AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 vs Intel Core i7-3635QM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data paints a remarkably one-sided picture. Across every single benchmark where both processors were tested, the Intel Core i7-3635QM emerges victorious. The margin is strikingly consistent, hovering just above 20% in all five head-to-head comparisons. This uniformity suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 408 against AMD's 338, a 20.7% lead. The pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core with 1703 versus 1410, a 20.8% gap. Even the single-core results tell the same story: 240 versus 199 in R20 single-core (20.6% delta) and 572 versus 474 in R23 single-core (20.7% delta). The most decisive margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel's 4057 beats AMD's 3359 by exactly 20.8%.

What is interesting is that the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 has higher clock speeds — a 2.70 GHz base and 3.50 GHz boost against Intel's 2.40 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost — yet still loses consistently. This inverts the usual expectation that higher clocks translate directly to better performance. The Intel part's four cores and eight threads clearly outmuscle AMD's two cores and four threads, and the per-thread efficiency appears superior despite the clock disadvantage.

The single-core results deserve particular scrutiny. With a 20.6-20.7% deficit in single-threaded workloads, the AMD chip cannot compensate for its clock advantage. This suggests the Intel architecture extracts more instructions per clock, or the benchmark suite favors Intel's older but more mature pipeline. Either way, the data shows no scenario where AMD closes the gap to within even 15%.

Notably, the AMD processor was only tested in five benchmarks while Intel has data in eight. The missing Geekbench results for AMD mean we cannot compare across that suite, but the available evidence is unambiguous: five wins for Intel, zero for AMD, with every delta between 20.6% and 20.8%. This is a rare case of near-perfect consistency in performance deltas across different test generations and workload types.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from dramatically different eras and design philosophies. Intel's Core i7-3635QM is built on the Ivy Bridge architecture using a 22 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. It packs 1,480 million transistors into a 160 mm² die. AMD's Ryzen Embedded R2312, by contrast, uses the Zen+ architecture (codename Picasso) on a 12 nm node from GlobalFoundries, with a substantially larger 210 mm² die housing 4,940 million transistors.

The core count disparity is the most obvious differentiator: Intel offers four cores and eight threads, while AMD provides two cores and four threads. Cache configurations also diverge significantly. Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. AMD counters with 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. The per-core cache allocations favor AMD, yet the total L3 capacity favors Intel.

Memory support reveals another generational gap. The AMD chip supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a specified 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Intel's memory support field is not listed in the data, though it does feature a dual-channel memory bus. AMD also supports ECC memory, a capability Intel lacks. PCIe connectivity differs as well: AMD provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while Intel's PCIe specifications are not documented in the available data.

Integrated graphics present a contrast: Intel uses HD 4000, while AMD pairs its CPU with Radeon Vega 3. The market segments differ too — Intel targets mobile, AMD targets desktop. Their sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1224 versus AMD Socket FP5. Production status shows AMD's part is still active, while Intel's is unspecified. Release dates are separated by nearly a decade: August 2012 for Intel versus June 2022 for AMD.

The transistor count disparity — 4,940 million versus 1,480 million — reflects the more complex Zen+ design, though this complexity does not translate into benchmark wins. The AMD chip also carries a part number (YE2312C4T2OFH) and belongs to the Ryzen Embedded 2000 series, while Intel's part number is not listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-3635QM wins all multi-core tests. It leads by 20.7% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (408 vs 338), 20.8% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1703 vs 1410), and 20.8% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (4057 vs 3359). The four-core, eight-thread Intel configuration consistently outperforms the two-core, four-thread AMD design.

Q: Does AMD's higher boost clock help in single-threaded tests?

A: No. Despite a 3.50 GHz boost clock versus Intel's 3.40 GHz, AMD loses single-core tests by 20.6% in Cinebench R20 (199 vs 240) and 20.7% in Cinebench R23 (474 vs 572). The clock advantage does not overcome Intel's architectural efficiency.

