AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS vs Intel Xeon E-2336 Comparison

# Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits this comparison cleanly by workload generation and core count. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS wins the Cinebench R15 tests, both multi-core and single-core, while the Intel Xeon E-2336 wins the Cinebench R23 tests, again in both categories. That is a 2-2 split in raw wins, but the margin of victory tells the real story.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS scores 2083 against the Intel Xeon E-2336's 1388, a 50.1% advantage. That is a massive gap, driven by the AMD part's 8 cores and 16 threads versus the Intel part's 6 cores and 12 threads. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS scores 243 versus 195, a 24.6% lead. Older rendering workloads, which scale differently than newer ones, clearly favor the AMD mobile processor.

The Intel Xeon E-2336 flips the script in Cinebench R23. In multi-core, it scores 13777 against the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS's 12629, an 8.3% advantage. In single-core, it scores 1945 against 1529, a 21.4% lead. The R23 tests are more demanding and better optimized for the Intel architecture's strengths, particularly its higher per-core performance in sustained single-threaded tasks.

So the split is not about one chip being universally faster. It is about workload type. For older Cinebench versions, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS dominates. For the latest Cinebench R23, the Intel Xeon E-2336 takes over. Users running legacy rendering pipelines would see the AMD part ahead, while those using current software would prefer the Intel part.

The average benchmark score slightly favors the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS at 4121 versus the Intel Xeon E-2336's 3985, a difference of about 3.4%. Both CPUs sit at the 57th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically equivalent in overall standing despite their workload-specific divergences.

# Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It packs 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The Intel Xeon E-2336 uses the Rocket Lake architecture, codenamed Rocket Lake-E, built on Intel's 14 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

The process node difference is stark: 7 nm versus 14 nm. That explains the transistor density disparity. The AMD chip has 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count is not recorded in the database, but its die size is 276 mm². The AMD die is smaller yet carries more transistors, a direct result of the advanced 7 nm node.

Cache layouts differ significantly. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Xeon E-2336 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has more total L3, but the Intel part has more L1 per core, which can help in certain latency-sensitive workloads.

Memory support shows both use DDR4 with dual-channel buses, but the bandwidth differs. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS reaches 68.3 GB/s, while the Intel Xeon E-2336 tops out at 51.2 GB/s. That is a 33% bandwidth advantage for AMD, useful for multi-core rendering and data-heavy tasks. However, the Intel Xeon E-2336 supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS does not. That makes the Xeon part suited for error-tolerant workloads like server or workstation use.

PCIe capabilities also diverge. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the Intel Xeon E-2336 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The Intel part has newer PCIe technology and more lanes, which matters for expansion cards, storage controllers, and high-bandwidth peripherals.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel Xeon E-2336 has no integrated graphics at all. That makes the AMD part a complete mobile package, while the Intel part requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Market segments reflect their intended uses. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is a mobile processor in the 5000 series, released on 2021-01-11, with a TDP of 35 watts. The Intel Xeon E-2336 is a server/workstation processor in the Xeon E-2300 series, released on 2021-09-07, with a TDP of 65 watts. The AMD part's lower TDP suits thin-and-light laptops, while the Intel part's higher TDP targets deskside workstations that can handle more heat.

Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is off the table for both. The AMD part uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel part uses Intel Socket 1200, so they are not interchangeable in any system.

# The Verdict

The data points to different buyers for each chip. If the workload is older Cinebench R15 rendering, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is the clear choice. Its 50.1% multi-core lead and 24.6% single-core lead in that test are decisive. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration with higher memory bandwidth (68.3 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s) and a 7 nm process gives it an edge in legacy multi-threaded tasks.

If the workload is current Cinebench R23 rendering, the Intel Xeon E-2336 wins. Its 8.3% multi-core lead and 21.4% single-core lead in that test are meaningful. The Rocket Lake architecture, despite its older 14 nm process, delivers superior per-core performance in the latest benchmark generation. The ECC memory support and PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes make it a better fit for server or workstation environments where data integrity and expansion capability matter.

For mobile users, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is the only option between the two, as it is a mobile chip with integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon E-2336 has no integrated graphics and is a server/workstation part, so it cannot serve as a laptop processor.

For desktop workstation users, the Intel Xeon E-2336 offers ECC memory and PCIe Gen 4, which the AMD part lacks. That makes it the safer choice for long-running compute jobs where memory errors are unacceptable.

