AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 vs Intel Core i5-6500TE Comparison

The Intel Core i5-6500TE and AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 are both 4-core, 4-thread desktop processors, but the benchmark data shows a clear and consistent winner across every test. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 holds a decisive lead in all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with the Intel i5-6500TE failing to secure a single win. While both processors land in the 37th percentile of all CPUs tracked, the Ryzen’s average benchmark score of 1415 edges out the Intel’s 1399, placing them in the same performance tier but with the AMD part pulling ahead in every workload measured. This makes the choice straightforward for most applications, though the Intel part retains its own advantages in platform compatibility and specific embedded scenarios.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in this comparison is the uniformity of the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314’s victory. Across all six Cinebench tests—spanning R15, R20, and R23, each in both single-core and multi-core configurations—the AMD part wins by a margin of roughly 13%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen scores 493 against Intel’s 428, a delta of -13.2% from Intel’s perspective. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 69 for AMD versus 60 for Intel, a 13% deficit for the i5-6500TE.

Moving to the newer Cinebench R20 and R23 workloads, the pattern holds steady. In R20 multi-core, the Ryzen Embedded R2314 posts 2055, while the Intel i5-6500TE manages 1787—again a 13% difference. The R20 single-core result is 289 versus 252, a 12.8% gap. In R23, the most demanding test, the AMD part scores 4893 multi-core and 690 single-core, compared to Intel’s 4255 and 600, both representing a 13% lead for AMD. The consistency of these deltas—hovering between 12.8% and 13.2%—suggests a fundamental architectural efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Intel i5-6500TE’s best showing comes in the Geekbench suite, where it scores 2749 multi-core and 1062 single-core, but no equivalent AMD Geekbench score exists in the data for comparison. Within the Cinebench suite, however, the Ryzen’s advantage is unambiguous: it wins all six tests outright. The Intel part also sits below the Ryzen in average benchmark score (1399 vs. 1415), and its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 at 1401 and the Intel Pentium Gold G7400TE at 1404, both of which slightly outpace it. The Ryzen, in contrast, matches the AMD Ryzen 7 2700U and Intel Core i5-4460 at 1415, placing it in line with older mainstream desktop chips.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 wins in every measured benchmark category, making it the clear choice for raw compute performance. Its multi-core wins are particularly relevant for threaded workloads like video encoding, 3D rendering, and compilation, where the 13% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core (4893 vs. 4255) translates to noticeably shorter render times. The single-core advantage, while similar in percentage, matters more for daily responsiveness, legacy software, and tasks that rely on one or two threads—here the Ryzen’s 690 in R23 single-core versus Intel’s 600 gives it a solid edge in lightly threaded applications.

That said, the Intel i5-6500TE is not without its own territory. It supports DDR3 memory in addition to DDR4, which can be a deciding factor for systems reusing older RAM modules or operating in environments where DDR3 is still the standard. Its Intel Socket 1151 platform is also a mature and widely deployed ecosystem, which may simplify motherboard availability in some embedded or industrial contexts. The Intel part also has a higher base clock of 2.30 GHz compared to the Ryzen’s 2.10 GHz, though the Ryzen counters with a higher boost clock of 3.50 GHz versus 3.30 GHz. For sustained all-core loads, the Ryzen’s boost behavior appears to deliver more performance, as the benchmarks confirm.

In terms of integrated graphics, the Intel HD Graphics 530 and AMD Radeon Vega 6 are both present, but the data does not include any GPU benchmark comparisons. For pure CPU workloads, the Ryzen wins outright. The Intel part’s only real advantage is in memory flexibility and platform legacy, not in speed.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and foundries. The Intel Core i5-6500TE is built on Intel’s 14 nm process, with a die size of 122 mm², and belongs to the Skylake architecture. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and features a dual-channel memory bus with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314, by contrast, is fabricated on GlobalFoundries’ 12 nm node, with a much larger die at 210 mm² and a transistor count of 4,940 million. It is based on the Zen+ architecture (codenamed Picasso) and uses the AMD Socket FP5. This newer process node and larger transistor budget contribute to the Ryzen’s performance lead despite its lower TDP.

