AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 vs Intel Core i7-4870HQ Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 across every Cinebench workload in the comparison. In six head-to-head tests, the AMD part wins all six, with margins that are consistent and meaningful. The Intel Core i7-4870HQ takes zero wins in this direct comparison.

Starting with multi-core performance, the Ryzen Embedded R2514 scores 603 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is 10.4% ahead of the Intel chip's 540. That gap persists in newer Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the AMD part scores 2513 versus 2253 for the Intel, a 10.3% advantage. In R23 multi-core, the AMD scores 5984 versus 5366, again a 10.3% lead. These are not marginal differences; they indicate a consistent per-thread and per-core advantage that scales across workload generations.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD scores 84 versus 76 for Intel, a 9.5% lead. In R20 single-core, it is 354 versus 317, a 10.5% gap. In R23 single-core, the AMD scores 844 versus 757, a 10.3% advantage. The consistency is striking: every single-core test lands within a narrow band of 9.5% to 10.5% in favor of AMD. This suggests the architectural differences between Zen+ and Haswell translate into a uniform performance uplift per clock, not just in heavily threaded workloads.

The lack of any Intel wins is notable. Even in older Cinebench R15, which often favors chips with mature driver support and high boost clocks, the Intel part cannot close the gap. The Intel i7-4870HQ does have a matching boost clock of 3.70 GHz, identical to the AMD part, yet it trails in every measured test. The data indicates the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is simply the stronger compute engine in this matchup.

Looking at average benchmark scores, the Intel i7-4870HQ posts 1769, placing it at the 41st percentile of all CPUs in the database. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 averages 1730, also at the 41st percentile. These averages include Geekbench results for the Intel part (3701 multi-core, 1143 single-core), which the AMD part does not have recorded. When comparing only the common Cinebench tests, the AMD advantage is clear, but the overall percentile ranking is identical, showing both chips sit in the middle of the database's performance distribution.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 wins every single benchmark in this comparison, so the use-case split is straightforward. For any workload that relies on CPU compute, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, the AMD part is the better choice. This includes rendering in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, which represent both short renders (R15) and longer, more demanding renders (R23). The AMD chip's lead is consistent, so users doing 3D modeling, video encoding, or any CPU-bound productivity task should expect better performance from the R2514.

The Intel i7-4870HQ does have one advantage that is not reflected in the Cinebench scores, and that is its integrated graphics. The Intel HD 5200 is a more capable iGPU than the Radeon Vega 8 in the AMD part for certain legacy workloads, though the data does not include iGPU benchmarks to quantify this. For scenarios where the CPU's graphics engine is used for display output or light media acceleration, the Intel part may hold an edge, but the database has no measurements to confirm this.

For power-sensitive applications, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel i7-4870HQ is rated at 47 watts. This means the AMD part delivers higher performance while consuming significantly less power, making it the clear winner for embedded systems, fanless designs, or any chassis with tight thermal constraints. The Intel chip's higher TDP does not translate into higher performance in this comparison, which is a poor trade-off.

The Intel i7-4870HQ does have a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus the AMD's 2.10 GHz, and both boost to 3.70 GHz. However, the benchmark data shows that the AMD part outperforms the Intel chip despite the lower base clock, indicating better instructions-per-clock efficiency. For users who prioritize raw single-thread response in lightly threaded applications, the AMD part still wins, as shown by the single-core Cinebench results.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 603 in R15, 2513 in R20, and 5984 in R23, versus the Intel i7-4870HQ's 540, 2253, and 5366 respectively. The AMD part leads by 10.3% to 10.4% in each test.

Q: Do the two CPUs have the same boost clock?

A: Yes, both the Intel i7-4870HQ and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 have a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. However, the AMD part still wins every single-core Cinebench test, indicating a higher instructions-per-clock rate.

Q: Which CPU has better single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 84 in R15, 354 in R20, and 844 in R23, versus the Intel's 76, 317, and 757. The AMD lead ranges from 9.5% to 10.5% across these tests.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel i7-4870HQ has a TDP of 47 watts. The AMD part delivers higher performance at less than a third of the thermal design power.

Q: Are these CPUs still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is listed as Active in production, while the Intel i7-4870HQ is marked as End-of-life. This means the AMD part is currently available for new designs.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 supports ECC memory, while the Intel i7-4870HQ does not. This makes the AMD part more suitable for server or reliability-focused embedded applications.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several key specifications. The Intel i7-4870HQ has a base clock of 2.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has a base clock of 2.10 GHz. Both share the same boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The Intel part has a TDP of 47 watts, while the AMD part has a TDP of 15 watts, a substantial difference.

The socket types differ: the Intel uses Intel BGA 1364, while the AMD uses AMD Socket FP5. The Intel chip is in the Mobile market segment, while the AMD is in the Desktop segment, though the AMD part is specifically designed for embedded systems. The Intel i7-4870HQ is End-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is Active.

Memory support differs significantly. The Intel i7-4870HQ supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, a 67% higher theoretical memory bandwidth. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not.

The integrated graphics differ: the Intel has Intel HD 5200, while the AMD has Radeon Vega 8. The Intel part has a release date of 2014-06-30, while the AMD part has a release date of 2022-09-29, an eight-year gap in launch timing. The part numbers also differ: the Intel is SR1ZX, while the AMD has two part numbers, YE2514C4T4MFH and YE2514C4T4MFHA.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two CPUs is fundamental. The Intel i7-4870HQ is built on the Haswell architecture, codenamed Crystalwell, using a 22 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is built on the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, using a 12 nm process node from GlobalFoundries. The process node difference, 22 nm versus 12 nm, explains part of the performance and efficiency gap.

Transistor counts differ dramatically. The Intel chip has 1,400 million transistors on a 264 mm² die. The AMD chip has 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The AMD part packs over three times the transistor count into a smaller die, enabled by the denser 12 nm process.

Cache layouts differ as well. The Intel i7-4870HQ 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 R2514 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 L1 and L2 caches per core, while the Intel has a larger L3 cache.

The core and thread counts are identical, with both having 4 cores and 8 threads. The PCIe support is also identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD part belongs to the 2000 series of Ryzen Embedded processors, while the Intel part is from the Core i7 generation known as Crystal Well.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 outperforms the Intel i7-4870HQ in every recorded Cinebench test, with margins ranging from 9.5% to 10.5%. The AMD part achieves this while consuming a 15 watt TDP versus the Intel's 47 watts, making it the superior choice for any power-constrained system. The AMD chip also supports DDR4 memory with higher bandwidth, supports ECC memory, and is still in active production.

The Intel i7-4870HQ's only advantages are its higher base clock (2.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz) and its larger L3 cache (6 MB versus 4 MB). Neither advantage translates into a benchmark win. The Intel part is end-of-life, uses older DDR3 memory, and consumes over three times the power of the AMD competitor.

For anyone building a new system, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is the clear recommendation. It delivers better performance in both single-core and multi-core workloads, runs cooler, supports modern memory, and remains available for purchase. The Intel i7-4870HQ only makes sense if you are refreshing an existing platform that already uses the BGA 1364 socket and DDR3 memory, but even then, the performance gap is significant enough that a platform change would be justified for compute-heavy tasks.

The percentile rankings tell a nuanced story: both CPUs sit at the 41st percentile of all CPUs in the database, meaning they are mid-pack performers overall. But within this specific comparison, the AMD part is the better CPU by every measurable metric. The choice is straightforward: pick the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 for better performance, lower power, and modern feature support.