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: Intel's average benchmark score is 1170, putting it 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-2960XM and Intel Core i5-3570S (both 1169), and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Opteron 6220 (1168). It trails the Intel Core i3-7320 (1173) by 0.2%. AMD's average is 1156, which is 0.1% ahead of the AMD Opteron 4334 (1155), 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-8145UE (1154), but 0.5% behind the AMD Opteron 6212 (1162) and 0.6% behind the Intel Core i5-4430 (1149).

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Intel chip has a 45 W TDP, while the AMD chip draws only 15 W. This makes the AMD part significantly more power-efficient on paper, though the benchmark data shows it also delivers significantly less performance in every tested workload.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-3635QM does not. This makes AMD the only option of the two for systems requiring error-correcting memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the AMD chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 has a specified memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s with dual-channel DDR4 support. Intel's memory bandwidth is not listed in the available data.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-3635QM | AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1224 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Ivy Bridge | Zen+ |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,480 million | 4,940 million |

| Die Size | 160 mm² | 210 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | Not listed | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4000 | Radeon Vega 3 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not listed | Active |

| Release Date | 2012-08-31 | 2022-06-20 |

| Part Number | Not listed | YE2312C4T2OFH |

Both chips share dual-channel memory buses, locked multipliers, and 33rd percentile rankings among all CPUs. Neither has a listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-3635QM wins in every performance category measured. It dominates multi-threaded rendering workloads, as shown by its 20.7-20.8% lead across all three Cinebench multi-core tests. It also wins in single-threaded responsiveness, maintaining a 20.6-20.7% advantage in Cinebench single-core tests. For any application relying on CPU computation — rendering, encoding, compiling, or general productivity — the data strongly favors Intel.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 wins in categories that the benchmarks do not directly measure. Its 15 W TDP versus Intel's 45 W indicates substantially lower power draw, which could translate to lower cooling requirements and longer battery life in portable applications. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, a critical feature for reliability-sensitive embedded workloads. It also has a smaller per-core cache footprint but larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations, which may benefit specific cache-sensitive algorithms. AMD's active production status suggests ongoing availability, while Intel's production status is not documented.

AMD's higher base and boost clocks (2.70/3.50 GHz versus 2.40/3.40 GHz) could theoretically benefit workloads that are highly clock-sensitive but not throughput-bound, though the benchmark data shows Intel winning even single-threaded tests. The AMD chip's DDR4 memory support and specified 38.4 GB/s bandwidth provide a modern memory interface, and its Radeon Vega 3 integrated graphics may offer different multimedia capabilities than Intel's HD 4000.

The Verdict

The choice between these two processors depends entirely on what the data reveals about your priorities. If raw computational performance is the criterion, the Intel Core i7-3635QM is the unambiguous winner. It leads by 20.6% to 20.8% in every head-to-head benchmark, whether single-core or multi-core, across three generations of Cinebench tests. The four-core, eight-thread configuration provides a level of parallel throughput that the AMD chip's two cores and four threads simply cannot match.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 offers a different value proposition that the benchmark scores do not capture. Its 15 W TDP is one-third of Intel's 45 W, which could make it preferable for thermally constrained or power-sensitive embedded systems. ECC memory support is a differentiator that matters for data integrity in server-like or industrial applications. The active production status and modern 12 nm process node suggest a longer availability horizon.

However, the benchmark data is clear: for any performance-sensitive workload, the Intel part wins decisively. The AMD chip's higher clocks do not translate into benchmark victories, and its lower core count proves to be a decisive disadvantage. The 33rd percentile ranking for both processors indicates they occupy similar overall positions in the CPU landscape, but within this specific comparison, Intel's older architecture outperforms AMD's newer design in every measured dimension.

The verdict from the data: choose the Intel Core i7-3635QM for maximum performance in CPU-bound tasks. Choose the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2312 only if power efficiency, ECC memory support, or embedded-specific features outweigh the substantial 20%+ performance deficit. For most users prioritizing speed, the Intel chip is the data-backed choice.