AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B vs Intel Core i5-8279U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-8279U and AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B are locked in a near-perfect statistical tie, with average benchmark scores of 1987 and 1986 respectively. Despite the 1-point gap favoring Intel, the head-to-head benchmark data tells a completely different story: the AMD part wins all six Cinebench comparisons by margins between 8.2% and 8.4%. This creates a fascinating paradox where two processors with virtually identical aggregate scores deliver consistently different results in threaded workloads, a discrepancy explained by their architectural priorities and benchmark composition.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B dominates every Cinebench iteration in this comparison, starting with Cinebench R15 multicore where it scores 692 against Intel's 634, an 8.4% advantage. The single-core R15 result follows the same pattern: AMD's 97 beats Intel's 89 by 8.2%. This consistency is remarkable—across all six benchmarks, the deltaPct hovers tightly between 8.2% and 8.4%, indicating a systematic performance edge rather than workload-specific variation.

Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, AMD extends its lead with 2884 points versus Intel's 2643, again an 8.4% gap. The R20 single-core test shows AMD at 406 against Intel's 372, an 8.4% margin. In Cinebench R23 multicore, AMD scores 6867 while Intel manages 6294, an 8.3% difference. The R23 single-core result rounds out the sweep: AMD's 969 outperforms Intel's 888 by 8.4%. The uniformity of these deltas suggests a fundamental per-clock or per-thread efficiency advantage for the Zen architecture in Cinebench's rendering workloads.

What makes this interesting is that the overall average benchmark score—which includes Geekbench results only present for Intel—nearly erases AMD's Cinebench dominance. Intel's Geekbench multicore score of 3764 and single-core score of 1209 are not matched by AMD in this dataset, yet the Cinebench results are decisive. The data shows that in pure Cinebench rendering, AMD holds a consistent 8%+ lead, but the broader benchmark picture is essentially a dead heat. This split personality means the "winner" depends entirely on which benchmark suite matters more to the user.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different architectural lineages despite sharing the same 14 nm process node. Intel's Core i5-8279U is built on Coffee Lake-U, a refinement of the Skylake architecture, manufactured by Intel itself with 2,300 million transistors on a 126 mm² die. AMD's Ryzen Embedded V1756B uses the original Zen microarchitecture (codenamed "Great Horned Owl"), fabricated by GlobalFoundries with 4,950 million transistors spread across a 210 mm² die. The transistor count difference is stark—AMD packs over twice as many transistors—which reflects Zen's larger core complex and integrated memory controller design.

Cache configurations diverge significantly. Intel allocates 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD doubles the per-core L1 to 128 KB and L2 to 512 KB, but offers only 2 MB of shared L3. This is a critical architectural trade-off: AMD's larger private caches favor single-thread latency, while Intel's larger shared L3 pool benefits multi-core data sharing. The 2 MB L3 on AMD is notably small for a 4-core/8-thread part, yet Cinebench results suggest the larger L1/L2 hierarchy compensates effectively.

Clock speeds tell a complementary story. AMD's base clock of 3.25 GHz is significantly higher than Intel's 2.40 GHz, while Intel's boost clock of 4.10 GHz exceeds AMD's 3.60 GHz. This means Intel can reach higher peak frequencies under light load, but AMD operates at a higher sustained floor. The TDP difference reflects this: AMD consumes 45 W versus Intel's 28 W, a 17-watt gap that explains AMD's ability to maintain higher base clocks. Intel compensates with a smaller power envelope, making it more suitable for thermally constrained mobile chassis.

Memory support is identical in type (DDR4, dual-channel), but Intel specifies a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s while AMD's bandwidth is not listed. Both lack ECC support. Intel's integrated graphics are Iris Pro Plus 655, a premium mobile GPU solution, while AMD pairs with Radeon Vega 8, a capable embedded graphics processor. Intel's PCIe implementation is Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes; AMD's PCIe configuration is not provided. Production status also differs: Intel's part is end-of-life, while AMD's remains active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B scores 6867 compared to Intel's 6294, an 8.3% advantage. This is consistent with its wins across all Cinebench versions tested.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical. Intel's average is 1987, AMD's is 1986, a difference of just 1 point (0.1% deltaPct). Both rank at the 44th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: AMD has a higher base clock at 3.25 GHz versus Intel's 2.40 GHz, but Intel boosts higher at 4.10 GHz versus AMD's 3.60 GHz. This gives AMD a higher floor and Intel a higher ceiling.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. Both the Intel Core i5-8279U and AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B have ECC memory support listed as false.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: AMD's TDP is 45 W, while Intel's is 28 W. This 17 W difference reflects AMD's higher base clocks and larger die.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: Intel has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while AMD has only 2 MB. However, AMD provides larger per-core L1 (128 KB vs 64 KB) and L2 (512 KB vs 256 KB) caches.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-8279U | AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B |

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

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.25 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1526 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Zen |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 2,300 million | 4,950 million |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 210 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 2 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Not listed |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Pro Plus 655 | Radeon Vega 8 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2019-04-02 | 2018-02-20 |

| Launch MSRP | $320 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SREZ0 | Not listed |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B wins every Cinebench test in this comparison—R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core variants. If the workload is Cinebench-style rendering, AMD is the clear choice, delivering between 8.2% and 8.4% higher scores across the board. This consistency suggests AMD's higher base clock and larger per-core caches provide a tangible advantage in sustained rendering tasks. The AMD part also wins on production status (active versus end-of-life) and offers a higher base clock for workloads that never reach boost frequencies.

The Intel Core i5-8279U counters with a higher boost clock of 4.10 GHz, which could translate to better burst performance in short, single-threaded tasks that leverage Intel's Turbo capabilities. Its 6 MB of shared L3 cache is triple AMD's allocation, potentially benefiting workloads with high data reuse across cores. Intel also specifies a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, providing a concrete figure where AMD lists none. The lower 28 W TDP makes Intel more suitable for power-constrained environments, and its Iris Pro Plus 655 integrated graphics may offer a different feature set than AMD's Radeon Vega 8.

For Geekbench, Intel holds the only available scores: 3764 multicore and 1209 single-core. Since AMD lacks Geekbench results in this dataset, Intel wins that comparison by default, though the absence of AMD data prevents a definitive conclusion. The broader average benchmark score ties the two within 0.1%, meaning neither chip holds an aggregate advantage. The real differentiator is workload type: rendering favors AMD by roughly 8%, while bursty single-thread performance and lower power draw favor Intel. Users needing sustained multi-threaded throughput should choose AMD; those prioritizing peak clock speed, lower TDP, and a defined memory bandwidth figure will prefer Intel.