AMD Ryzen 3 3300X vs AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data draws a clear dividing line between these two AMD processors. The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X wins every recorded head-to-head benchmark, taking both Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core tests outright. Its average benchmark score of 2148 places it at the 47th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 trails with an average score of 2086 and a 46th percentile ranking.

The Ryzen 3 3300X is the choice for workloads built around raw compute throughput. Its 47.5% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core and a decisive 91.2% advantage in single-core performance make it the stronger general-purpose desktop part. Buyers who need a conventional AM4 desktop platform, a factory-unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and PCIe Gen 4 connectivity should select the Ryzen 3 3300X. It launched at a $120 MSRP, and production status remains active.

The Ryzen Embedded R2544 serves a different role entirely. With ECC memory support, a 45 W TDP rating, and an integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics silicon, it is built for embedded systems that require reliability features rather than maximum compute speed. Socket FP5 compatibility with a locked multiplier indicates it targets OEM-style system builders, not enthusiast PC assemblers seeking peak performance. For embedded deployments where stability, lower power draw at the chip level, and integrated graphics matter more than benchmark victories, the Ryzen Embedded R2544 is the appropriate pick.

The data does not present a single universal winner. It presents two distinct products with different architectural foundations. The Ryzen 3 3300X wins pure performance, while the Ryzen Embedded R2544 wins on feature integration and platform flexibility for embedded use cases.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X scores 1071 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is 47.5% ahead of the Ryzen Embedded R2544's score of 726 in the same test.

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: The Ryzen 3 3300X records a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 195, while the Ryzen Embedded R2544 scores 102. This gives the Ryzen 3 3300X a 91.2% advantage, nearly double the embedded part's single-core throughput.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory technology?

A: Yes. Both processors support DDR4 memory with a dual-channel memory bus and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Ryzen Embedded R2544 adds ECC memory support, while the Ryzen 3 3300X does not list ECC capability.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. The Ryzen 3 3300X lists no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete graphics card for display output.

Q: Can the Ryzen 3 3300X be overclocked?

A: The Ryzen 3 3300X has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Ryzen Embedded R2544 has a locked multiplier, preventing user overclocking.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Ryzen 3 3300X sits within 0.6% of the Intel Core i5-9400T and AMD Ryzen 3 5300U, and about 0.3% to 0.4% behind the Intel Core i5-10200H and Intel Core i7-5950HQ. The Ryzen Embedded R2544 is within 0.2% to 0.5% of the Intel Core i3-9350KF, Intel Xeon W-2123, AMD Ryzen 7 1700X, and Intel Core i3-8350K. Both processors cluster tightly among similarly performing CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between these two processors is substantial. The Ryzen 3 3300X uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Matisse codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Ryzen Embedded R2544 uses the older Zen+ architecture under the Picasso codename, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries.

The transistor counts reflect the different manufacturing approaches. The Ryzen 3 3300X packs 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die, while the Ryzen Embedded R2544 contains 4,940 million transistors across a much larger 210 mm² die. The larger process node and die size explain why the embedded part carries more transistors despite belonging to an older architecture generation.

Cache configurations differ significantly between the two. The Ryzen 3 3300X provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen Embedded R2544 offers 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 3 3300X has four times the shared L3 cache, which contributes to its superior benchmark results in memory-sensitive workloads.

The socket and platform ecosystems also diverge. The Ryzen 3 3300X uses AMD Socket AM4, a mainstream desktop socket. The Ryzen Embedded R2544 uses AMD Socket FP5, a BGA-style socket intended for embedded system designs. PCIe support follows the generational split: the Ryzen 3 3300X offers PCIe Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Ryzen Embedded R2544 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics represent another fundamental architectural difference. The Ryzen 3 3300X has no integrated graphics listed, making it a pure CPU. The Ryzen Embedded R2544 integrates Radeon Vega 8 graphics, enabling display output without a separate graphics card. This reflects the embedded part's design goal of consolidating system functionality onto a single chip.

