AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 vs Intel Core i5-4430 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 and Intel Core i5-4430 occupy the same performance tier, with average benchmark scores of 1156 and 1149 respectively, placing both at the 33rd percentile among all CPUs. Despite this near-identical aggregate standing, the data reveals a consistent pattern of Intel superiority across every tested workload, with the R2312 failing to secure a single head-to-head victory.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-4430 wins all five head-to-head comparisons. The largest margins appear in multi-threaded tests, where the i5-4430 posts a 400 score in Cinebench R15 multicore versus the R2312’s 338, a 15.5% deficit for AMD. The same 15.5% gap repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore (1669 vs 1410) and Cinebench R23 multicore (3974 vs 3359). Single-core performance tells a similar story, with the i5-4430 leading by 15.3% in Cinebench R20 single-core (235 vs 199) and 15.5% in Cinebench R23 single-core (561 vs 474).

The R2312’s only statistical claim to relevance comes from its average benchmark score of 1156, which edges out the i5-4430’s 1149 by 0.6% according to the nearestRivals delta. However, this aggregate figure masks the fact that the actual head-to-head benchmarks show the Intel part winning every discipline. In practical terms, the R2312 does not win anywhere in direct comparison; its strengths lie elsewhere, namely in power characteristics and platform features rather than raw rendering performance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies separated by nearly a decade of silicon evolution. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 uses the Zen+ architecture on a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, packing 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. It offers 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz boosting to 3.50 GHz. Cache allocation includes 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3.

The Intel Core i5-4430 employs the older Haswell architecture on Intel’s 22 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors on a 177 mm² die. It provides 4 physical cores and 4 threads (no hyper-threading), running at a 3.00 GHz base clock with a modest 3.20 GHz boost. Its cache hierarchy uses 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and a larger 6 MB shared L3.

Memory support diverges sharply: the R2312 uses DDR4 in dual-channel configuration with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and ECC support, while the i5-4430 uses DDR3, also dual-channel, but with no ECC capability and no listed bandwidth figure. PCIe connectivity differs as well, with the R2312 offering Gen 3 with 8 CPU-only lanes versus the i5-4430’s Gen 3 without lane specification. Integrated graphics also differ: Radeon Vega 3 on the AMD side versus Intel HD 4600 on the Intel side. The R2312’s TDP is 15 watts against the i5-4430’s 84 watts, a six-fold difference that reflects the embedded-focused power envelope of the AMD part.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice for raw compute performance: the Intel Core i5-4430. It wins every benchmark by a consistent margin of roughly 15.5%, whether the workload is single-core or multi-core. The i5-4430’s four physical cores outperform the R2312’s two cores with SMT across all Cinebench versions, and its higher base clock of 3.00 GHz versus 2.70 GHz contributes to its single-core advantage.

However, the R2312 is not without rationale for selection. Its 15-watt TDP versus 84 watts makes it suitable for thermally constrained or power-sensitive applications. The support for DDR4 memory with ECC is a meaningful feature for reliability-critical embedded workloads. The 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth figure also indicates a more modern memory subsystem. The R2312 remains in active production, while the i5-4430’s production status is not listed.

For users prioritizing rendering performance, multi-tasking, or any workload that scales with cores, the i5-4430 is the data-driven choice. For users prioritizing power efficiency, ECC memory, or a current production part with modern DDR4 support, the R2312 justifies its existence despite losing every performance test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 has an average benchmark score of 1156, while the Intel Core i5-4430 scores 1149, a difference of 0.6% in AMD’s favor according to the nearestRivals data.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i5-4430 in multi-core workloads?

A: The i5-4430 leads by 15.5% in Cinebench R15 multicore (400 vs 338), Cinebench R20 multicore (1669 vs 1410), and Cinebench R23 multicore (3974 vs 3359).

Q: Does the AMD R2312 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the R2312 supports ECC memory and uses DDR4 in dual-channel configuration with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-4430 does not support ECC and uses DDR3.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD R2312 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel i5-4430 has a TDP of 84 watts.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The i5-4430 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the R2312 has 4 MB shared L3. However, the R2312 has larger per-core L1 (96 KB vs 64 KB) and L2 (512 KB vs 256 KB) caches.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is notable for its uniformity. Every single benchmark shows the Intel Core i5-4430 winning by nearly the same margin, suggesting a consistent architectural advantage rather than workload-specific strengths. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-4430 scores 400 against the R2312’s 338, a 15.5% difference. This pattern holds exactly in Cinebench R20 multicore (1669 vs 1410) and Cinebench R23 multicore (3974 vs 3359), both also showing 15.5% deltas.

Single-core results are marginally different in one case. Cinebench R20 single-core shows the i5-4430 at 235 versus the R2312’s 199, a 15.3% gap. Cinebench R23 single-core reverts to the 15.5% pattern with scores of 561 and 474 respectively. The i5-4430 also has a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 56 in its benchmark list, though no comparable R2312 score exists for that specific test. The wins tally stands at 5 for Intel and 0 for AMD across the head-to-head suite.

These margins are consistent enough to suggest that the i5-4430’s advantage stems from its higher core count (4 vs 2) and higher base clock (3.00 GHz vs 2.70 GHz), even though the R2312 has a higher boost clock (3.50 GHz vs 3.20 GHz) and a newer architecture. The fact that the R2312 cannot close the gap despite a 0.30 GHz boost advantage indicates that sustained performance under the Cinebench workload favors the Intel part’s additional cores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The R2312 is a 2-core, 4-thread part with base and boost clocks of 2.70 GHz and 3.50 GHz; the i5-4430 is a 4-core, 4-thread part with base and boost clocks of 3.00 GHz and 3.20 GHz. TDP is the most dramatic difference: 15 watts for AMD versus 84 watts for Intel.

Process technology separates them by a full node generation, with the R2312 on 12 nm versus the i5-4430 on 22 nm. Transistor counts are 4,940 million versus 1,400 million, and die sizes are 210 mm² versus 177 mm². Cache configurations differ in both size and distribution: the R2312 has 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core with 4 MB shared L3; the i5-4430 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 6 MB shared L3.

Memory support is a clear differentiator, with the R2312 using DDR4 and the i5-4430 using DDR3, both dual-channel but only AMD supporting ECC and listing a bandwidth figure of 38.4 GB/s. PCIe capability shows Gen 3 for both, but the R2312 specifies 8 CPU-only lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 3 for AMD and Intel HD 4600 for Intel. Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel Socket 1150. Release dates are 2022-06-20 for the R2312 and 2013-06-01 for the i5-4430. The R2312 lists a part number of YE2312C4T2OFH and an active production status; the i5-4430 lists SR14G with no production status. Neither has a launch MSRP in the data, and both have locked multipliers.