AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B vs Intel Core i3-8121U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a split personality in this matchup. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B takes three of the four recorded head-to-head wins, but the one Intel victory is a decisive outlier that flips the multi-core narrative.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen Embedded V1605B scores 654 against the Core i3-8121U's 366, a 44% advantage. That is a massive gap, driven by the AMD part's 4 cores and 8 threads versus Intel's 2 cores and 4 threads. The single-core R15 test shows an even starker divide: 128 for the AMD chip versus 51 for Intel, a 60.2% deficit for the Core i3. That single-core score is unusually low for Intel, suggesting the 2.20 GHz base clock on the i3-8121U severely limits its older architecture in this workload.

The picture changes dramatically in Cinebench R23. The Intel Core i3-8121U posts 3637 multi-core, which is 15.1% ahead of the Ryzen's 3160. This is the only head-to-head win for Intel, and it is substantial. The R23 test is more modern and stresses sustained workloads differently, and here the Intel part's 10 nm process and 4 MB shared L3 cache appear to compensate for its core deficit. The R23 single-core result, however, returns to AMD's favor: 841 for the Ryzen versus 513 for Intel, a 39% advantage.

The average benchmark scores tell a nuanced story. The Intel i3-8121U sits at 1209, while the Ryzen V1605B sits at 1196. Both CPUs occupy the 34th percentile against all CPUs in the database. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon D-1520 at 1209 (0% delta), the Intel Xeon E5645 at 1211 (-0.1%), and the Intel Core i3-7300T at 1211 (-0.1%). The AMD part's nearest rivals include the AMD Opteron 3365 at 1194 (0.2% ahead), the AMD Athlon PRO 300U at 1193 (0.2% ahead), and the Intel Core i7-8665UE at 1193 (0.3% ahead). The two CPUs are effectively tied in aggregate, but they achieve that tie through entirely different strengths.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen Embedded V1605B is the clear winner in older Cinebench R15 workloads, both multi-core and single-core. Its 44% multi-core margin and 60.2% single-core margin in R15 suggest that its Zen architecture, running at a 3.60 GHz boost clock, handles legacy rendering tasks with far greater efficiency. The R15 single-core result is particularly telling: the Intel part scores only 51, which is less than half of the AMD's 128. This indicates the Core i3-8121U's single-thread performance in that specific test is severely constrained, likely by its low base clock and older Cannon Lake design.

The Intel Core i3-8121U wins decisively in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 3637 versus 3160, a 15.1% advantage. This is a modern, demanding workload that scales across threads, and the Intel part's 4 MB shared L3 cache combined with its 10 nm process node allows it to outperform a chip with twice the cores and threads. The i3-8121U also posts a higher average benchmark score (1209 versus 1196), though the difference is marginal.

The single-core R23 result belongs to AMD: 841 versus 513, a 39% margin. This suggests the Ryzen's 3.60 GHz boost clock delivers superior per-thread performance in current-generation software. The Intel part's 3.20 GHz boost clock cannot close that gap.

In terms of overall benchmark distribution, the Ryzen wins three of four head-to-head tests, but the Intel chip wins the one test that matters most for sustained multi-core rendering in modern applications. The data implies a workload-dependent split: legacy single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks favor AMD, while modern multi-core tasks favor Intel.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation for users prioritizing older software or lightly threaded workloads: the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B is the stronger choice. Its R15 multi-core score of 654 is 44% higher than the Intel's 366, and its R15 single-core score of 128 is 60.2% higher than the Intel's 51. For any application that relies on single-thread performance in older benchmarks, the Ryzen is unequivocally superior.

For users running modern multi-core workloads, the Intel Core i3-8121U has a compelling case. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 3637 is 15.1% ahead of the Ryzen's 3160, despite having half the cores and threads. This suggests that the Intel part's architecture, with its larger L3 cache and newer process node, scales better under sustained modern threading. The i3-8121U also holds a slight edge in average benchmark score (1209 versus 1196).

The percentile ranking is identical: both sit at the 34th percentile against all CPUs. Neither part is a performance outlier in the broader database. The Ryzen's nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-8665UE, sits at 1193 with a 0.3% delta, while the Intel's nearest rival, the Intel Xeon D-1520, matches its 1209 exactly. The choice between these two CPUs is not about raw tier placement; it is about workload compatibility.

The verdict from the data: pick the Ryzen Embedded V1605B if your software suite resembles Cinebench R15 (older, thread-heavy but less cache-sensitive). Pick the Intel Core i3-8121U if your workloads resemble Cinebench R23 (modern, cache-hungry, sustained multi-thread). The Ryzen wins the majority of tests, but the Intel wins the most demanding modern one.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher multi-core score in Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B scores 654 versus the Intel Core i3-8121U's 366, a 44% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-8121U win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 3637, which is 15.1% ahead of the AMD's 3160.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-8121U has an average benchmark score of 1209, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B has 1196, a difference of 13 points.

Q: What is the single-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B scores 841, which is 39% higher than the Intel Core i3-8121U's 513.

Q: Are both CPUs in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are in the 34th percentile against all CPUs in the database.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Intel Core i3-8121U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-8121U is built on Cannon Lake, a 10 nm process from Intel, with a die size of 70.52 mm². The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B uses the Zen architecture on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, with a die size of 210 mm² and 4,950 million transistors. The Intel part has no transistor count listed, but its smaller die suggests a denser, more power-efficient design.

Cache configurations differ sharply. The Intel i3-8121U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The AMD V1605B has 128 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 2 MB of shared L3. The Intel part has twice the L3 cache, which likely explains its superior Cinebench R23 multi-core performance despite fewer cores.

Both CPUs support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Intel part has a listed memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the AMD part has no bandwidth figure recorded. Neither supports ECC memory. The Intel part has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part has no PCIe data recorded. The AMD part includes integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while the Intel part has no integrated graphics listed.

The Intel part uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the AMD uses the AMD Socket FP5. The Intel part is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD is active in production. Both have locked multipliers. The Intel part has a part number (SRCVC), while the AMD has none recorded.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the most obvious difference: the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B has 4 cores and 8 threads, double the Intel Core i3-8121U's 2 cores and 4 threads.

Clock speeds diverge significantly. The Intel part has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The AMD part has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz (2.00 GHz) and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The AMD boosts higher, while the Intel has a higher base clock.

The process nodes differ: Intel uses 10 nm, AMD uses 14 nm. The die size is 70.52 mm² for Intel and 210 mm² for AMD. The AMD part has 4,950 million transistors; Intel has none listed.

Cache sizes differ per level. Intel has 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. AMD has 128 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 2 MB shared L3.

Memory bandwidth is listed only for Intel at 38.4 GB/s. Both support DDR4 and dual-channel memory. The Intel part has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only); the AMD has no PCIe data. The AMD includes Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics; Intel has none listed.

Sockets differ: Intel BGA 1440 versus AMD Socket FP5. The Intel part is end-of-life; the AMD is active. The Intel part was released on 2018-05-04, while the AMD was released on 2018-02-20, making the AMD earlier by roughly two and a half months. The Intel part has a part number (SRCVC); the AMD does not. The Intel market segment is Mobile, while the AMD is Desktop. TDP is identical at 15 watts for both.