AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B vs Intel Xeon W5580 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably consistent picture across all five Cinebench comparisons: the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B wins every single test, but by margins so narrow they are almost within run-to-run noise. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 300 against the Intel Xeon W5580's 296, a lead of 1.4%. The R20 multicore test shows 1253 versus 1234, a 1.5% gap. Single-core results follow the same pattern: 176 to 174 in R20 single-core (1.1% ahead) and 421 to 415 in R23 single-core (1.4% ahead). The largest advantage anywhere is 1.5%, and that appears twice (R20 multicore and R23 multicore).

These are not the kind of margins that change a buying decision on their own. A 1.5% difference in a synthetic renderer is well within the noise of background processes, thermal state, or memory configuration. What matters more is that the AMD chip achieves parity with a 130 W workstation part while consuming a fraction of the power, a point developed further in the Architecture Differences section. The Xeon's best result is a 296 in R15 multicore, which sits just 4 points behind the AMD chip, and its 2940 in R23 multicore is 45 points back. Statistically, the two are effectively tied in raw throughput.

The average benchmark score in the database tells the same story from a different angle. The Ryzen Embedded V1202B has an average score of 1027, placing it at the 28th percentile of all CPUs tracked by our measurements. The Xeon W5580 averages 1012, also at the 28th percentile. A 1.5% gap in head-to-head tests translates to only a 15-point difference in average score, and both parts land in identical percentile territory. The nearest rivals list reinforces how tightly packed this performance class is: the AMD chip sits within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-5650U (1027 average score) and 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i3-4340 (1026 average score). The Xeon, meanwhile, is matched exactly by the Intel Core i7-2675QM (1012 average score) at 0% delta and trails the Intel Core i5-2300 (1014 average score) by 0.2%. In short, five wins for AMD, zero for Intel, and no result worth highlighting for Intel beyond raw existence.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors spans a decade of silicon evolution. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B belongs the Ryzen Embedded 1000 series, built on the Zen architecture (codename "Zen") from AMD, on a 14 nm process node manufactured by GlobalFoundries. The Intel Xeon W5580 is a Xeon part with the Gainestown codename, using the Nehalem architecture from Intel, made on Intel's 45 nm process node.

The transistor counts reflect the process difference. AMD packs 4,950 million transistors on a die size of 210 mm² for the Ryzen chip, while Intel's Xeon packs just 731 million transistors on a larger die size of 263 mm². That is nearly seven times fewer transistors on a physically larger piece of silicon. The power envelope is even more starkly different: the AMD chip has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel chip has a TDP of 130 watts. This means the Xeon draws roughly eight and a half times the thermal envelope of the AMD part, yet still loses every benchmark by a sliver.

Core topology differs as well. The AMD Ryzen has 2 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The Intel Xeon has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a 3.20 GHz base clock base and a 3.47 GHz boost clock. Despite having half the core count, the AMD chip clocks lower on paper and still edges ahead in all recorded tests. Cache configuration follows its heritage: the AMD part uses 128 KB L1 cache per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 2 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel Xeon uses 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB per core L2, with a much larger 8 MB shared L3 cache. This means Intel has a much larger L3 cache, 8 MB shared, versus AMD's smaller 2 MB shared, but the AMD part's cache per core is actually higher for L1 and L2: 128 KB versus Intel's 64 KB, and 512 KB versus Intel's 256 KB.

Memory support splits by generation too. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with no ECC support and no integrated graphics. The Intel Xeon W5580 supports DDR3 memory on triple-channel bus with memory bandwidth of 32.0 GB/s and supports ECC memory. Intel also lists PCIe Gen 2 support; AMD does not list any PCIe specification in the database. The Xeon targets the server/workstation segment with an EOL production status and a part number SLBF2. The AMD part targets the desktop segment and remains active production.

The Ryzen has a base clock of 2.30 GHz, a boost clock of 3.20 GHz, and integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics. The Xeon has a boost clock of 130 TDP, no integrated graphics, and a release date of 2009-03-29. The AMD chip's release date is 2018-02-20, making it a modern part with an embedded focus.

The Zen core count of 2 cores per chip may seem modest, but the 4 threads per chip on the Xeon plus 8 threads does not provide as many threads in practice. The Xeon's triple-channel memory bus and 32.0 GB/s memory bandwidth stands out in specs. The AMD chip's 2 MB (shared L3 cache) is a small total L3 cache.

