AMD Ryzen 5 1500X vs AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X and AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B are both four-core, eight-thread Zen processors from AMD’s 1000 series, but they target different corners of the market. The data shows a split decision: the Ryzen 5 1500X dominates in older Cinebench R15 tests, while the Embedded V1756B takes the newer Cinebench R23 workloads. With a 44th percentile ranking for both parts, neither is a top-tier performer, but the benchmark results reveal distinct strengths that should guide any selection.

The Verdict

From the data, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X is the pick for legacy single-threaded workloads and older rendering tests. It wins the Cinebench R15 multicore test with 805 points against the Embedded V1756B’s 692, a 16.3% margin, and it crushes the single-core R15 test at 154 versus 97, a massive 58.8% lead. For anyone running software that relies on Cinebench R15-era performance, the 1500X is clearly superior.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B, however, is the winner in current-generation Cinebench R23 tests. It scores 6867 in multicore versus the 1500X’s 4597, a 33.1% advantage, and edges out the single-core test at 969 versus 947, a slim 2.3% margin. If the target application is modern, well-threaded rendering, the Embedded part is the one to choose.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1992 for the 1500X and 1986 for the Embedded V1756B — but the distribution of wins matters more. The 1500X is the safer choice for desktop users with older software stacks, while the Embedded V1756B suits embedded or compact systems running contemporary workloads. The 1500X also offers an unlocked multiplier, making it the only one of the two that can be overclocked, a factor that does not appear in the benchmark averages but is a qualitative advantage.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same Zen architecture and 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, but the similarities end there. The Ryzen 5 1500X uses a 213 mm² die with 4,800 million transistors, while the Embedded V1756B has a slightly smaller 210 mm² die but more transistors at 4,950 million. The cache configurations diverge sharply: the 1500X provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core and a 16 MB shared L3 cache, whereas the Embedded V1756B offers a larger 128 KB L1 per core but only 2 MB of shared L3 cache.

The socket and platform also differ. The 1500X sits in an AMD Socket AM4 with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the Embedded V1756B uses the compact AMD Socket FP5 and lists no PCIe lane specification in the data. Memory support is dual-channel DDR4 for both, but the 1500X has a rated memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s and supports ECC memory; the Embedded part has no listed bandwidth figure and no ECC support. The Embedded V1756B compensates with integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, which the 1500X lacks entirely.

Clock speeds favor the 1500X as well. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz with a boost of 3.70 GHz, compared to the Embedded V1756B’s 3.25 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The thermal design power (TDP) tells the rest of the story: the 1500X draws 65 watts, while the Embedded part is rated at 45 watts, reflecting its efficiency-focused embedded design. The 1500X has a launch MSRP of $189, while the Embedded part has no listed launch price.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly along generation lines. The Ryzen 5 1500X wins both Cinebench R15 tests, which are older and less demanding of memory bandwidth and cache scaling. In the multicore R15 test, the 1500X’s 805-point score outpaces the Embedded V1756B’s 692 by 16.3%. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided: 154 versus 97, a 58.8% gap that suggests the 1500X’s higher clocks and larger L3 cache matter greatly in this legacy workload.

The Embedded V1756B flips the script in Cinebench R23. Its multicore score of 6867 crushes the 1500X’s 4597, a 33.1% swing, despite having a lower base clock and far less L3 cache. This indicates the Embedded part’s architecture handles the newer, more complex R23 workload far more efficiently. The single-core R23 result is close, with the Embedded part winning 969 to 947, a 2.3% margin that shows the clock speed disadvantage is nearly neutralized in this test.

For use cases, the 1500X is the clear choice for legacy software, older games, or applications built around Cinebench R15-era performance. The Embedded V1756B, with its lower TDP and integrated graphics, is better suited for compact systems, industrial PCs, or always-on devices running modern rendering tasks. Its 45-watt TDP and Radeon Vega 8 graphics make it a self-contained solution, while the 1500X requires a discrete GPU.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has a base clock of 3.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B runs at 3.25 GHz. The 1500X also boosts higher at 3.70 GHz versus 3.60 GHz.

