AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 vs Intel Core i5-2550K Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 records an average benchmark score of 1156, while the Intel Core i5-2550K records 1136. The AMD part sits at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs, and the Intel part sits at the 32nd percentile.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The R2312 is essentially tied with the AMD Opteron 4334 (1155, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i3-8145UE (1154, 0.2% delta). It is 0.5% behind the AMD Opteron 6212 (1162) and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Core i5-4430 (1149).

Q: What is the performance difference between the two chips in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-2550K wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons, each by a 7.4% margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel scores 3628 versus the AMD's 3359.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-2550K does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 is fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries, while the Intel Core i5-2550K is fabricated on a 32 nm process at Intel.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-2550K has a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312's boost clock of 3.50 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 and Intel Core i5-2550K represent two fundamentally different design philosophies separated by a decade of architectural evolution. The AMD part uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It features 2 cores and 4 threads, a base clock of 2.70 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Intel part uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, built on a 32 nm process at Intel. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, a base clock of 3.40 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

The transistor counts reveal the manufacturing gap: the AMD chip integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Intel chip integrates 1,160 million transistors on a 216 mm² die. Even though the die sizes are similar, the AMD chip packs more than four times the transistor density due to the smaller process node.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-2550K provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has a larger L3 pool, but the AMD chip has larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations.

Memory support is another dividing line. The AMD part supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, plus ECC memory. The Intel part supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth and no ECC support. The AMD part also uses PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes, while the Intel part uses PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics are present only on the AMD chip, which includes Radeon Vega 3 graphics. The Intel Core i5-2550K has no integrated graphics. The AMD part is an active production part released in June 2022, while the Intel part is end-of-life, released in January 2012. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AMD part does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers five Cinebench tests, and the Intel Core i5-2550K wins every single one by a uniform 7.4% margin. This consistency across workloads suggests the performance gap is structural rather than workload-specific.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel scores 365 against the AMD's 338. That 27-point gap translates to a 7.4% advantage for the Intel part. The AMD chip's two cores with four threads cannot overcome the Intel chip's four physical cores in this threaded render workload.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the same pattern: Intel at 1523, AMD at 1410, again a 7.4% delta. The Intel part's four cores provide more raw throughput, even though each core is architecturally older and runs a 32 nm process.

Single-core results are more revealing. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Intel scores 215 versus the AMD's 199, a 7.4% margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 512 versus AMD's 474. The Intel chip's higher boost clock of 3.80 GHz, combined with its Sandy Bridge core design, delivers better per-thread performance than the Zen+ core at 3.50 GHz. This is notable because the AMD architecture is much newer and fabricated on a far more advanced process node.

Cinebench R23 multi-core confirms the trend: Intel at 3628, AMD at 3359. The 269-point difference is the largest absolute gap in the dataset, but the relative margin remains exactly 7.4%. This uniformity across all five tests is unusual and indicates a consistent performance ceiling difference between the two designs.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 has zero wins in the head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-2550K has five wins. However, the overall average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The AMD chip's average of 1156 is actually higher than the Intel chip's 1136. This discrepancy arises because the Intel part has additional Geekbench scores in its benchmark set, including a multi-core score of 2096 and a single-core score of 697, which pull its average down relative to the Cinebench-only head-to-head results.

For the AMD part, the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 3359 and single-core score of 474 are the strongest recorded results. The Intel part's Cinebench R23 scores of 3628 and 512 are stronger in both cases. The Intel part's Geekbench scores are not part of the head-to-head dataset, but they contribute to its overall average.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 uses 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i5-2550K uses 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Intel part has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz.

Thermal design power is a major differentiator. The AMD chip draws only 15 W, while the Intel chip draws 95 W. This six-fold difference in TDP reflects the AMD part's embedded-oriented design and the Intel part's desktop-oriented design.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD uses Socket FP5, Intel uses Socket 1155. The AMD part is built on the Zen+ architecture with the Picasso codename, while the Intel part uses Sandy Bridge. The process nodes are 12 nm for AMD and 32 nm for Intel.

Transistor counts differ by a factor of 4.3: AMD has 4,940 million, Intel has 1,160 million. Die sizes are close, at 210 mm² for AMD and 216 mm² for Intel. Cache layouts differ as described: AMD provides larger per-core L1 and L2, while Intel provides a larger shared L3.

Memory support diverges completely. AMD supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and ECC. Intel supports DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth and no ECC. PCIe generations also differ: AMD uses Gen 3 with 8 lanes, Intel uses Gen 2 with 16 lanes.

Integrated graphics exist only on the AMD part (Radeon Vega 3). The Intel part has none. Production status differs: AMD is active, Intel is end-of-life. Release dates are June 2022 for AMD and January 2012 for Intel. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $235; the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. Part numbers are YE2312C4T2OFH for AMD and SR0QH for Intel.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced picture. In every recorded head-to-head Cinebench test, the Intel Core i5-2550K wins by exactly 7.4%. This applies to both multi-core and single-core workloads, indicating that the Intel part is uniformly faster in CPU-bound rendering tasks. The Intel chip's four physical cores give it a structural advantage in multi-threaded tests, while its higher boost clock gives it an edge in single-threaded tests.

However, the overall average benchmark scores favor the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312, which records 1156 versus the Intel's 1136. This is driven by the AMD part's narrower benchmark set, which consists entirely of Cinebench scores, versus the Intel part's inclusion of Geekbench scores. The AMD part also has a significant efficiency advantage, with a 15 W TDP versus the Intel's 95 W.

For users building a low-power embedded or compact desktop system, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 is the logical choice. Its 15 W TDP, DDR4 memory support, ECC capability, and integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics make it a self-contained, energy-efficient solution. The active production status and 2022 release date mean it is a current product with modern platform support.

For users prioritizing raw CPU performance in Cinebench workloads, the Intel Core i5-2550K is the faster processor. Its consistent 7.4% lead across all five head-to-head tests is unambiguous. The unlocked multiplier also allows overclocking, which the AMD part does not support. However, the Intel part is end-of-life, uses older DDR3 memory, lacks ECC support, and has no integrated graphics.

The nearest-rival data places both chips in the same performance tier. The AMD chip's closest rival is the AMD Opteron 4334 at 1155, a 0.1% delta, while the Intel chip's closest rival is the Intel Core i5-3570T at 1136, a 0% delta. Both processors sit near the 32nd to 33rd percentile of all CPUs, meaning they occupy nearly the same overall performance class despite their architectural differences.

The verdict depends on the use case. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 serves as a modern, efficient, feature-rich embedded processor that happens to trade a small amount of performance for a massive reduction in power draw. The Intel Core i5-2550K serves as a legacy desktop processor that delivers superior compute throughput but demands far more power and offers fewer modern features. Benchmark results indicate that the Intel chip is the performance winner, but the AMD chip is the more balanced, forward-looking platform choice.