The market segments confirm the divergent purposes. The Ryzen 3 3300X is classified as a Desktop part from the 3000 series, released on 2020-04-23. The Ryzen Embedded R2544 is classified as a Desktop part from the 2000 series, released later on 2022-09-29 despite carrying older Zen+ architecture. Both parts remain in active production.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 3 3300X | AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 |

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

| Series | 3000 series | 2000 series |

| Cores | 4 | 4 |

| Threads | 8 | 8 |

| Base clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.35 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.30 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Zen+ |

| Codename | Matisse | Picasso |

| Process node | 7 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 3,800 million | 4,940 million |

| Die size | 74 mm² | 210 mm² |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 96 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 512 KB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 16 MB shared | 4 MB shared |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 16 lanes | Gen 3, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | None | Radeon Vega 8 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $120 | Not available |

The clock speed differences favor the Ryzen 3 3300X substantially. It runs at a 3.80 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.30 GHz, compared to the Ryzen Embedded R2544's 3.35 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The higher clocks alone explain much of the performance gap. The TDP figures run in the opposite direction: the Ryzen Embedded R2544 draws only 45 W, while the Ryzen 3 3300X consumes 65 W. Embedded systems value the lower thermal envelope.

Both processors ship with 4 cores and 8 threads, dual-channel DDR4 memory support, and matching 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth. The memory bandwidth parity suggests the memory controller capabilities are broadly similar, though the cache differences still separate them in real workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records two head-to-head comparisons between these processors, and the Ryzen 3 3300X wins both decisively.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 3 3300X scores 1071 against 726 for the Ryzen Embedded R2544. The delta of 47.5% represents a massive gap in threaded workloads. The combination of a newer Zen 2 architecture, a 7 nm process, 16 MB of L3 cache, and higher clock speeds at 3.80 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost all contribute to this result. The Ryzen Embedded R2544's 4 MB L3 cache and 3.70 GHz boost ceiling cannot compensate for the architectural deficit. For rendering, video encoding, or compilation tasks that scale across cores, the Ryzen 3 3300X is the clear performer.

The single-core Cinebench R15 result shows an even larger relative gap. The Ryzen 3 3300X scores 195, while the Ryzen Embedded R2544 scores 102, producing a 91.2% delta in favor of the desktop part. Single-core performance depends heavily on clock speed and instructions per clock efficiency. The Ryzen 3 3300X has both advantages: a 0.60 GHz higher boost clock and the superior Zen 2 microarchitecture. The Zen+ architecture in the embedded part, despite its larger per-core L1 cache of 96 KB versus 64 KB, cannot overcome the clock and IPC deficits. This near-doubling of single-core performance affects responsiveness in lightly threaded applications, legacy software, and everyday desktop tasks.

The average benchmark scores in the database tell the same story at a higher level. The Ryzen 3 3300X averages 2148 across its benchmark suite, while the Ryzen Embedded R2544 averages 2086. The 62-point difference places them at the 47th and 46th percentiles respectively. Their nearest rivals confirm that both CPUs operate in similar overall performance tiers despite the large head-to-head deltas. The Ryzen 3 3300X sits between the Intel Core i5-10200H (2154, 0.3% higher) and the Intel Core i5-9400T (2136, 0.6% lower). The Ryzen Embedded R2544 sits between the AMD Ryzen 7 1700X (2094, 0.4% higher) and the Intel Core i3-9350KF (2082, 0.2% lower). The head-to-head tests, however, isolate the direct comparison and reveal the true scale of the performance difference between these two specific parts.

The Ryzen 3 3300X also has the advantage of additional benchmark coverage context. Its recorded tests include Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core plus Geekbench multi-core (5772) and single-core (1555). The Ryzen Embedded R2544 has a broader Cinebench suite with R15, R20, and R23 variants, but the overlapping R15 results are what enable the direct head-to-head comparison. The outcome is unambiguous across every shared metric: the Ryzen 3 3300X leads without exception.