AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 vs Intel Core i5-8259U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8259U and AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 are both 4-core, 8-thread processors, yet they cater to different market segments—mobile versus embedded desktop. The benchmark data shows a clear and consistent performance advantage for the AMD part across every tested workload, though the magnitude of that advantage is remarkably uniform. The Ryzen Embedded R2544 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with the Intel i5-8259U trailing by roughly 8% in each instance. This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural efficiency difference rather than workload-specific optimization.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the data is the uniformity of the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544's victories. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 726 against the Intel's 667, a delta of -8.1% for the i5-8259U. The single-core R15 result mirrors this: 102 versus 94, a -7.8% gap. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 3029 for AMD and 2781 for Intel (-8.2%), while single-core shows 427 versus 392 (-8.2% again). The R23 results continue the trend with a multicore score of 7213 for the Ryzen part versus 6622 for the Core i5 (-8.2%), and single-core 1018 versus 934 (-8.3%). In every single test, the AMD processor holds a lead of between 7.8% and 8.3%, indicating a stable performance ceiling difference across both lightly-threaded and fully-loaded scenarios.

The Intel part does have one advantage in the broader context: it appears in the Geekbench results, scoring 4168 multicore and 1207 single-core. However, the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 has no Geekbench entries in the data, so a direct comparison on that benchmark is impossible. The average benchmark scores tell a similar story to the head-to-head results—the Intel i5-8259U averages 2108 across its tested workloads, while the AMD R2544 averages 2086. Interestingly, despite the AMD part winning every direct comparison, the average scores are nearly identical because the Intel CPU's Geekbench results pull its average up significantly. Both CPUs sit at the 46th percentile among all tested processors, placing them squarely in the mid-range of the CPU landscape.

Looking at nearest rivals, the data shows how close these two are to other mainstream chips. The i5-8259U's average score of 2108 places it just 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-8500T (2110) and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G (2101). The Ryzen Embedded R2544, with its 2086 average, sits 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-9350KF (2082) and 0.3% ahead of the Intel Xeon W-2123 (2079). Both processors also trade blows with the Intel Core i3-8350K, with the i5-8259U being 0.6% faster and the R2544 being 0.5% slower. These rival comparisons reinforce that while the AMD part wins the head-to-head, both chips occupy a very similar performance tier.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 is the faster processor in every benchmark where both were tested. If raw compute performance is the sole criterion, the AMD part wins outright, with a consistent 8% lead across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore tests. The Intel Core i5-8259U offers no performance advantage in any direct comparison, though its Geekbench scores (4168 multicore, 1207 single-core) do show it is a capable processor in its own right, just not as fast as the Ryzen Embedded part.

However, the choice is not purely about speed. The Intel i5-8259U is a mobile processor with a 28 W TDP, while the AMD R2544 is a desktop-class embedded part with a 45 W TDP. The data shows the AMD part uses 60% more power budget (45 W versus 28 W) to achieve its 8% performance lead. For applications where thermal headroom or battery life is critical, the Intel part's efficiency profile is more attractive. The i5-8259U is also end-of-life in production status, while the AMD R2544 remains active, which may matter for long-term supply and support. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $320; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP. For embedded system designers needing sustained performance and active production status, the Ryzen Embedded R2544 is the clear pick. For those constrained by power or already invested in the Intel mobile ecosystem, the i5-8259U remains a viable, if slower, option.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split is between Intel's Coffee Lake and AMD's Zen+ designs. The Intel Core i5-8259U uses the Coffee Lake-U codename on a 14 nm process fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 126 mm². The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 uses the Zen+ (Picasso) architecture on a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with a substantially larger die at 210 mm². The AMD part also packs significantly more transistors—4,940 million compared to Intel's undisclosed count—which explains the larger die and likely contributes to its performance edge.

Cache hierarchy differs notably between the two. Each Intel core has 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache, with a shared 6 MB L3 pool. The AMD design gives each core 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2, but the shared L3 is smaller at 4 MB. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on the AMD part likely help its single-threaded performance, while the Intel part's larger L3 cache does not compensate in the benchmark results. The integrated graphics also differ: Intel pairs the i5-8259U with Iris Pro Plus 655, while AMD uses Radeon Vega 8. Neither GPU is benchmarked in the provided data, so no performance comparison can be made.

Memory support reveals another divergence. Both support DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, but the AMD R2544 delivers 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth versus 38.4 GB/s for the Intel part—a 33% advantage for AMD. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not, a critical feature for reliability-sensitive embedded workloads. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, so expansion capability is identical.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications beyond their benchmarks. The Intel i5-8259U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, while the AMD R2544 starts higher at 3.35 GHz base but boosts to only 3.70 GHz. This means the Intel part has a higher maximum clock, yet the AMD part still wins every benchmark—indicating the Zen+ architecture delivers more instructions per clock in these tests. The TDP gap is significant: 28 W for Intel versus 45 W for AMD, a 61% increase for the AMD part.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 1526, while AMD uses Socket FP5. The Intel chip is marked for the mobile market segment, while the AMD R2544 targets the desktop segment, despite its "Embedded" branding. Production status diverges, with Intel's part end-of-life and AMD's still active. The release dates are far apart—the Intel launched in April 2018, while the AMD arrived in September 2022, over four years later. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $320, while the AMD part has none listed. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers also differ, with Intel using SRCKBSRCUU and AMD using YE2544C3T4MFH or YE2544C3T4MFHA.

FAQ

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

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 wins all multi-core tests, scoring 726 in Cinebench R15, 3029 in R20, and 7213 in R23, compared to the Intel i5-8259U's 667, 2781, and 6622 respectively. The Intel part trails by 8.1-8.2% in each test.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i5-8259U has a 28 W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 has a 45 W TDP. This means the AMD part uses significantly more power to achieve its performance lead.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD part has ECC memory support enabled. The Intel Core i5-8259U does not support ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-8259U has a higher boost clock at 3.80 GHz, compared to the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544's 3.70 GHz. Despite the higher clock, the Intel part loses every head-to-head benchmark to the AMD chip.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 provides 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core i5-8259U provides 38.4 GB/s. The AMD part offers 33% more bandwidth.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-8259U is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded R2544 is listed as active in production. The AMD part also launched later, in September 2022, versus April 2018 for the Intel chip.