AMD Ryzen 7 1700X vs AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 1700X and AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 occupy similar positions in the aggregate benchmark distribution, with the former scoring an average of 2094 and the latter 2086, placing both at the 46th percentile of all CPUs. Despite this statistical proximity, the two processors are fundamentally different in design intent, core configuration, and performance profile. The data shows a clear split: the 1700X is a multi-threaded desktop workhorse, while the R2544 is a lower-power embedded part with integrated graphics, and their benchmark results reflect those divergent roles.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison between these two parts is one-sided. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen 7 1700X scores 1537, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 manages only 726. This represents a 111.7% advantage for the 1700X, meaning it delivers more than double the multi-threaded rendering performance. This result is consistent with the fundamental hardware gap: the 1700X pairs 8 cores and 16 threads against the R2544’s 4 cores and 8 threads, and that doubling of execution resources translates almost linearly into the benchmark outcome.

Single-core performance also favors the 1700X, though by a smaller margin. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the 1700X scores 154, compared to 102 for the R2544, a 51% lead. This is notable because the R2544 is based on the newer Zen+ architecture, yet the older Zen design still holds a substantial per-thread advantage. The clock speeds are close — 3.40 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost for the 1700X versus 3.35 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost for the R2544 — so the single-core gap must stem from other factors, likely including the R2544’s power and thermal constraints as an embedded part.

The R2544 does have additional benchmark data points that the 1700X lacks, including Cinebench R20 and R23 scores, but no head-to-head results exist for those tests in the data. Within the shared test suite, the 1700X wins both comparisons, with a win count of 2 versus 0 for the R2544. The aggregate scores, however, tell a more nuanced story: the 1700X averages 2094, while the R2544 averages 2086, a difference of only 0.4%. This near-parity in overall standing, despite the massive multi-core gap, suggests the R2544 compensates in other workload types not captured by the direct comparisons.

Looking at rival placements, the 1700X sits within 0.6% of the Intel Core i3-8350K (2096, -0.1% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G (2101, -0.3% delta). The R2544, meanwhile, is effectively tied with the Intel Core i3-9350KF (2082, 0.2% delta) and the Intel Xeon W-2123 (2079, 0.3% delta). Neither processor is dominant in its peer group; both are mid-pack performers whose average scores cluster tightly within a 1% band of their nearest rivals.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is generational and functional. The 1700X is built on the original Zen architecture, codenamed Summit Ridge, fabricated on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries. The R2544 uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, on a 12 nm process, also from GlobalFoundries. The newer node allows the R2544 to pack 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die, slightly more than the 4,800 million transistors in the 1700X’s 213 mm² die, despite having half the cores.

Core and cache configurations differ sharply. The 1700X provides 8 cores and 16 threads with a shared 16 MB L3 cache. The R2544, with 4 cores and 8 threads, carries only 4 MB of shared L3. Both processors feature 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, but the L3 disparity is significant for workloads that benefit from large shared pools of data. The 1700X’s 16 MB L3 is a major asset in multi-threaded rendering and database workloads, whereas the R2544’s smaller cache limits its ability to keep working sets resident on-chip.

Memory bandwidth also diverges. The 1700X supports dual-channel DDR4 with a peak bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The R2544 also uses dual-channel DDR4 but achieves 51.2 GB/s, a 20% improvement. This is likely a result of the newer memory controller in the Zen+ generation. Both parts support ECC memory, which is relevant for embedded and workstation reliability requirements. PCIe connectivity is identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The most visible feature difference is integrated graphics. The R2544 includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the 1700X has no integrated GPU. This makes the R2544 a complete system-on-chip solution, capable of driving a display without a discrete graphics card. The 1700X requires an external GPU for any visual output. The R2544 also has a locked multiplier, whereas the 1700X is multiplier-unlocked, enabling overclocking.