The Intel part has 8 MB (shared L3 cache, 4 cores, 8 threads, 4 cores, 130 TDP, and 3.20 GHz base. The AMD part has 2 MB shared L3 cache, 2 MB total L3 cache, 2 cores, 15 TDP, 2.30 GHz base, and 3.20 GHz boost.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU wins in raw performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B wins all five head-to-head tests. R15 multicore shows 300 to 296 (1.4% lead); R20 multicore shows 1253 to 1234 (1.5%); R20 singlecore 176 to 174 (1.1%); R23 multicore 2985 to 2940 (1.5%); R23 singlecore 421 to 415 (1.4%). Intel never wins a test, but the margins are all under 2%.

Q: How big is the performance gap between them in average score?

A: The average benchmark score in the database is 1027 for AMD and 1012 for Intel, a difference of 1.5%. Both sit at the 28th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD chip is essentially tied with the Intel Core i7-5650U at 0% delta, and the Xeon matches the Intel Core i7-2675QM at 0% delta.

Q: How do their power requirements differ?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B has a TDP of 15 W, while the Intel Xeon W5580 has a TDP of 130 W. The Intel part draws far more power, yet does not gain any performance advantage in the recorded tests.

Q: Which supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Xeon W5580 supports ECC memory, along with a triple-channel DDR3 memory bus and 32.0 GB/s memory bandwidth. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B does not support ECC memory and uses dual-channel DDR4.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B has an active production status, while the Intel Xeon W5580 is end-of-life. The AMD part also integrates Radeon Vega 3 graphics, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics.

Q: What about the release timing?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B was released on 2018-02-20, and the Intel Xeon W5580 on 2009-03-29. The Xeon is a much older design using the 45 nm Nehalem architecture.

The Verdict

The data does not support choosing the Intel Xeon W5580 for any performance reason. It loses all five recorded benchmark tests, albeit by margins of 1.1% to 1.5%, and it does so while consuming 130 W compared to the AMD part's 15 W. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B wins every recorded comparison, has a higher average benchmark score (1027 versus 1012), and does it on a modern 14 nm process with a much smaller die and far lower power draw.

The only reasons to consider the Xeon would be its 8 MB shared L3 cache, its ECC memory support, its triple-channel memory bus with 32.0 GB/s bandwidth, or its server/workstation market positioning. If none of those features matter, the AMD part is the better pick on every measured metric. If ECC or larger L3 is a requirement, the Xeon offers those capabilities, but the benchmark results show no throughput benefit from them.

For a new build, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B is the obvious choice: it is active in production, lower power, and wins every test. For a legacy workstation that already runs on Socket 1366, the Xeon remains a functional part, but its performance class is identical to the AMD chip despite a much higher power envelope. The recorded data shows the Xeon is not competitive on performance per watt, and the AMD part's smaller die and transistor count suggest better efficiency throughout.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B | Intel Xeon W5580 |

|----------------|---------------------------|------------------|

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.47 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 130 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP5 | Intel Socket 1366 |

| Architecture | Zen | Nehalem |

| Codename | Zen | Gainestown |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 45 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | Intel |

| Transistors | 4,950 million | 731 million |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 263 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 128 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 2 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Triple-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 32.0 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Not specified | Gen 2 |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 3 | None |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2018-02-20 | 2009-03-29 |

| Part Number | Not specified | SLBF2 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B wins in every benchmark category recorded: multicore and single-core, across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. It also wins on power efficiency by a wide margin, as its 15 W TDP versus the Xeon's 130 W TDP means it delivers comparable performance at a fraction of the thermal load. It wins on process technology with 14 nm versus 45 nm, on transistor density with 4,950 million versus 731 million, and on integration with built-in Radeon Vega 3 graphics. It is also the only one of the two still in active production, and it has a smaller die size at 210 mm² versus 263 mm².

The Intel Xeon W5580 wins on specifications that are not reflected in the benchmark scores. It offers 4 cores and 8 threads versus the AMD part's 2 and 4, a higher base clock of 3.20 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, and a higher boost clock of 3.47 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. It has a much larger L3 cache at 8 MB shared versus 2 MB shared. It supports ECC memory, which the AMD part does not, and it has a triple-channel memory bus with 32.0 GB/s bandwidth. It also supports PCIe Gen 2, a feature not listed for the AMD chip, and it targets the server/workstation market segment. None of these specification advantages translate into a benchmark win in the recorded data, but they matter for specific workloads that rely on ECC memory integrity, high memory bandwidth, or large shared cache.

In practical terms, the AMD part is the right choice for low-power embedded systems, desktop use, or any build where heat and power draw are primary constraints. The Xeon is the right choice for legacy server platforms that require ECC memory or triple-channel DDR3, and where the higher TDP is acceptable. The benchmark data shows no performance reason to pick the Xeon, but its feature set may still serve a niche role in older workstation infrastructure.