AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 vs Intel Core i7-980 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 across all six Cinebench comparisons, though the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD part scores 603 against 589 for the Intel Core i7-980, a 2.4% advantage. The single-core R15 result is closer still: 84 versus 83, a 1.2% edge. These are the smallest deltas in the entire head-to-head set, suggesting that in this older workload the two processors are nearly interchangeable.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 posts 2513 in multi-core while the Intel Core i7-980 manages 2458, a 2.2% gap. The single-core R20 run shows 354 versus 346, a 2.3% difference. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23, where the AMD chip reaches 5984 multi-core against 5853 for the Intel part, again a 2.2% gap. The R23 single-core score of 844 for AMD versus 826 for Intel represents a 2.2% advantage as well.

What stands out is the consistency of the margin. Across four of the six tests, the delta sits at exactly 2.2% or 2.3%, while the other two are lower. This is not a case of one processor suddenly pulling ahead in a particular workload; rather, the AMD part delivers a small but repeatable edge in every measured scenario. The average benchmark score from the database reinforces this: the Ryzen Embedded R2514 averages 1730, while the Core i7-980 averages 1693, a gap that places the AMD chip at the 41st percentile of all CPUs compared to the 40th percentile for Intel.

The Intel Core i7-980 does have a structural advantage in core count, six cores and twelve threads versus four cores and eight threads for the AMD part, yet the benchmark data shows the AMD processor still wins every multi-core test. That is a curious result worth investigating. The newer architecture and higher boost clock of the AMD chip likely offset the core deficit, but the numbers themselves are what matter: the Ryzen Embedded R2514 leads in all six recorded comparisons, with no single test going the other way.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 wins in every benchmark category recorded, but the nature of its wins varies. In single-core tests, the margins are 1.2% to 2.3%, reflecting a modest per-thread performance advantage. The R15 single-core result of 84 versus 83 is the tightest race in the entire comparison, and the R20 single-core run of 354 versus 346 shows slightly more separation. For tasks that rely heavily on single-threaded performance, such as older applications or lightly threaded workloads, the AMD part has a slight but consistent edge.

In multi-core tests, the AMD chip also wins, despite having fewer cores and threads. The R15 multi-core score of 603 versus 589, the R20 multi-core score of 2513 versus 2458, and the R23 multi-core score of 5984 versus 5853 all favor AMD by roughly 2.2%. This suggests that the Ryzen Embedded R2514 is not just faster per core but also scales its available cores efficiently enough to overcome the Intel part's two extra cores and four extra threads.

For a user prioritizing sustained multi-threaded work, the data implies the AMD part is the safer choice, even if the margin is not dramatic. For a user focused on single-threaded responsiveness, the AMD part again takes the lead, albeit narrowly. The Intel Core i7-980 has no benchmark category in this dataset where it comes out ahead, so any use-case split must acknowledge that the AMD chip wins across the board, with the only question being how large the advantage is in each scenario.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 uses the Zen+ architecture, codenamed Picasso, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i7-980 uses the Westmere architecture, codenamed Gulftown, built on a 32 nm process at Intel. This process difference is significant: the AMD chip uses a far more advanced node, which helps explain its efficiency and per-clock performance despite fewer cores.

The transistor counts tell a striking story. The AMD processor packs 4,940 million transistors into a 210 mm² die, while the Intel part contains 1,170 million transistors on a 239 mm² die. The AMD chip achieves nearly four times the transistor density on a smaller physical footprint, a direct consequence of the newer 12 nm process versus 32 nm. This density advantage likely contributes to the AMD part's ability to match or exceed the Intel chip's multi-core performance with fewer cores.

Cache hierarchies also differ markedly. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Intel Core i7-980 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has three times the L3 cache, which could help in workloads with large working sets, but the benchmark data shows the AMD chip still wins in all recorded tests. The AMD part's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may compensate for its smaller L3.

The Intel Core i7-980 supports only DDR3 memory with a triple-channel bus, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. PCIe generations differ as well: the AMD chip uses Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part uses Gen 2. The AMD processor includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, whereas the Intel Core i7-980 has no integrated graphics at all. These architectural differences extend beyond raw compute and affect platform capabilities, memory choices, and peripheral connectivity.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i7-980 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for AMD versus 3.33 GHz for Intel, but boost clocks are closer: 3.70 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, giving the AMD chip a higher maximum frequency. Thermal design power is dramatically different, with the AMD part rated at 15 watts compared to 130 watts for the Intel part, though the database does not indicate how this affects real-world cooling requirements.

Sockets are incompatible: the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP5, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1366. Process nodes differ at 12 nm versus 32 nm. Memory support is DDR4 dual-channel for AMD versus DDR3 triple-channel for Intel. The AMD part includes ECC support, the Intel part does not. Integrated graphics are present on the AMD chip as Radeon Vega 8, absent on the Intel chip. The AMD processor is listed as Active in production status, while the Intel processor is End-of-life. Release dates show the AMD chip launched in September 2022, while the Intel chip launched in June 2011. The AMD part has a 41st percentile ranking across all CPUs, the Intel part sits at the 40th percentile.

The Intel Core i7-980 has a larger L3 cache at 12 MB shared versus 4 MB shared for AMD, and the Intel die is larger at 239 mm² versus 210 mm². The AMD chip has more transistors at 4,940 million versus 1,170 million. PCIe support differs as Gen 3 with 16 lanes for AMD versus Gen 2 for Intel. The Intel part uses the Westmere architecture, AMD uses Zen+. Every specification category that differs between the two has been captured in the database, and the comparison shows two processors designed for different eras and different platform philosophies.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-980 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 scores 5984 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, beating the Intel Core i7-980's 5853 by 2.2%.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two in any benchmark?

A: The largest delta is 2.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 scores 603 against 589 for the Intel Core i7-980.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-980 win any benchmark in the comparison?

A: No, the head-to-head data shows the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 winning all six recorded benchmarks, with no wins recorded for the Intel part.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-980 does not.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 has an average benchmark score of 1730, while the Intel Core i7-980 averages 1693.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 as the stronger processor in this comparison. It wins all six recorded benchmarks, holds a higher average benchmark score, and does so while using a fraction of the thermal envelope. The Intel Core i7-980 offers more cores and threads, a larger L3 cache, and a higher base clock, but none of those advantages translate into a benchmark victory in the recorded results.

For a user choosing between these two based purely on the database measurements, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 is the clear pick for both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. Its margins are narrow, ranging from 1.2% to 2.4%, but they are consistent across every test. The Intel Core i7-980 remains a six-core, twelve-thread processor with a large shared cache, yet the benchmark data shows it trailing in every scenario. The AMD part also brings modern platform features: DDR4 support, ECC memory, integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, and PCIe Gen 3. The Intel part, now end-of-life, offers none of these. The verdict from the recorded data is straightforward: the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 outperforms the Intel Core i7-980 in every measured category.