AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B vs Intel Core i7-7920HQ Comparison

The Intel Core i7-7920HQ and AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B are both 4-core, 8-thread processors built on a 14 nm process, yet they target different worlds: one is a mobile part from Kaby Lake-H, the other an embedded desktop chip from the Zen family. Benchmark data shows a clear and consistent edge for the AMD part across every tested workload, with the Intel chip holding its ground only in terms of platform familiarity and a higher boost clock. Below is a breakdown of where each processor excels, followed by architectural and specification comparisons.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, making it the outright performance leader in this matchup. Across six Cinebench tests—spanning R15, R20, and R23, both single-core and multi-core—the AMD part posts a delta of roughly -10.3% to -10.5% relative to the Intel chip, meaning it finishes about 10% ahead in every scenario. This is a uniform sweep: there is no workload category in the data where the Intel Core i7-7920HQ manages to pull ahead.

The Intel Core i7-7920HQ’s only theoretical advantage lies in its boost clock, which reaches 4.10 GHz compared to the AMD’s 3.60 GHz. However, the benchmark results do not reflect any benefit from that higher frequency. In single-core tests, where clock speed typically matters most, the AMD part still leads by over 10% (e.g., 969 vs. 868 in Cinebench R23 single-core). The data suggests that architectural efficiency in the Zen core outweighs the raw clock advantage of the Kaby Lake part.

For practical use, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B is the pick for any compute-heavy task—rendering, compilation, or multi-threaded workloads—since it leads by 10.4% to 10.5% in all multi-core tests. The Intel chip offers no benchmark-verified win condition; its only niche would be in systems where the Intel BGA 1440 socket or specific mobile platform features are required, but purely from a performance standpoint, the AMD part dominates.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design lineages. The Intel Core i7-7920HQ is built on Kaby Lake, specifically the Kaby Lake-H variant, using Intel’s 14 nm process with a die size of 126 mm². The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B uses the original Zen architecture (codename "Great Horned Owl"), fabricated by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm node, with a considerably larger die at 210 mm² and 4,950 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Intel part allocates 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part doubles the per-core L1 to 128 KB and L2 to 512 KB, but its L3 cache is only 2 MB shared—a quarter of Intel’s capacity. Despite the smaller L3, the AMD chip still outperforms Intel in every benchmark, indicating that its larger per-core caches and Zen core design compensate for the L3 deficit.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel chip supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the AMD part supports only DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. Integrated graphics differ as well: Intel pairs its CPU with HD Graphics 630, while AMD includes Radeon Vega 8. The AMD part is classified as a Desktop market segment part, whereas the Intel chip is explicitly Mobile, despite both having a 45 W TDP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-7920HQ has a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, compared to 3.60 GHz for the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, with a delta of about -10.3% to -10.5% in each case.

Q: How much faster is the AMD part in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B scores 6867, while the Intel Core i7-7920HQ scores 6151, putting AMD ahead by 10.4%.

Q: What are the process nodes for these two CPUs?

A: Both are built on a 14 nm process, but Intel uses its own foundry while AMD uses GlobalFoundries.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither the Intel Core i7-7920HQ nor the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B supports ECC memory.

Q: What is the average benchmark percentile for both chips?

A: Both sit at the 44th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are roughly mid-pack performers overall.

Specification Differences

• Base Clock: Intel 3.10 GHz vs. AMD 3.25 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel 4.10 GHz vs. AMD 3.60 GHz
• Socket: Intel BGA 1440 vs. AMD Socket FP5
• Architecture / Codename: Kaby Lake (Kaby Lake-H) vs. Zen (Great Horned Owl)
• Foundry: Intel vs. GlobalFoundries
• Transistors: Not listed for Intel vs. 4,950 million for AMD
• Die Size: 126 mm² for Intel vs. 210 mm² for AMD
• L1 Cache: 64 KB per core (Intel) vs. 128 KB per core (AMD)
• L2 Cache: 256 KB per core (Intel) vs. 512 KB per core (AMD)
• L3 Cache: 8 MB shared (Intel) vs. 2 MB shared (AMD)
• Memory Support: DDR3, DDR4 (Intel) vs. DDR4 only (AMD)
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 lanes (Intel) vs. not listed (AMD)
• Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 630 vs. Radeon Vega 8
• Market Segment: Mobile (Intel) vs. Desktop (AMD)
• Production Status: End-of-life (Intel) vs. Active (AMD)
• Release Date: January 2017 (Intel) vs. February 2018 (AMD)
• Launch MSRP: Intel $568; AMD has no listed launch MSRP

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B wins all six shared benchmarks with a consistent margin. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 692 against Intel’s 619, a 10.5% lead. The R15 single-core test shows AMD at 97 versus Intel’s 87, a 10.3% advantage. Moving to Cinebench R20, AMD leads 2884 to 2583 in multi-core (10.4%) and 406 to 364 in single-core (10.3%). The most modern test, Cinebench R23, shows AMD ahead by 10.4% in multi-core (6867 vs. 6151) and 10.4% in single-core (969 vs. 868).

The consistency of the margin—hovering between 10.3% and 10.5% across every test—is notable. It suggests a fundamental per-clock efficiency advantage for the Zen architecture rather than a workload-specific quirk. The Intel chip’s higher boost clock (4.10 GHz) does not translate into any single-core win, which further underscores that AMD’s core design is the deciding factor. In Geekbench, where only the Intel chip has scores (3999 multi-core, 1267 single-core), no direct comparison is possible, but the Cinebench sweep is unambiguous.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B is the clear performance winner in this pairing. It leads by roughly 10% in every benchmark test that both processors share, covering both single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The Intel Core i7-7920HQ offers a higher boost clock and double the L3 cache, but those advantages do not materialize in any benchmark result. The data shows no scenario where the Intel chip wins.

For a builder choosing between these two, the AMD part is the logical choice if raw compute performance is the priority. Its active production status and desktop market segment also suggest better long-term availability. The Intel chip, being end-of-life and mobile-focused with a $568 launch MSRP, only makes sense if the specific BGA 1440 socket or Intel platform features are non-negotiable. Given that both sit at the 44th percentile and have nearly identical average benchmark scores (1992 for Intel, 1986 for AMD), the AMD part’s consistent head-to-head dominance makes it the safer recommendation from a pure performance standpoint.