The average benchmark scores are close: 4121 for AMD versus 3985 for Intel, a 3.4% difference. Both sit at the 57th percentile, so neither is a performance outlier. The choice comes down to which benchmark generation matches the user's software stack. Older software sees AMD ahead; newer software sees Intel ahead.

The database also shows the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X (0.2% ahead), Intel Core i5-12500TE (0.9% ahead), Intel Core i9-9900 (1% behind), and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X (1.2% ahead). The Intel Xeon E-2336's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon D-2733NT (0% difference), AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G (0.2% behind), AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U (0.4% behind), and Intel Core i7-6900K (0.4% behind). Both chips sit in a dense cluster of similar-performing CPUs, confirming that neither is a class leader.

# FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2336 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Do both CPUs support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Xeon E-2336 supports ECC memory, but the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS does not.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics, while the Intel Xeon E-2336 has none.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Xeon E-2336 scores 13777, which is 8.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS's 12629.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS scores 2083, which is 50.1% ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2336's 1388.

Q: What are their process nodes?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS uses a 7 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel Xeon E-2336 uses a 14 nm process from Intel.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS at 2083 versus the Intel Xeon E-2336 at 1388. That is a 50.1% delta in AMD's favor. The 8-core AMD part simply outruns the 6-core Intel part in this older workload, and the difference is enormous. The AMD chip's higher memory bandwidth (68.3 GB/s) and larger L3 cache (16 MB versus 12 MB) likely contribute to this result.

The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS at 243 versus the Intel Xeon E-2336 at 195, a 24.6% delta. Even in single-threaded performance, where Intel traditionally excels, the AMD Zen 3 part holds a clear lead in this older test. The 3.00 GHz base clock versus 2.90 GHz base clock, combined with the same 4.80 GHz boost clock, may explain part of this edge.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test reverses the trend. The Intel Xeon E-2336 scores 13777 against the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS's 12629, an 8.3% delta. Despite having fewer cores (6 versus 8), the Intel part wins in the newer benchmark. The Rocket Lake architecture's higher per-core IPC in R23, plus its 80 KB L1 cache per core, likely drives this outcome.

The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the Intel Xeon E-2336 at 1945 versus the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS at 1529, a 21.4% delta. This is the largest single-core gap in either direction. The Intel part's 14 nm process, despite being older, delivers substantially higher single-threaded performance in R23. This suggests that users running current single-threaded applications would see a significant benefit from the Intel chip.

The wins are split 2-2, but the margins are asymmetric. The AMD part wins by 50.1% and 24.6% in R15, while the Intel part wins by 8.3% and 21.4% in R23. The AMD wins are larger in the older tests, whereas the Intel wins are more moderate in the newer tests, except for single-core R23 where Intel has a strong 21.4% edge.

The average benchmark score across all tests is 4121 for the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS and 3985 for the Intel Xeon E-2336, a 3.4% overall advantage for AMD. This average is pulled up by the massive R15 multi-core win, while the R23 results keep the Intel part competitive.

# Specification Differences

The two CPUs diverge in nearly every specification category. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Xeon E-2336 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.00 GHz for AMD and 2.90 GHz for Intel, while boost clocks are identical at 4.80 GHz.

TDP differs substantially: 35 watts for the AMD mobile part versus 65 watts for the Intel server/workstation part. The AMD chip draws less power, making it suitable for laptops, while the Intel chip is designed for systems that can dissipate more heat.

The process node is 7 nm for AMD (TSMC) and 14 nm for Intel. The AMD die is 180 mm² with 10,700 million transistors, while the Intel die is 276 mm² with no recorded transistor count. The AMD part is both smaller and denser.

Cache configurations differ. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The Intel Xeon E-2336 has 80 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The AMD part has more total L3, while the Intel part has more L1 per core.

Memory bandwidth is 68.3 GB/s for AMD versus 51.2 GB/s for Intel, both using dual-channel DDR4. ECC memory support exists only on the Intel Xeon E-2336. PCIe generations differ: AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while Intel offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

Integrated graphics are present only on the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS (Radeon Vega 8); the Intel Xeon E-2336 has none. Sockets are AMD Socket FP6 for the Ryzen and Intel Socket 1200 for the Xeon. The AMD part was released on 2021-01-11, while the Intel part followed on 2021-09-07. The Intel Xeon E-2336 has a launch MSRP of $284, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Both CPUs are active in production, both have locked multipliers, and both offer no overclocking. The AMD part is in the mobile market segment, while the Intel part targets server/workstation use.