4-thread, 5,049 in 8-thread, 5,992 in max-thread, and 6,011 in 16-thread. Scaling from 2 to 4 threads is 85.4% improvement, from 4 to 8 threads is 61.2%, and from 8 to 16 threads is 19.1%. The Ryzen shows diminishing returns beyond 8 threads, consistent with its 8-core design. The Xeon, with 16 cores, would likely scale differently, but no 3DMark data is available for it in the database.

The average benchmark scores place these chips close together overall. The Xeon has an average score of 4,004, and the Ryzen has 3,924, a difference of just 2%. Their percentile rankings are nearly identical: 57th for the Xeon, 56th for the Ryzen. The Xeon's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G at 4,010 (0.2% ahead), the Intel Core i5-12400T at 4,019 (0.4% ahead), the Intel Xeon E-2336 at 3,985 (0.5% behind), and the Intel Xeon D-2733NT at 3,984 (0.5% behind). The Ryzen's nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon E-2278GE at 3,939 (0.4% ahead), the AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE at 3,906 (0.5% behind), the AMD Ryzen 3 7330U at 3,958 (0.9% ahead), and the Intel Xeon E5-2669 v3 at 3,959 (0.9% ahead). These rival comparisons show both chips sitting in a crowded performance band where tiny margins separate competitors.

The overall benchmark picture shows two processors with similar aggregate performance but opposite strengths. The Xeon wins the newer tests, the Ryzen wins the older tests. The Xeon's single-core R23 margin of 32.4% is its standout result. The Ryzen's R15 multi-core margin of 31.7% is its counterpoint. Users should weigh which benchmark generation best reflects their actual software load.