AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 vs Intel Core i5-6600 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-6600 and AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 both occupy the 41st percentile of all CPUs in the database, yet their benchmark profiles diverge sharply. The Intel part, a Skylake-era desktop chip from 2015, faces a newer 12nm Picasso embedded processor that dominates every single head-to-head test. The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 wins all six direct comparisons, with margins ranging from 13.1% to 13.8% across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern is the consistency of the AMD's advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen Embedded R2514 scores 603 against the i5-6600's 520, a 13.8% deficit for Intel. The single-core R15 test tells the same story: 84 versus 73, a 13.1% gap. This is not a case where one chip excels in multi-threaded work while the other claws back ground in lightly-threaded tasks; the AMD part simply leads everywhere.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD's lead persists at exactly 13.8% in multi-core (2513 versus 2167) and again 13.8% in single-core (354 versus 305). The R23 results mirror this: the Ryzen Embedded R2514 posts 5984 multi-core and 844 single-core, while the i5-6600 manages 5161 and 728 respectively. The deltaPct for every R23 test is -13.8% or -13.7%, indicating a nearly uniform performance differential that scales with the benchmark's demands.

The Geekbench results, available only for the Intel part, show the i5-6600 at 3755 multi-core and 1239 single-core. While no direct comparison exists in the head-to-head data, the Intel chip's average benchmark score of 1744 sits just 0.1% above the AMD's average of 1730, a statistical tie. This paradox — near-identical average scores yet consistent losses in every direct test — suggests the i5-6600's performance is more variable across different workloads, whereas the Ryzen Embedded R2514 delivers steadier results.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-6600 wins nowhere in the head-to-head benchmark suite. It trails by 13.8% in four tests and by 13.1% and 13.7% in the other two, leaving the Ryzen Embedded R2514 with a clean 6-0 sweep. For the i5-6600, the only positive notes come from its nearest rival comparisons: it edges the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U by 0.1% and the Intel Core i3-10100 by 0.1% in average score, while sitting 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-980X and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i5-8269U.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 wins on every measurable axis in this matchup. It leads the Intel Core i3-10100 by 0.7% in average score, the Intel Core i3-1315UE by 0.5%, and the Intel Core i7-4860HQ by 0.6%, while trailing the AMD Athlon Gold PRO 3150GE by 0.5%. The embedded chip's advantage is most pronounced in multi-core Cinebench workloads, where its 8 threads versus the i5-6600's 4 threads provide a structural edge. In single-core tests, the AMD still leads by over 13%, indicating that its higher IPC per clock compensates for its lower 2.10 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost clocks against the Intel's 3.30 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-6600 uses the Skylake architecture on a 14nm process node from Intel's own foundry, with a die size of 177 mm². It offers 4 cores and 4 threads, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support spans DDR3 and DDR4 across a dual-channel bus, yielding 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The chip lacks ECC memory support, includes UHD Graphics 530 integrated graphics, and uses 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU. It was released in mid-2015 with a launch MSRP of $224 and is now end-of-life.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514, by contrast, is built on the Zen+ architecture (codename Picasso) using a 12nm process from GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die, and crucially offers 4 cores and 8 threads via simultaneous multithreading. Cache amounts are larger per core: 96 KB L1, 512 KB L2, but a smaller 4 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4-only on a dual-channel bus, but bandwidth is higher at 42.7 GB/s. It supports ECC memory, includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics, and also provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes. Released in late 2022, it remains in active production with no launch MSRP listed.

The most consequential differences are thread count and process node. The Ryzen's 8 threads allow it to extract more parallelism from multi-threaded workloads, while its 12nm process — despite being older lithography than Intel's 14nm — is paired with a more modern microarchitecture that delivers higher instructions per clock. The Intel part's larger 6 MB L3 cache does not compensate for its lower bandwidth and lack of SMT. The TDP figures are stark: the i5-6600 is rated at 35W, while the Ryzen Embedded R2514 sips just 15W, making the AMD part both faster and far more power-efficient.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion: the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is the superior processor in every benchmark category tested. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons with margins between 13.1% and 13.8%, offers double the thread count, delivers 25% more memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s), and does so at less than half the TDP (15W versus 35W). Users who prioritize multi-threaded rendering, compilation, or any parallel workload will find the AMD part decisively ahead — the 5984 Cinebench R23 multi-core score versus 5161 represents a meaningful productivity gap.

The Intel Core i5-6600 retains niche appeal only for those constrained to the LGA 1151 socket or requiring DDR3 memory support, as its dual-channel DDR3/DDR4 compatibility is unique here. Its 6 MB L3 cache is 50% larger than the AMD's 4 MB, which may help in some cache-sensitive legacy workloads, but no benchmark in the data confirms this advantage. For anyone building on a current platform, the Ryzen Embedded R2514's combination of higher scores, lower power draw, ECC support, and active production status makes it the rational choice. The i5-6600's 41st percentile standing is matched by the AMD part, but the Ryzen achieves that standing with newer technology and substantial headroom in threaded performance.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 scores 5984, which is 13.8% higher than the Intel Core i5-6600's 5161.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests, with leads of 13.1% in R15 (84 vs 73), 13.8% in R20 (354 vs 305), and 13.7% in R23 (844 vs 728).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: Both have 4 cores, but the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has 8 threads while the Intel Core i5-6600 has 4 threads.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 supports ECC memory; the Intel Core i5-6600 does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is rated at 15W, while the Intel Core i5-6600 is rated at 35W.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 provides 42.7 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is 25% higher than the Intel Core i5-6600's 34.1 GB/s.