AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G vs Intel Core i7-870 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data tells a remarkably one-sided story when comparing the Intel Core i7-870 against the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G. Across all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, the Intel part takes the win, though the margins are consistently thin. The Intel Core i7-870 wins the multi-core tests by 0.7% in Cinebench R15 and 1% in both Cinebench R20 and R23. The single-core tests follow the same pattern, with Intel leading by 0.6% in R20 and 0.8% in R23. These are not decisive victories; they are statistical near-ties that favor the older Intel chip.

The use-case split, however, goes beyond raw benchmark scores. The Intel Core i7-870 is a desktop processor with a 95 TDP, four cores, eight threads, and a base clock of 2.93 GHz boosting to 3.60 GHz. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G is a mobile-class embedded part with a 10 TDP, two cores, four threads, a base clock of 1500.00 MHz, and a boost of 2.80 GHz. If the workload is heavily multithreaded and sustained, the Intel chip’s higher core count and thread count give it the structural edge, even if the benchmark deltas are small. If the workload is power-constrained, thermally limited, or requires integrated graphics, the AMD part has the clear functional advantage, as it includes Radeon Vega 3 graphics while the Intel chip has no integrated graphics listed.

The 95 TDP versus 10 TDP gap is the largest practical differentiator. A system designer looking at fanless or passively cooled embedded applications will find the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G far easier to accommodate. A desktop user with a capable air cooler and a spare 1156 socket will get marginally better multi-threaded throughput from the Intel. The data shows that in terms of raw compute, the Intel wins every test, but the wins are so narrow that real-world differences will be imperceptible outside of controlled benchmarking.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is generational and foundational. The Intel Core i7-870 uses the Nehalem architecture under the Lynnfield codename, fabricated on a 45 nm process by Intel. It packs 774 million transistors on a 296 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G uses the Zen architecture (codenamed Banded Kestrel), fabricated on a 14 nm process by GlobalFoundries, with 3,500 million transistors on a 148 mm² die. The transistor count difference is stark: AMD integrates over four times as many transistors on a die roughly half the size, enabled by the denser process node.

Cache hierarchies differ as well. The Intel chip provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip provides 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and only 4 MB of shared L3. Per-core cache is larger on the AMD, but the shared L3 pool is halved. Memory support also diverges: the Intel part uses DDR3 on a dual-channel bus, while the AMD part uses DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel chip lacks any memory bandwidth figure in the data, so no direct comparison is possible there.

PCIe connectivity differs significantly. The Intel Core i7-870 provides PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes. The AMD has the newer standard and fewer lanes, which is typical for a low-power embedded part. The Intel chip has more lanes but an older standard. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part is end-of-life, released on 2009-09-07, while the AMD part is active, released on 2020-02-24. The socket situation is entirely incompatible: Intel Socket 1156 versus AMD Socket FP5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are consistent across all five Cinebench iterations, with the Intel Core i7-870 winning each by a margin between 0.6% and 1%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel scores 271 against the AMD’s 269, a 0.7% delta. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Intel scores 1132 against 1121, a 1% delta. The R23 multi-core test shows 2697 versus 2670, again a 1% delta. Single-core results are just as tight: R20 single-core shows 159 versus 158 (0.6%), and R23 single-core shows 380 versus 377 (0.8%).

These numbers place both processors in the same performance tier. The Intel Core i7-870 has an average benchmark score of 928 and sits at the 25th percentile among all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G has an average benchmark score of 919 and sits at the 24th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip include the Intel Core i5-4288U (avg score 927, deltaPct 0.1), Intel Core i3-4350T (avg score 926, deltaPct 0.2), Intel Celeron G6900TE (avg score 925, deltaPct 0.4), and Intel Core i7-4600U (avg score 931, deltaPct -0.4). The AMD part’s nearest rivals include the AMD PRO A10-9700E (avg score 919, deltaPct 0), AMD Athlon Silver 3050U (avg score 917, deltaPct 0.2), AMD FX-4320 (avg score 921, deltaPct -0.2), and Intel Pentium Gold G6405T (avg score 915, deltaPct 0.5).

The practical interpretation is that the Intel Core i7-870 is essentially tied with the Ryzen Embedded R1305G in every benchmark, with the Intel chip holding a hair-thin lead. The largest delta anywhere is 1%, which is within run-to-run variance for most Cinebench executions. The data does not support a claim of meaningful performance superiority for either part. What the data does show is that a 2009-era quad-core desktop chip and a 2020-era dual-core embedded chip land in the same performance envelope, which speaks to the efficiency gains of the newer Zen architecture.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-870 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i7-870 in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel chip wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 0.7% (271 vs 269), R20 multi-core by 1% (1132 vs 1121), and R23 multi-core by 1% (2697 vs 2670).

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-870 has no integrated graphics listed in the data.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-870 has a 95 TDP, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G has a 10 TDP.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G supports DDR4 memory with a rated bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-870 supports DDR3 memory.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each?

A: The Intel Core i7-870 has an average benchmark score of 928 (25th percentile). The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G has an average benchmark score of 919 (24th percentile).

The Verdict

The data supports a clear but nuanced verdict. For raw compute performance, the Intel Core i7-870 wins every benchmark in the comparison, but by margins of 1% or less. This is not a meaningful performance advantage; it is a statistical tie. The Intel chip’s 4 cores and 8 threads give it a structural advantage in multithreaded tasks, and its higher base and boost clocks (2.93 GHz and 3.60 GHz versus 1500.00 MHz and 2.80 GHz) contribute to its edge in single-threaded tests. However, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G’s newer Zen architecture and 14 nm process allow it to match the old Nehalem chip while consuming only a fraction of the power.

The verdict depends entirely on the use case. A desktop builder with an existing Intel Socket 1156 platform who wants the last bit of performance from that era will find the Intel Core i7-870 adequate, but the benchmark data shows it is not faster in any meaningful way than the AMD part. An embedded system designer or mobile device manufacturer will find the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G far more suitable due to its 10 TDP, integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics, DDR4 support, and active production status. The Intel chip is end-of-life and offers no integrated graphics, making it unsuitable for compact or fanless designs without a discrete GPU.

The percentile rankings reinforce the equivalence: 25th percentile for Intel versus 24th percentile for AMD. The nearest rival lists for both parts show overlapping performance bands, with deltas of 0.5% or less across all named competitors. No benchmark result in the data justifies choosing one over the other based on speed. The choice comes down to platform, power envelope, and graphics requirements. The Intel Core i7-870 wins on paper in all five tests but loses in every other practical category that the data tracks.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-870 | AMD Ryzen Embedded R1305G |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.93 GHz | 1500.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.60 GHz | 2.80 GHz |

| TDP | 95 | 10 |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1156 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Nehalem | Zen |

| Codename | Lynnfield | Zen (Banded Kestrel) |

| Process Node | 45 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 774 million | 3,500 million |

| Die Size | 296 mm² | 148 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | N/A | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | Radeon Vega 3 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2009-09-07 | 2020-02-24 |

| Part Number | SLBJG | YE1305C9T2OFG |