Power and packaging reflect their market positions. The 1700X carries a 95 W TDP and uses the AMD Socket AM4, a mainstream desktop platform. The R2544 is rated at 45 W TDP and uses the AMD Socket FP5, a BGA-style embedded socket. The production status for both is listed as Active. The 1700X launched on 2017-03-01, while the R2544 came later on 2022-09-29, a five-year gap that explains the architectural refresh.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for multi-threaded desktop workloads: the AMD Ryzen 7 1700X. Its 111.7% advantage in Cinebench R15 multi-core over the R2544 is decisive, and its 51% lead in single-core performance reinforces its superiority in the shared test suite. For users prioritizing raw CPU throughput, rendering, or heavily threaded applications, the 1700X is the only option between these two that makes sense. Its 8 cores, 16 threads, and 16 MB of L3 cache provide the execution resources and data capacity that the R2544 simply lacks.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 is not a competitive alternative in raw performance, but it is a different class of product. Its 45 W TDP, compared to the 1700X’s 95 W, makes it suitable for thermally constrained or power-sensitive embedded designs. The integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics eliminate the need for a discrete GPU, and the newer Zen+ architecture provides higher memory bandwidth at 51.2 GB/s. Its performance profile, with an average score of 2086 and a 46th percentile ranking, is respectable for a 4-core part, but it cannot match the 1700X in the benchmarks where they overlap.

The choice depends on the use case, not on aggregate scores. If the requirement is a socketed desktop CPU with maximum multi-core performance and overclocking headroom, the 1700X is the pick. If the requirement is a low-power, embedded processor with integrated graphics and a fixed multiplier, the R2544 is the appropriate part. The two processors are not direct competitors; they serve different segments, and the benchmark data confirms that the 1700X dominates in computational throughput while the R2544 offers platform integration and efficiency.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: 8 (1700X) vs 4 (R2544)
• Threads: 16 (1700X) vs 8 (R2544)
• Base Clock: 3.40 GHz (1700X) vs 3.35 GHz (R2544)
• Boost Clock: 3.80 GHz (1700X) vs 3.70 GHz (R2544)
• TDP: 95 W (1700X) vs 45 W (R2544)
• Socket: AMD Socket AM4 (1700X) vs AMD Socket FP5 (R2544)
• Architecture: Zen (1700X) vs Zen+ (R2544)
• Codename: Zen (1700X) vs Picasso (R2544)
• Process Node: 14 nm (1700X) vs 12 nm (R2544)
• Transistors: 4,800 million (1700X) vs 4,940 million (R2544)
• Die Size: 213 mm² (1700X) vs 210 mm² (R2544)
• L3 Cache: 16 MB shared (1700X) vs 4 MB shared (R2544)
• Memory Bandwidth: 42.7 GB/s (1700X) vs 51.2 GB/s (R2544)
• Integrated Graphics: None (1700X) vs Radeon Vega 8 (R2544)
• Release Date: 2017-03-01 (1700X) vs 2022-09-29 (R2544)
• Launch MSRP: $399 (1700X) vs null (R2544)
• Multiplier Unlocked: True (1700X) vs False (R2544)
• Part Number: YD170XBCAEWOF (1700X) vs YE2544C3T4MFH,YE2544C3T4MFHA (R2544)

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 1700X is decisively ahead, scoring 1537 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 726 for the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544, a 111.7% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the 1700X in single-core tests?

A: The 1700X scores 154 in Cinebench R15 single-core, compared to 102 for the R2544, representing a 51% lead.

Q: Does the R2544 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the R2544 includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics. The 1700X has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The 1700X has a TDP of 95 W, while the R2544 is rated at 45 W, making the R2544 significantly more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Which processor uses a newer manufacturing process?

A: The R2544 uses a 12 nm process, while the 1700X uses 14 nm. Both are fabricated by GlobalFoundries.

Q: Are both processors in active production?

A: Yes, both the 1700X and the R2544 have a production status of Active, despite the 1700X launching in 2017 and the R2544 in 2022.