AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B vs Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 and AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B are both four-core, eight-thread processors, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies and market eras. The Xeon is a 2015-era server/workstation chip built on Intel's Broadwell architecture, while the AMD part is a 2018 embedded processor using the Zen architecture. Despite their different origins, benchmark data shows they are remarkably close in raw CPU performance, with the Intel chip taking a narrow victory in every single head-to-head test.

FAQ

Q: How close are these two processors in multi-core performance?

A: Extremely close. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 scores 693 versus the AMD's 692, a delta of just 0.1%. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the gap widens slightly to 0.2% (2891 vs 2884). The largest multi-core advantage is also 0.2% in Cinebench R23, where Intel scores 6884 and AMD scores 6867.

Q: Which chip has the higher single-core score?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 wins all three single-core tests by a hair. In Cinebench R15, both score 97, but Intel is listed as the winner with a delta of 0%. In Cinebench R20, Intel scores 407 versus 406 (0.2% delta), and in R23, Intel scores 971 versus 969 (0.2% delta).

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 has an average benchmark score of 1991, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B averages 1986. The Intel chip's nearest rival list includes the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X with an average score of 1992 and a delta of 0%, showing it is essentially tied with that desktop part.

Q: How do their transistor counts and die sizes compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B has significantly more transistors, at 4,950 million, compared to Intel's 1,400 million. The AMD die is also larger at 210 mm² versus Intel's 160 mm². 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. The Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 supports ECC memory, which is typical for its server/workstation market segment. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B does not list ECC memory support, despite being an embedded chip.

Q: What is the production status and release date difference?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 is end-of-life and was released on 2015-06-01. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B is still active in production and was released later on 2018-02-20. The Intel chip had a launch MSRP of $445, while no launch MSRP is listed for the AMD part.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide here is stark. The Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 uses the Broadwell-DT architecture, a refinement of Intel's 14 nm process, manufactured by Intel itself. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B employs the Zen architecture, specifically the "Great Horned Owl" variant, also on a 14 nm node but produced by GlobalFoundries.

Transistor counts reveal a massive difference in design complexity. The AMD chip packs 4,950 million transistors onto a 210 mm² die, whereas the Intel chip uses only 1,400 million transistors on a smaller 160 mm² die. This suggests Zen's design relies on more transistors to achieve its performance, while Broadwell achieves similar results with a leaner, more mature implementation.

Cache hierarchies also diverge significantly. The Intel Xeon has 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with a 6 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen Embedded doubles the per-core L1 to 128 KB and L2 to 512 KB, but its shared L3 cache is only 2 MB. This means the AMD chip has more fast, per-core cache but far less shared last-level cache, which can impact workloads that benefit from a large pool of shared data.

Memory support differs as well. The Intel part uses DDR3 memory with a dual-channel bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The AMD chip uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus, though no specific bandwidth figure is provided. The AMD chip does not support ECC memory, while the Intel Xeon does, reflecting its server pedigree.

The integrated graphics are another differentiator: Intel pairs the Xeon with Iris Pro P6300, while AMD includes Radeon Vega 8. The Xeon's socket is Intel Socket 1150, whereas the AMD uses AMD Socket FP5. Both have locked multipliers, so neither is overclockable.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4, but the margins are so thin that the concept of "winning" is almost academic. In all six head-to-head tests, Intel takes the victory with deltas ranging from 0% to 0.2%.

The Intel chip's largest advantages appear in the newer Cinebench R20 and R23 tests, both multi-core and single-core, where it consistently leads by 0.2%. This suggests that as the benchmark workload evolves, the Intel architecture maintains a slight edge in both parallel and single-threaded efficiency.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B does not win any benchmark in this comparison. However, its performance is so close that the distinction is negligible in real-world use. In Cinebench R15 single-core, both chips score exactly 97, and in multi-core they are separated by a single point (693 vs 692).

The real question is not which chip wins, but where each excels outside of raw CPU benchmarks. The Intel Xeon offers ECC memory support and a server/workstation market segment, making it suitable for reliability-focused tasks. The AMD chip, with its Radeon Vega 8 graphics and active production status, may be more attractive for embedded systems requiring integrated graphics and a modern DDR4 platform.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 | AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B |

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

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.25 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | AMD Socket FP5 |

| Architecture | Broadwell-DT | Zen (Great Horned Owl) |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | 4,950 million |

| Die Size | 160 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 Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Iris Pro P6300 | Radeon Vega 8 |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2015-06-01 | 2018-02-20 |

| Launch MSRP | $445 | Not listed |

The TDP difference is notable: the AMD chip draws 45 W versus Intel's 65 W, making it more power-efficient on paper despite having a larger die and more transistors. The Intel chip has higher base and boost clocks by 150 MHz and 200 MHz, respectively, which likely contributes to its slight benchmark edge.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are remarkably consistent. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 scores 693 against the AMD's 692, a 0.1% delta. This one-point difference is the smallest multi-core margin in the entire comparison.

Single-core results in R15 are a perfect tie at 97 points each. The Intel chip is still listed as the winner with a 0% delta, which is a statistical dead heat. This indicates that both architectures extract nearly identical performance from a single thread in this older test.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Intel chip's lead grows to 0.2% in both multi-core and single-core. In multi-core, Intel scores 2891 versus 2884; in single-core, 407 versus 406. The consistent 0.2% delta across both tests suggests a small but real clock-for-clock advantage for the Intel architecture in this workload.

Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern. Intel leads multi-core with 6884 points against AMD's 6867, a 0.2% delta. Single-core shows Intel at 971 and AMD at 969, again a 0.2% delta. Across all three Cinebench generations, the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 wins every test, but the maximum advantage is just 0.2%.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story: Intel's 1991 average is 0.3% higher than AMD's 1986. The Intel chip's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, scores 1992 with a 0% delta, meaning the Xeon is effectively tied with that mainstream desktop chip. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B's nearest rival list includes the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 itself, with a -0.2% delta, confirming the two are within a rounding error of each other.

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 is the faster processor, but by such a narrow margin that the difference is functionally irrelevant for most workloads. Across six benchmarks, Intel wins all of them, but the largest delta is just 0.2%. This is not a performance gap; it is a measurement artifact.

The more meaningful distinctions lie elsewhere. The Intel chip is end-of-life, released in 2015, and carries a launch MSRP of $445. It supports ECC memory and targets the server/workstation segment, making it a choice for legacy reliability-focused builds. Its 65 W TDP and DDR3 memory support indicate an older platform.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B is still active, released in 2018, and targets the desktop embedded market. It offers a lower 45 W TDP, DDR4 memory support, and Radeon Vega 8 graphics. Its lack of ECC support and smaller L3 cache (2 MB vs 6 MB) are trade-offs, but the newer platform and active production status are advantages.

Who should pick which? Someone building a new embedded system with a need for modern DDR4 memory and integrated graphics, while prioritizing power efficiency, should choose the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B. Its 45 W TDP and active production status make it a forward-looking option. Someone maintaining or upgrading an existing Intel Socket 1150 system with a need for ECC memory support should choose the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4, accepting its higher 65 W TDP and end-of-life status. In raw CPU performance, the choice is a coin flip; in platform features and lifecycle, the AMD chip is the more contemporary option.