AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 vs Intel Core i7-5850HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-5850HQ and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 are both quad-core, eight-thread processors aimed at different corners of the desktop and embedded markets. The database shows a consistent, though narrow, performance advantage for the AMD part across every recorded Cinebench test, despite the Intel chip's higher base clock and older manufacturing heritage. This analysis examines the recorded specifications and benchmark data, revealing how a 15-watt embedded processor from 2022 edges out a 47-watt mobile-derived desktop chip from 2015 in raw compute throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-5850HQ has a base clock of 2.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has a base clock of 2.10 GHz. The Intel part starts at a higher frequency, but the AMD part has a higher boost clock at 3.70 GHz versus 3.60 GHz.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 wins all three multi-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 5984 versus the Intel's 5836, a 2.5% advantage. The same 2.5% delta appears in Cinebench R20 multicore (2513 vs 2451) and Cinebench R15 multicore (603 vs 588).

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-5850HQ does not. This is a significant feature for embedded and workstation reliability scenarios.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s with DDR4 support, while the Intel Core i7-5850HQ has 29.9 GB/s with DDR3 support. The AMD part offers roughly 43% more theoretical bandwidth.

Q: Which processor is still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is marked as "Active" in production status, while the Intel Core i7-5850HQ is listed as "End-of-life". The AMD chip was released on 2022-09-29, whereas the Intel part was released on 2015-06-01.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has an average benchmark score of 1730, placing it in the 41st percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i7-5850HQ has an average score of 1688, placing it in the 40th percentile. The AMD chip is also 2.5% faster in every single-core Cinebench test recorded.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing eras. The Intel Core i7-5850HQ is built on Intel's 14 nm process node, using the Broadwell-H architecture. The die size is recorded at 182 mm². The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 uses a 12 nm node from GlobalFoundries, based on the Zen+ architecture (Picasso codename), with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,940 million transistors. The smaller process node for AMD does not translate to a smaller die, as the integrated graphics and other logic take up more space.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the Intel part 50% more L3 cache, but the AMD part has double the L2 cache per core and 50% more L1 per core. The larger per-core caches on the AMD side likely contribute to its single-core performance advantage.

Memory architecture also diverges. The Intel Core i7-5850HQ supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 supports DDR4 in dual-channel, achieving 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory support is present only on the AMD chip. Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, so expansion capability is identical in that regard.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Intel chip includes Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the AMD chip includes Radeon Vega 8. The database does not record any benchmark results for these iGPUs, so no performance comparison can be made from the data. The Intel part is socketed on BGA 1364, while the AMD part uses Socket FP5. Both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false), so overclocking is not a distinguishing factor.

The thermal design power (TDP) is a major differentiator. The Intel Core i7-5850HQ has a TDP of 47 W, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has a TDP of 15 W. This means the AMD chip delivers comparable or better performance while consuming less than one-third of the thermal budget. The production status also separates them: the Intel part is end-of-life, while the AMD part is active and still manufactured.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 across all six Cinebench tests. The margin is remarkably consistent at 2.5% for most tests, with one test at 2.4%. This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural efficiency advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD chip scores 603 against Intel's 588, a 2.5% difference (recorded as -2.5% delta from the AMD perspective). In the single-core R15 test, AMD scores 84 versus Intel's 82, a 2.4% gap. The single-core advantage is particularly notable given that the Intel chip has a higher base clock (2.70 GHz vs 2.10 GHz) and only a 0.10 GHz lower boost clock (3.60 GHz vs 3.70 GHz). The AMD chip achieves higher single-core scores despite starting from a lower base frequency, indicating better instructions-per-clock efficiency from the Zen+ architecture.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD chip scores 2513 multicore and 354 single-core. The Intel chip scores 2451 and 345 respectively. Both deltas are 2.5%. The multicore gap in R20 is 62 points, which is slightly larger than the 15-point gap in R15, suggesting the performance difference scales slightly with workload intensity.

Cinebench R23 shows the largest absolute gaps. The AMD chip scores 5984 multicore and 844 single-core. The Intel chip scores 5836 and 823 respectively. The multicore delta is 148 points, and the single-core delta is 21 points, both at 2.5%. Across all tests, the AMD chip wins 6 out of 6 head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel chip records 0 wins.

