AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 vs Intel Core i5-3550 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture. The Intel Core i5-3550 wins all five recorded head-to-head Cinebench comparisons against the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312. The Intel part takes the multicore tests, the singlecore tests, and every generation of the Cinebench suite included in the database. There is no benchmark category in the recorded data where the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 comes out ahead.

The Intel Core i5-3550 posts a multicore score of 410 in Cinebench R15 versus 338 for the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312. That advantage carries through to Cinebench R20, where the Intel chip scores 1710 against 1410, and to Cinebench R23, where it scores 4073 against 3359. In every multicore test, the Intel processor holds a lead of 21.3 percent over the AMD part.

The singlecore results follow the same pattern. The Intel Core i5-3550 scores 241 in Cinebench R20 singlecore and 575 in Cinebench R23 singlecore. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 scores 199 and 474 in those same tests. The Intel part leads by 21.1 percent in Cinebench R20 singlecore and by 21.3 percent in Cinebench R23 singlecore. The data does not include a Cinebench R15 singlecore result for the AMD chip, so that particular comparison cannot be drawn from the database.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward. For any workload that relies on Cinebench-style rendering performance, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, the Intel Core i5-3550 is the stronger part according to the recorded measurements. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 does not win a single recorded test, which leaves it without a performance advantage in this benchmark suite.

The Verdict

The verdict follows directly from the win count and the margin of victory. The Intel Core i5-3550 records 5 wins and 0 losses in head-to-head benchmarks against the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312. Its average benchmark score of 1178 also sits above the AMD part's average of 1156. Both processors occupy the same 33rd percentile in the database's all-CPU ranking, which places them at the same overall performance level despite the Intel chip's consistent head-to-head edge.

The Intel Core i5-3550 is the choice for users who need the higher Cinebench scores recorded in the database. It delivers roughly 21 percent more multicore performance and roughly 21 percent more singlecore performance in the tests where both parts have results. The Intel processor also supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel access and a recorded memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 is the choice for users who prioritize different characteristics. It carries a TDP of 15 watts against the Intel part's 77 watts, and it supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory, a feature the Intel chip does not offer. The AMD part remains in active production, while the Intel part is listed as end-of-life. The recorded data does not include a launch MSRP for the AMD chip, so no price comparison is possible from the database.

Neither part is unlocked for overclocking. Both are desktop-market segments with locked multipliers. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 uses the AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel Core i5-3550 uses Intel Socket 1155, so they are not interchangeable in a motherboard.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest consistent margin in the head-to-head data is 21.3 percent, which appears in four of the five recorded tests. The Intel Core i5-3550 leads by exactly 21.3 percent in Cinebench R15 multicore, Cinebench R20 multicore, Cinebench R23 multicore, and Cinebench R23 singlecore. The only different margin is Cinebench R20 singlecore, where the Intel part leads by 21.1 percent.

The multicore gap is worth examining in detail. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Core i5-3550 scores 410 and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 scores 338. The 72-point difference represents that 21.3 percent lead. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Intel part scores 1710 against 1410, a 300-point gap. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Intel part scores 4073 against 3359, a 714-point gap. The percentage margin stays nearly identical across all three generations of the Cinebench multicore test, which suggests the performance relationship between the two chips is stable regardless of the workload version.

The singlecore results are similar in proportional terms. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, the Intel Core i5-3550 scores 241 and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 scores 199, a 42-point gap that works out to 21.1 percent. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Intel part scores 575 and the AMD part scores 474, a 101-point gap that works out to 21.3 percent. The close alignment of singlecore and multicore margins indicates that the Intel chip's advantage is not dependent on thread count; it wins by roughly the same proportion whether one core or all cores are active.

The Intel Core i5-3550 also holds a small edge in average benchmark score. Its average of 1178 is 22 points above the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312's average of 1156, a difference of roughly 1.9 percent. The nearest rivals in the database confirm that both parts sit in a crowded performance band. The Intel chip's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-4440, has an average score of 1179, which is 0.1 percent higher. The AMD chip's nearest rival, the AMD Opteron 4334, has an average score of 1155, which is 0.1 percent lower. Both parts are surrounded by processors within a fraction of a percent of their average scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multicore score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 scores 4073 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 21.3 percent higher than the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312's score of 3359.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The recorded data shows 5 wins for the Intel Core i5-3550 and 0 wins for the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 across all head-to-head Cinebench tests.

Q: What is the singlecore performance difference in Cinebench R20?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 scores 241 in Cinebench R20 singlecore, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 scores 199. The Intel part leads by 21.1 percent.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-3550 does not support ECC memory, according to the database.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 has an average benchmark score of 1178, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 has an average benchmark score of 1156. Both processors sit at the 33rd percentile in the all-CPU ranking.

Q: What memory types do the two processors support?

A: The Intel Core i5-3550 supports DDR3 memory with dual-channel access and 25.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel access and 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and different manufacturers. The Intel Core i5-3550 uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node manufactured by Intel. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 uses the Zen+ architecture, specifically the Picasso codename, on a 12 nm process node manufactured by GlobalFoundries.

The transistor counts differ substantially. The Intel Core i5-3550 contains 1,400 million transistors on a die size of 160 mm². The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 contains 4,940 million transistors on a die size of 210 mm². The AMD part packs more than three times the transistor count into a larger die, which reflects the different design priorities of the Zen+ architecture.

The core and thread configuration also differs. The Intel Core i5-3550 has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning it does not support simultaneous multithreading. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 has 2 cores and 4 threads, meaning it does support simultaneous multithreading on each core. Despite having half the physical cores, the AMD part's thread count matches the Intel part's thread count.

The cache hierarchy is different in both capacity and layout. The Intel Core i5-3550 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 has 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, while the Intel part has a larger shared L3 cache.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Intel Core i5-3550 includes Intel HD 2500 graphics. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 includes Radeon Vega 3 graphics. Both are desktop-market segments, and both have locked multipliers.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification field in the database. The Intel Core i5-3550 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Intel part runs at higher clocks in both states.

The TDP difference is substantial. The Intel Core i5-3550 has a TDP of 77 watts, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 has a TDP of 15 watts. The AMD part draws far less power according to the rated figures.

The sockets are incompatible. The Intel Core i5-3550 uses Intel Socket 1155, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 uses AMD Socket FP5. The memory support also differs: the Intel part uses DDR3, and the AMD part uses DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the recorded bandwidths differ, with the Intel part at 25.6 GB/s and the AMD part at 38.4 GB/s.

The PCIe configurations differ. The Intel Core i5-3550 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU.

The production status and release dates differ. The Intel Core i5-3550 was released in April 2012 and is listed as end-of-life. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 was released in June 2022 and is listed as active production. The Intel part has a recorded launch MSRP of $194. The AMD part has no launch MSRP recorded in the database. The Intel part carries part number SR0P0, and the AMD part carries part number YE2312C4T2OFH.