AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B vs Intel Core i7-5650U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B and Intel Core i7-5650U are locked in a statistical dead heat by average benchmark score, with both posting a 1027 average and a 0% deltaPct against each other, placing them at the 28th percentile of all CPUs. However, the head-to-head Cinebench results tell a decisively one-sided story: the AMD part wins all five tested workloads, with margins ranging from 17.2% to 17.6%. The data indicates that while the overall average suggests parity, the Ryzen Embedded V1202B holds a clear and consistent performance advantage in the specific rendering tasks measured.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: Both the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B and the Intel Core i7-5650U have an identical average benchmark score of 1027. Their deltaPct against each other is 0%, meaning they are exact equals in this aggregate metric.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B perform in multi-core Cinebench tests compared to the Intel Core i7-5650U?

A: The AMD processor wins all three multi-core tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 300 versus 256 (a 17.2% lead); in R20 multi-core, it scores 1253 versus 1067 (a 17.4% lead); and in R23 multi-core, it scores 2985 versus 2542 (a 17.4% lead).

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Intel Core i7-5650U wins?

A: No. Based on the head-to-head benchmark data, the Intel Core i7-5650U wins zero out of five tests. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B wins all five, including every single-core and multi-core Cinebench test.

Q: What are the single-core performance differences between the two chips?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B leads in single-core performance. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 176 against Intel’s 150, a 17.3% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 421 against Intel’s 358, a 17.6% advantage.

Q: Do both processors share the same production status?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B is marked as "Active" in production status, while the Intel Core i7-5650U is listed as "End-of-life". The Intel part was released earlier, on 2015-02-28, compared to AMD's 2018-02-20 release date.

Q: What is the memory specification difference between the two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, while the Intel Core i7-5650U supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Intel part has a listed memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s, whereas the AMD part does not have a memory bandwidth figure in the data.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectural foundations, despite both using a 14 nm process node. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B uses the Zen architecture, codenamed "Zen (Great Horned Owl)" from the Ryzen Embedded 1000 series, and is fabricated by GlobalFoundries. The Intel Core i7-5650U uses the Broadwell architecture, specifically Broadwell-U from the Core i7 generation, and is fabricated by Intel itself. This difference in design philosophy is reflected in the transistor counts: the AMD chip integrates 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while the Intel chip has 1,900 million transistors on a smaller 133 mm² die.

Cache hierarchies also diverge significantly. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B allocates 128 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with a shared 2 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core i7-5650U, in contrast, has a smaller per-core allocation of 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2, but compensates with a larger shared 4 MB L3 cache. The AMD part's larger L1 and L2 allocations per core likely contribute to its more aggressive benchmark performance, while Intel's larger L3 pool is a notable structural difference.

Connectivity and platform support also separate the two. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FP5 and supports DDR4 memory, whereas the Intel processor uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket and supports DDR3 memory with a specified 29.9 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel part explicitly lists PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part does not list PCIe specifications in the data. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD employs the Radeon Vega 3, while Intel uses the HD 6000. The market segments also differ, with AMD targeting Desktop and Intel targeting Mobile, and the production statuses reflect this: AMD is Active, Intel is End-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B is the clear winner in every measured category. It wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. The largest margin of victory is 17.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core (421 vs 358), while the smallest margin is 17.2% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (300 vs 256). The consistency of these margins—hovering tightly between 17.2% and 17.6%—suggests that the AMD architecture provides a uniform performance uplift across different Cinebench versions and core-count scaling.

The Intel Core i7-5650U, by contrast, has zero wins in the head-to-head comparison. However, the Intel part does have additional benchmark data not shared by the AMD part: it scores 1854 in Geekbench multi-core and 960 in Geekbench single-core. These scores are not part of the head-to-head comparison, so they cannot be directly compared, but they indicate that the Intel chip does have measurable performance outside the Cinebench suite. For users strictly looking at the provided Cinebench results, the AMD processor is the only viable winner.

In terms of lifecycle, the AMD chip wins on production status, being Active versus Intel's End-of-life designation. The AMD part is also newer, released on 2018-02-20 versus Intel's 2015-02-28. This suggests the AMD processor is a more future-proof choice for embedded designs requiring ongoing availability.

Specification Differences

The specifications show a mix of similarities and stark contrasts. Both processors have 2 cores and 4 threads, a 15 W TDP, and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The base clocks differ slightly, with the AMD chip at 2.30 GHz and the Intel chip at 2.20 GHz. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory.

The most significant differences lie in cache and memory. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B has 128 KB L1 cache per core and 512 KB L2 cache per core, while the Intel Core i7-5650U has 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core. In L3 cache, Intel wins with 4 MB shared, double the AMD's 2 MB shared. Memory support diverges on generation: AMD uses DDR4, Intel uses DDR3. The Intel part explicitly lists a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s and PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes, while the AMD part lists neither.

The sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FP5 versus Intel BGA 1168. The integrated graphics units are different, with AMD using Radeon Vega 3 and Intel using HD 6000. The process nodes are identical at 14 nm, but the foundries and transistor counts differ dramatically (4,950 million on 210 mm² for AMD; 1,900 million on 133 mm² for Intel). The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $426, a part number of SR267, and is End-of-life, while the AMD part has no launch MSRP listed and is Active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous: AMD wins every single test, and the margins are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B scores 300 against the Intel Core i7-5650U's 256, yielding a 17.2% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD score rises to 1253 against Intel's 1067, a 17.4% lead. The R23 multi-core test shows the same pattern: AMD scores 2985, Intel scores 2542, again a 17.4% delta.

The single-core tests tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, AMD scores 176 versus Intel's 150, a 17.3% lead. The largest delta in the entire comparison appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where AMD scores 421 against Intel's 358, a 17.6% advantage. This consistent delta across both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads suggests that the AMD Zen architecture is simply more efficient at executing the Cinebench rendering workload, regardless of core count scaling.

The fact that the margins are so tightly clustered (17.2% to 17.6%) is notable. It indicates that the performance gap is not dependent on the specific Cinebench version or the number of threads utilized. Whether the workload is single-core or multi-core, the AMD processor delivers a roughly 17% improvement over the Intel processor. This uniformity is a strong signal that the architectural efficiency of the AMD chip is fundamentally higher, rather than a result of specific optimization quirks in any one test.

The Verdict

The data is clear: the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B is the superior performer in the Cinebench suite, winning all five head-to-head tests with a consistent 17.2% to 17.6% margin. For any workload that relies heavily on Cinebench-style rendering, the AMD chip is the definitive choice. Its Active production status and newer release date (2018-02-20) also make it a more viable option for long-term embedded deployments compared to the End-of-life Intel Core i7-5650U.

However, the overall average benchmark scores being identical (1027 each) and the 0% deltaPct between them complicate a blanket recommendation. The Intel part has additional Geekbench scores (1854 multi-core, 960 single-core) that are not available for the AMD chip, meaning there are performance dimensions outside Cinebench where the Intel processor has measurable results that remain uncompared. The Intel chip also has a larger 4 MB L3 cache and an explicit memory bandwidth figure of 29.9 GB/s, which could favor certain memory-intensive tasks.

For buyers prioritizing the available Cinebench data, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B is the clear winner. Its consistent lead in both single-core and multi-core tests, combined with its Active production status, makes it the safer and faster choice. The Intel Core i7-5650U, with its zero wins and End-of-life status, should only be considered if the platform requires its specific socket (BGA 1168), its DDR3 memory support, or its listed PCIe Gen 2 lanes. The Verdict from the benchmark results is that the AMD chip wins on raw performance and availability, while the Intel chip wins on legacy platform compatibility and a larger L3 cache.