Q: Why does the Embedded V1756B win Cinebench R23 multicore despite having a lower clock speed?

A: The data shows the Embedded V1756B scores 6867 in R23 multicore versus the 1500X’s 4597, a 33.1% advantage. This likely stems from architectural efficiency in newer workloads, not clock speed, as the Embedded part’s 3.25 GHz base is lower than the 1500X’s 3.50 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 1500X supports ECC memory, but the Ryzen Embedded V1756B does not list ECC support in the data.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B has integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics. The Ryzen 5 1500X has no integrated graphics, requiring a separate GPU.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 5 1500X has an average benchmark score of 1992, while the Embedded V1756B scores 1986. Both rank in the 44th percentile of all CPUs, and the nearest rival for the 1500X is the Intel Core i7-7920HQ at 1992, while the Embedded part’s closest rival is the Intel Core i5-8279U at 1987.

Q: Can either processor be overclocked?

A: The Ryzen 5 1500X has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The Ryzen Embedded V1756B has a locked multiplier and does not support overclocking.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test delivers the first clear verdict. The Ryzen 5 1500X scores 805, while the Embedded V1756B manages 692. That is a 16.3% lead for the 1500X, a substantial gap that reflects its higher clocks and larger 16 MB L3 cache versus the Embedded part’s 2 MB. In this legacy workload, the 1500X is simply the better processor.

The Cinebench R15 single-core test is an even larger blowout. The 1500X posts 154 points, and the Embedded V1756B falls to 97. The 58.8% delta is the widest margin in the entire head-to-head set. This result underscores how much the 1500X’s 3.70 GHz boost clock and cache hierarchy benefit single-threaded, older code, while the Embedded part’s 3.60 GHz boost cannot compensate for its smaller cache.

The Cinebench R23 multicore test reverses the order decisively. The Embedded V1756B scores 6867, while the 1500X manages only 4597. The 33.1% difference is the largest win for either part in absolute terms. Even with a lower base clock and a fraction of the L3 cache, the Embedded V1756B outperforms the 1500X by a wide margin in this modern, demanding workload. The architecture clearly scales better with the newer instruction set and memory access patterns.

The Cinebench R23 single-core test is the closest contest. The Embedded V1756B wins with 969 points, just ahead of the 1500X’s 947. The 2.3% delta is narrow, but it still gives the Embedded part a clean sweep of the R23 tests. This suggests that while the 1500X is superior in legacy single-core, the Embedded V1756B’s newer design has closed the gap in current-generation single-threaded performance.

Overall, the head-to-head benchmarks show a 2-2 split in wins. The 1500X takes both R15 tests with margins of 16.3% and 58.8%, while the Embedded V1756B takes both R23 tests with margins of 33.1% and 2.3%. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 1992 versus 1986 — but the distribution of performance is entirely generation-dependent.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every measurable specification except cores, threads, and memory type. Both have 4 cores and 8 threads, and both support dual-channel DDR4 memory. Beyond that, the Ryzen 5 1500X has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the Embedded V1756B runs at 3.25 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. The 1500X has a TDP of 65 watts, and the Embedded part is rated at 45 watts.

The socket is a major differentiator: the 1500X uses AMD Socket AM4, and the Embedded V1756B uses AMD Socket FP5. The die size is nearly the same — 213 mm² for the 1500X and 210 mm² for the Embedded — but the transistor count differs at 4,800 million versus 4,950 million. Cache configurations are starkly different: the 1500X has 96 KB L1 per core and 16 MB shared L3, while the Embedded part has 128 KB L1 per core and only 2 MB shared L3. Both have 512 KB L2 per core.

Memory bandwidth is listed at 42.7 GB/s for the 1500X, with no figure for the Embedded part. ECC support is present on the 1500X but absent on the Embedded V1756B. PCIe lanes are Gen 3 with 16 lanes for the 1500X, while the Embedded part has no PCIe specification listed. Integrated graphics appear only on the Embedded V1756B with Radeon Vega 8; the 1500X has none. The 1500X has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $189, while the Embedded part is locked and has no launch price. Release dates also differ: the 1500X launched in April 2017, and the Embedded V1756B followed in February 2018.