AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G vs Intel Core i7-4600U Comparison

The data presents a clear generational split: the Intel Core i7-4600U, a Haswell-era mobile chip from 2013, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G, a Zen-based part from 2020, are direct competitors in the low-power, dual-core space. Despite the Intel part carrying a higher base clock of 2.10 GHz against AMD’s 1.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz versus 2.80 GHz, the benchmark results are unanimous. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G wins all five head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with every victory landing between 13.6% and 13.9% ahead. This is a decisive sweep, not a marginal one, indicating a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a clock-speed deficit.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G is the superior processor for raw compute performance. It wins every single test in the head-to-head comparison, from single-core Cinebench R23 (377 vs. 325) to multi-core Cinebench R15 (269 vs. 232). The data shows a consistent performance edge of roughly 13.8% across all workloads, making it the clear choice for anyone prioritizing processing power in a compact, low-TDP platform. The Intel Core i7-4600U, while holding a 25th percentile rank among all CPUs compared to AMD’s 24th, is outperformed in every measurable metric.

However, the choice is not simply about performance benchmarks. The Ryzen Embedded R1305G has a lower TDP of 10W compared to Intel’s 15W, meaning it achieves its superior scores while consuming less power, a critical factor for embedded and fanless designs. The Intel part, despite its age, does offer a higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz, which may be relevant in single-threaded scenarios, but the data shows this does not translate into a benchmark win. For new designs, the AMD part is the logical choice due to its combination of higher performance, lower power draw, and modern platform support. The Intel i7-4600U only makes sense if you are locked into a legacy Haswell platform or require its specific integrated graphics, the Intel HD 5000.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The Intel Core i7-4600U is built on Intel’s 22 nm process with 1,300 million transistors on a 118 mm² die. Its architecture, Haswell, is a mature design from a different generation of mobile computing. It features 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, alongside a shared 4 MB L3 cache. It supports DDR3 memory and lacks ECC support.

In contrast, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G is built on GlobalFoundries’ 14 nm process, with a significantly higher transistor count of 3,500 million on a larger 148 mm² die. This is a Zen architecture chip, part of the Ryzen Embedded 1000 series (codenamed "Banded Kestrel"). It also has 2 cores and 4 threads, but with a much lower base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 2.80 GHz. Its cache configuration differs, featuring 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with the same 4 MB of shared L3 cache. Crucially, it supports DDR4 memory and features a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, a significant upgrade over the older DDR3 standard.

Other notable differences include the integrated graphics: Intel pairs the i7-4600U with the Intel HD 5000, while AMD integrates the Radeon Vega 3. The AMD part also specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel part's PCIe details are not listed. The AMD chip is in active production, whereas the Intel part's production status is not specified. The AMD R1305G also has a lower TDP of 10W, making it more power-efficient on paper, a fact supported by its higher performance per watt in benchmarks.

Where Each One Wins

From the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G wins everywhere. It dominates in both multi-core and single-core tests, showing that the newer Zen microarchitecture is more efficient at executing instructions per clock than the older Haswell design. The AMD chip’s wins are consistent across all Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23), which are standard measures of CPU rendering performance. This suggests that for any computational workload, from 3D rendering to general-purpose computing, the AMD part is faster.

The Intel Core i7-4600U has no benchmark wins to its name in this comparison. Its higher clock speeds do not compensate for the architectural efficiency of the AMD chip. Where the Intel part might technically hold an advantage is in its higher boost clock of 3.30 GHz, which could theoretically benefit extremely short, single-threaded bursts. However, the data shows the AMD part scores 13.8% higher in the single-core Cinebench R23 test, indicating that even in this scenario, the Zen architecture’s superior instructions-per-clock (IPC) overwhelms the clock speed advantage. The Intel part also has a larger L1 cache per core (64 KB vs. 96 KB), but this does not translate into a performance benefit in the tests run.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G is faster in all multi-core tests. It scores 2670 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 13.6% ahead of the Intel Core i7-4600U's 2306.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-4600U better in single-core performance due to its higher clock speed?

A: No. Despite a boost clock of 3.30 GHz versus the AMD's 2.80 GHz, the Intel part loses in single-core tests. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G scores 377 in Cinebench R23 single-core, 13.8% higher than Intel's 325.

Q: What are the key architectural differences regarding memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-4600U supports DDR3 memory, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G supports the newer DDR4 standard. The AMD part also features a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, a spec not listed for the Intel chip.

Q: How do their power consumptions compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G has a lower TDP of 10W, compared to the Intel Core i7-4600U's 15W. This means the AMD chip delivers higher benchmark scores while being rated for lower power draw.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-4600U has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 931, compared to the AMD's 919. However, this average includes benchmarks beyond the head-to-head tests, and the direct comparison shows AMD winning all shared tests.

Q: What is the difference in their manufacturing process?

A: The Intel Core i7-4600U is manufactured on a 22 nm process by Intel with 1,300 million transistors. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G is manufactured on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries with 3,500 million transistors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are stark and unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G wins all five tests, with a consistent performance gap that hovers around 13.8%. This uniformity is remarkable, suggesting that the performance difference is a fundamental property of the architectures, not a workload-specific anomaly.

The largest relative win for the AMD part is in the Cinebench R20 single-core test, where it scores 158 against Intel's 136, a delta of -13.9%. This is particularly telling because it isolates single-thread performance, eliminating any multi-core scaling effects. It proves that the Zen core is vastly more efficient than the Haswell core on a per-thread basis. The multi-core results are equally consistent: in Cinebench R15, AMD scores 269 vs. Intel's 232 (-13.8%); in R20, it’s 1121 vs. 968 (-13.6%); and in R23, it’s 2670 vs. 2306 (-13.6%). The single-core R23 result shows AMD at 377 vs. Intel's 325 (-13.8%).

These numbers tell a clear story. The Intel Core i7-4600U, despite its higher base and boost clocks, cannot overcome the architectural superiority of the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G. The AMD part is not just marginally better; it is categorically faster across every benchmark in the comparison. For any application relying on CPU compute, the benchmark data unequivocally favors the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G.