Cache configurations also differ significantly. The Intel part offers 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has larger per-core caches: 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but a smaller 4 MB of shared L3. The larger L1 and L2 caches on the Ryzen likely help with its single-core efficiency, while the Intel’s larger L3 pool may benefit certain multi-threaded patterns, though the benchmark results show the AMD part winning regardless.

Memory support is another key divergence. The Intel i5-6500TE supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the Ryzen Embedded R2314 is DDR4-only. The Ryzen compensates with a higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s versus Intel’s 34.1 GB/s, which aligns with its better multi-core scores. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part—a critical feature for reliability-sensitive embedded or server-like workloads. Both CPUs offer PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, so expansion capability is identical on that front.

The TDP difference is stark: the Intel part is rated at 35 W, while the AMD part sips just 15 W. This makes the Ryzen substantially more power-efficient for embedded applications where thermal management and cooling are constraints. The Intel part is end-of-life, having been released in October 2015, while the AMD part is still active, released in June 2022. The Intel part had a launch MSRP of $192; no launch price is available for the AMD.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 wins every multi-core Cinebench test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 4893 versus Intel’s 4255, a 13% advantage. The same pattern holds in R20 (2055 vs. 1787) and R15 (493 vs. 428).

Q: Is the Intel i5-6500TE better for single-core performance?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 also wins all single-core tests, including Cinebench R23 single-core (690 vs. 600) and R20 single-core (289 vs. 252). The Intel part does not win any benchmark in this comparison.

Q: Can either CPU use ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-6500TE does not support ECC.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel i5-6500TE supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 supports DDR4 only. However, the AMD part has higher memory bandwidth at 42.7 GB/s versus Intel’s 34.1 GB/s.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 has a TDP of 15 W, while the Intel Core i5-6500TE is rated at 35 W. This makes the AMD part significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Are these processors comparable in overall performance ranking?

A: Both sit in the 37th percentile of all CPUs, but the AMD part has a higher average benchmark score (1415 vs. 1399). The AMD part’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 2700U and Intel Core i5-4460, while the Intel part is closest to the Intel Xeon E3-1220 v5 and Intel Pentium Gold G7400TE.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i5-6500TE has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator: 35 W for Intel versus 15 W for AMD. The Intel part uses the Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD part uses the AMD Socket FP5. Process nodes differ (14 nm for Intel, 12 nm for AMD), as do die sizes (122 mm² for Intel, 210 mm² for AMD) and transistor counts (not listed for Intel, 4,940 million for AMD).

Cache sizes differ: Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3; AMD has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Memory support includes DDR3 and DDR4 for Intel, but DDR4-only for AMD. Memory bandwidth is higher on AMD (42.7 GB/s vs. 34.1 GB/s). ECC memory is supported only on AMD. Integrated graphics differ (Intel HD Graphics 530 vs. AMD Radeon Vega 6). The Intel part is end-of-life with a release date of October 2015 and a launch MSRP of $192; the AMD part is active, released in June 2022, with no launch MSRP listed.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 outperforms the Intel Core i5-6500TE in every single test, with a consistent 13% lead across all Cinebench versions and both single-core and multi-core workloads. For any application where raw CPU throughput matters—rendering, encoding, compilation, or general multi-threaded compute—the AMD part is the superior choice. Its lower TDP of 15 W versus Intel’s 35 W further strengthens its case for embedded systems where power and cooling are at a premium.

The Intel i5-6500TE retains a narrow niche for builders who need DDR3 memory compatibility or who are already invested in the Intel Socket 1151 platform. Its support for both DDR3 and DDR4 provides flexibility that the DDR4-only AMD part cannot match. However, the Intel part’s lack of ECC support, older architecture, end-of-life production status, and lower performance across the board make it difficult to recommend for new designs.

For most users and embedded system integrators, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 is the clear winner. It delivers better performance, higher memory bandwidth, ECC support, and dramatically lower power consumption. The Intel i5-6500TE only makes sense in legacy upgrades where DDR3 must be retained and the performance deficit is acceptable. Given that the AMD part wins all six benchmarks and is still in active production, the data points squarely toward the Ryzen Embedded R2314 for any new build.