AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G vs Intel Pentium G4520 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data presents a split picture between these two processors, with each taking decisive victories in different tests. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G wins two of the three head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Pentium G4520 takes one, and the margins in each case are substantial.

Starting with the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G posts a score of 317 against the Intel Pentium G4520's 227. That translates to a 28.4% advantage for the AMD part, a commanding lead in this older rendering workload. The Ryzen's additional threads, four versus two, clearly factor into this result, allowing it to handle parallel rendering tasks with greater efficiency.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test tells a different story entirely. Here, the Intel Pentium G4520 rebounds with a score of 2261, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G manages 1842. The Intel chip finishes 22.7% ahead, a reversal that suggests the newer R23 workload favors the Intel architecture's execution characteristics despite the thread count disadvantage. This is a significant margin and indicates that raw thread count alone does not determine multi-core performance across all rendering scenarios.

The single-core results are where the most dramatic divergence appears. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G scores 888, while the Intel Pentium G4520 scores just 319. The AMD part leads by a staggering 64.1%, a gap that dwarfs the other benchmark differences. This single-core dominance is remarkable and points to a substantial architectural efficiency advantage for the Zen core in this specific workload. The Intel Skylake core, while respectable in its era, falls far behind in this comparison.

Looking at the broader average benchmark scores, the two processors sit very close together. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G has an average benchmark score of 797, while the Intel Pentium G4520 averages 778. That difference is less than 3%, placing both firmly in the same performance tier. Both CPUs also share the 21st percentile ranking among all CPUs in the database, confirming that they occupy a similar overall performance class despite their individual benchmark swings.

The nearest rival data reinforces this proximity. The Intel Pentium G4520's closest competitors include the AMD A10-5800K with an identical average score of 778, the AMD Athlon X4 760K at 777, and the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 at 776. The Intel Core i3-7100 sits slightly higher at 781. For the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G, the AMD A10-7850K comes within 0.1% at 796, the AMD A6-9400 scores 794, and the Intel Pentium Silver J5040 reaches 801. These rival clusters show that neither chip dramatically outclasses the other in aggregate performance.

Where Each One Wins

The use-case split emerges clearly from the benchmark distribution. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G wins in scenarios that stress single-threaded performance and in the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test. The R23 single-core score of 888 versus 319 gives the AMD chip a massive edge for lightly threaded applications, where responsiveness and per-core throughput matter most. Tasks like everyday desktop operations, older games, or single-threaded productivity software would benefit from this advantage.

The Intel Pentium G4520 takes the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with a 22.7% lead. This suggests that in modern multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Intel architecture holds up better than the benchmark averages would imply. The Intel chip's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz, compared to the AMD's 2.60 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost, likely contributes to this result, as sustained multi-core performance can rely on consistent clock delivery.

For general-purpose computing, the average benchmark scores indicate near parity. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G edges out the Intel part by 19 points on average, but that margin falls within a narrow band where real-world differences would be difficult to distinguish. The AMD chip does offer four threads versus two, which can help in lightly threaded multitasking scenarios, but the Intel chip's higher base clock compensates in frequency-sensitive workloads.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G also benefits from a larger L2 cache at 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core on the Intel side, and a larger L1 cache at 96 KB per core versus 64 KB. These cache advantages may explain the single-core R23 result, where data locality and cache hit rates play an outsized role. The Intel Pentium G4520 counters with an identical 4 MB shared L3 cache, so the final cache hierarchy is not uniformly in one chip's favor.

The Verdict

The data supports different picks depending on the primary workload. For users prioritizing single-threaded performance, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G is the clear choice. Its 64.1% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest margin recorded in any comparison between these two parts, and that advantage would translate directly to applications that rely on one or two strong cores.

For modern multi-threaded rendering, the Intel Pentium G4520 holds the advantage. The 22.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core shows that the Intel architecture delivers competitive parallel performance despite having half the threads of the AMD part. Users running current rendering software would see better results from the Intel chip.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G also wins the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test by 28.4%, which complicates the picture. This suggests that legacy multi-threaded workloads favor the AMD chip, while the newer R23 version favors Intel. The choice between these two depends on which rendering generation matters more for a given use case.

The average benchmark scores place both chips within a hair of each other, and both rank at the 21st percentile among all CPUs. Neither processor offers a transformative performance advantage overall. The Intel Pentium G4520 suits users who need strong modern multi-core rendering and can accept weaker single-core performance. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G suits users who value single-core responsiveness and legacy multi-threaded performance, with the added benefit of a lower 25 W TDP versus 51 W for the Intel part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G scores 888 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to 319 for the Intel Pentium G4520, a 64.1% advantage.

Q: How do the two processors compare in multi-core performance?

A: Results are split. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 317 versus 227, while the Intel Pentium G4520 wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 2261 versus 1842.

Q: What are the average benchmark scores for each CPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G has an average benchmark score of 797, and the Intel Pentium G4520 has an average benchmark score of 778.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G has 4 threads across 2 cores, while the Intel Pentium G4520 has 2 threads across 2 cores.

Q: How do the power requirements differ?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G has a TDP of 25 W, while the Intel Pentium G4520 has a TDP of 51 W.

Q: What are the closest rival CPUs for each processor?

A: The Intel Pentium G4520's nearest rival is the AMD A10-5800K with a matching average score of 778. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G's nearest rival is the AMD A10-7850K with an average score of 796, just 0.1% behind.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages and manufacturing approaches. The Intel Pentium G4520 uses the Skylake architecture, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's foundry. It packs 1,400 million transistors into a 150 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G uses the Zen architecture, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by GlobalFoundries, with 3,500 million transistors on a 148 mm² die. The transistor count difference is notable: the AMD chip integrates more than double the transistors of the Intel part in a slightly smaller die.

Core and thread configurations differ significantly. The Intel Pentium G4520 offers 2 cores and 2 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G offers 2 cores and 4 threads through simultaneous multithreading. The Intel part has a base clock of 3.60 GHz with no boost clock, while the AMD part runs at 2.60 GHz base and boosts to 3.50 GHz. The Intel chip's higher sustained clock helps explain its R23 multi-core win, while the AMD chip's boost capability contributes to its single-core dominance.

Cache hierarchies show distinct designs. The Intel Pentium G4520 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G has 96 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, also with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part's larger L1 and L2 caches provide more on-core data storage, which likely supports its superior single-core benchmark results.

Memory support differs as well. The Intel Pentium G4520 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The AMD chip's higher memory bandwidth offers a modest advantage in memory-intensive workloads.

Platform and connectivity differ substantially. The Intel Pentium G4520 uses the Intel Socket 1151 and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G uses the AMD Socket FP5 and provides PCIe Gen 3 with only 8 lanes from the CPU. The Intel part's 16 PCIe lanes support more expansion devices, while the AMD part targets more constrained embedded applications. Integrated graphics also differ, with Intel HD 530 on the Pentium versus Radeon Vega 3 on the AMD chip.

Production status for both is Active, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Pentium G4520 launched in August 2015, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G launched in February 2020. The Intel part targets the desktop market segment, while the AMD part is classified as mobile, reflecting its embedded and low-power design goals. The Intel chip's 51 W TDP versus the AMD's 25 W TDP highlights the AMD part's efficiency focus, despite the performance similarities in average benchmarks.