The average benchmark scores reflect this trend. The AMD chip has an average score of 1730 across all recorded benchmarks, while the Intel chip averages 1688. This puts the AMD chip in the 41st percentile of all CPUs and the Intel chip in the 40th percentile. The nearest rivals for the AMD chip include the Intel Core i7-4860HQ (avg score 1720, delta 0.6%) and the Intel Core i3-10100 (avg score 1742, delta -0.7%). The Intel i7-5850HQ's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-3770K (identical avg score of 1688) and the AMD Ryzen 7 3750H (avg score 1690, delta -0.1%). These rival comparisons show that both chips sit in a tightly contested performance band, but the AMD part occupies the higher end of that band.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the Intel Core i7-5850HQ and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514:

• Base Clock: Intel 2.70 GHz, AMD 2.10 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel 3.60 GHz, AMD 3.70 GHz
• TDP: Intel 47 W, AMD 15 W
• Socket: Intel BGA 1364, AMD Socket FP5
• Architecture: Intel Broadwell, AMD Zen+
• Codename: Intel Broadwell-H, AMD Picasso
• Generation: Intel Core i7 (Broadwell-H), AMD Ryzen Embedded (Zen+ (Picasso))
• Process Node: Intel 14 nm, AMD 12 nm
• Foundry: Intel, GlobalFoundries
• Transistors: Intel not recorded, AMD 4,940 million
• Die Size: Intel 182 mm², AMD 210 mm²
• L1 Cache: Intel 64 KB per core, AMD 96 KB per core
• L2 Cache: Intel 256 KB per core, AMD 512 KB per core
• L3 Cache: Intel 6 MB shared, AMD 4 MB shared
• Memory Support: Intel DDR3, AMD DDR4
• Memory Bandwidth: Intel 29.9 GB/s, AMD 42.7 GB/s
• ECC Memory: Intel false, AMD true
• Integrated Graphics: Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200, AMD Radeon Vega 8
• Production Status: Intel End-of-life, AMD Active
• Release Date: Intel 2015-06-01, AMD 2022-09-29
• Launch MSRP: Intel $434, AMD not recorded
• Part Number: Intel SR2BH, AMD YE2514C4T4MFH and YE2514C4T4MFHA

Both chips have 4 cores, 8 threads, dual-channel memory bus, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and are not multiplier-unlocked. They also share the same market segment of "Desktop".

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 wins every single recorded benchmark. In multi-core workloads, it is consistently 2.5% ahead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. For single-threaded tasks, it also wins by 2.4% to 2.5% in the same three test versions. The data shows no scenario where the Intel Core i7-5850HQ comes out ahead in compute performance.

The Intel chip's only advantages lie in specifications that do not translate to benchmark wins. It has a higher base clock (2.70 GHz vs 2.10 GHz), which could theoretically help in workloads that do not scale with boost behavior, but the recorded benchmarks do not show this benefit. The Intel part also has more L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB), which could help in cache-sensitive workloads, but again, the Cinebench results do not reflect any such advantage. The Intel chip has a recorded launch MSRP of $434, but the AMD chip's pricing is not recorded, so no cost comparison is possible.

The AMD chip wins in power efficiency, memory bandwidth, ECC support, and production availability. The 15 W TDP versus 47 W is a massive difference for embedded applications where thermal limits and power budgets are strict. The DDR4 support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth versus 29.9 GB/s for DDR3 gives the AMD chip a clear memory throughput advantage. ECC memory support makes the AMD part suitable for error-sensitive workloads that the Intel chip cannot accommodate.

For system builders, the AMD chip's active production status means it can still be sourced for new designs, while the Intel chip is end-of-life and likely only available as leftover inventory or on the secondary market.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 outperforms the Intel Core i7-5850HQ in every recorded benchmark. The 2.5% advantage in both single-core and multi-core tests, across three versions of Cinebench, indicates a consistent architectural superiority rather than a workload-specific fluke. This is remarkable given the Intel chip's higher base clock and larger L3 cache, both of which traditionally help in single-threaded performance. The Zen+ architecture in the AMD chip delivers better instructions-per-clock, more than compensating for the 0.60 GHz base clock deficit.

The thermal efficiency story is even more compelling. The AMD chip achieves its performance at a 15 W TDP, while the Intel chip requires 47 W. This means the AMD part delivers roughly the same performance at less than one-third of the power envelope. For embedded systems, fanless designs, or any thermally constrained environment, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is the clear choice from the recorded data.

The memory subsystem also favors AMD. The DDR4 support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth versus DDR3 at 29.9 GB/s provides a 43% bandwidth advantage. Combined with ECC support, the AMD chip is better suited for reliability-critical applications like network appliances, industrial controllers, or storage servers. The Intel chip's lack of ECC support and older DDR3 memory interface are significant drawbacks in these scenarios.

The only reason to consider the Intel Core i7-5850HQ would be if the system design requires the specific BGA 1364 socket, or if the higher base clock provides some benefit in a niche workload not captured by Cinebench. However, the recorded data shows no such benefit. The Intel chip's 2015 release date and end-of-life status also make it a risky choice for new designs.

For anyone building a system today, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is the superior processor according to the database. It wins all benchmarks, offers ECC memory, consumes far less power, supports faster DDR4 memory, and remains in active production. The Intel Core i7-5850HQ is a capable processor that was competitive in its era, but the data shows it has been surpassed by the newer AMD part in every measurable way. The verdict is straightforward: the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is the better performer, the better power citizen, and the better long-term investment based solely on the recorded facts.