Ryzen 7 4980U vs Xeon E5-4669 v4

AMD

Ryzen 7 4980U

8 Cores16 Thrd15 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2021
VS
Intel

Xeon E5-4669 v4

22 Cores44 Thrd135 WWMax: 3 GHz2016

Ryzen 7 4980U vs Xeon E5-4669 v4 Performance Spectrum

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Ryzen 7 4980U vs Xeon E5-4669 v4 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Ryzen 7 4980U vs Xeon E5-4669 v4: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Ryzen 7 4980U

2021

Why buy it

  • βœ…Draws 15W instead of 135W, a 120W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Xeon E5-4669 v4 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Lower PassMark (17,469 vs 17,547).
  • ❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 55 MB).
  • ❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon E5-4669 v4, which brings 22 cores / 44 threads and 40 PCIe lanes.

Xeon E5-4669 v4

2016

Why buy it

  • βœ…Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • βœ…+587.5% larger total L3 cache (55 MB vs 8 MB).
  • βœ…Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 22 cores / 44 threads, plus 40 PCIe lanes vs 0.
  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (40 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Launch MSRP is still $7,007 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 4980U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • ❌800% higher power demand at 135W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon E5-4669 v4 better than Ryzen 7 4980U?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon E5-4669 v4 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 7 4980U is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Xeon E5-4669 v4 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon E5-4669 v4 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 22 cores and 44 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 587.5% larger total L3 cache (55 MB vs 8 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Xeon E5-4669 v4 is the better buy right now. Xeon E5-4669 v4 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $7,007 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (2.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 7 4980U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2016). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Ryzen 7 4980U vs Xeon E5-4669 v4 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

Ryzen 7 4980U

The Ryzen 7 4980U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 April 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020βˆ’2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,469 points. Launch price was $299.

Intel

Xeon E5-4669 v4

The Xeon E5-4669 v4 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 June 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015βˆ’2019) architecture. It features 22 cores and 44 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 55 MB. L2 cache: 5.5 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 135 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,547 points. Launch price was $7,007.

⚑

Processing Power

The Ryzen 7 4980U packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Xeon E5-4669 v4 offers 22 cores / 44 threads β€” the Xeon E5-4669 v4 has 14 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 4980U versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-4669 v4 β€” a 37.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 4980U (base: 2 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Ryzen 7 4980U uses the Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020βˆ’2021) architecture (7 nm), while the Xeon E5-4669 v4 uses Broadwell (2015βˆ’2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 4980U scores 17,469 against the Xeon E5-4669 v4's 17,547 β€” a 0.4% lead for the Xeon E5-4669 v4. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 4980U vs 55 MB on the Xeon E5-4669 v4.

FeatureRyzen 7 4980UXeon E5-4669 v4
Cores / Threads
8 / 16
22 / 44+175%
Boost Clock
4.4 GHz+47%
3 GHz
Base Clock
2 GHz
2.2 GHz+10%
L3 Cache
8 MB (total)
55 MB+588%
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
5.5 MB+1000%
Process
7 nm-50%
14 nm
Architecture
Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020βˆ’2021)
Broadwell (2015βˆ’2019)
PassMark
17,469
17,547
Cinebench R23 Multi
β€”
18,730
Geekbench 6 Single
β€”
825
Geekbench 6 Multi
β€”
2,882
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 7 4980U uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-4669 v4 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 7 4980UXeon E5-4669 v4
Socket
FP6
LGA2011
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
β€”
DDR4-2400
Max RAM Capacity
β€”
1536 GB
RAM Channels
β€”
4
ECC Support
β€”
Yes
PCIe Lanes
β€”
40
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 7 4980U) / Yes (Xeon E5-4669 v4).

FeatureRyzen 7 4980UXeon E5-4669 v4
Integrated GPU
β€”
No
AVX-512
β€”
No
Virtualization
β€”
Yes