AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B vs Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 Comparison

The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 and AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B are two 45 W, 4-core/8-thread processors aimed at compact systems, yet they arrive from different design philosophies. Benchmark data shows they are nearly inseparable in compute performance, with the Intel part edging ahead by margins of 0.1% to 0.2% across all Cinebench tests. The Xeon E3-1585L v5 carries a launch MSRP of $445 and is end-of-life, while the Ryzen Embedded V1756B remains active in production. For buyers, the choice hinges not on raw speed—where the two are effectively tied—but on platform features, memory support, integrated graphics, and availability.

The Verdict

The data presents a rare case of near-perfect performance parity. Across six Cinebench workloads, the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 wins every single test, but the largest margin is a 0.2% delta in Cinebench R20 single-core, R23 multi-core, and R23 single-core. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 693 versus 692 for the AMD (0.1% delta), and in R15 single-core both score 97, a 0% difference. The average benchmark scores tell the same story: Intel at 1989, AMD at 1986, a 0.2% gap. Both processors sit at the 44th percentile of all CPUs.

Given this, the Xeon E3-1585L v5 is the choice for systems requiring ECC memory support—a feature the Ryzen Embedded V1756B lacks entirely. The Xeon also supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the AMD part is limited to DDR4 only. For embedded or workstation deployments where data integrity matters, that ECC capability is decisive. Conversely, the Ryzen Embedded V1756B is the pick for designs that need an active production part with a newer release date (2018-02-20 versus 2016-05-30), a larger L1 and L2 cache per core, and a lower-cost integration path (no launch MSRP listed, suggesting a more flexible pricing model). If neither ECC nor production status matters, the Xeon’s marginal benchmark wins—however tiny—make it the nominal leader, but the differences are so small that real-world workloads would not distinguish them.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from fundamentally different silicon. The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 is built on the Skylake-H architecture using Intel’s 14 nm process, with 2,300 million transistors on a 171 mm² die. It uses an Intel BGA 1440 socket and is classified as a Server/Workstation part. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B uses the Zen architecture (codename "Great Horned Owl") on a 14 nm process from GlobalFoundries, packing 4,950 million transistors into a 210 mm² die. It mounts in an AMD Socket FP5 and is marketed as a Desktop segment part.

Cache organization differs sharply. The Intel chip provides 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with a shared 8 MB L3 cache. The AMD chip doubles the per-core L1 to 128 KB and L2 to 512 KB, but its shared L3 is only 2 MB. This means the AMD part has more fast private cache per core, while the Intel part offers four times the shared L3 capacity. Memory support also diverges: Intel accepts both DDR3 and DDR4 in dual-channel configuration, with a rated memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while AMD supports only DDR4 (dual-channel) with no bandwidth figure listed. ECC memory is supported on the Intel part but not on the AMD part. Integrated graphics differ as well: Intel uses Iris Pro Graphics P580, AMD uses Radeon Vega 8. The Intel part lists PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part has no PCIe specification provided.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 boosts to 3.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B boosts to 3.60 GHz. However, the AMD part has a higher base clock at 3.25 GHz versus 3.00 GHz for the Intel.

Q: Do these CPUs support ECC memory?

A: Yes for the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 (ECC memory: true), but no for the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B (ECC memory: false). This is a critical distinction for server or workstation reliability.

Q: How do their Cinebench R23 scores compare?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel scores 6878 and the AMD scores 6867, a 0.2% advantage for Intel. In single-core, Intel scores 971 versus 969 for AMD, also a 0.2% delta.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B has only 2 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part compensates with larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Q: Are both processors the same power draw?

A: Yes, both are rated at 45 W TDP, making them comparable for thermally constrained embedded designs.

Q: Which CPU is still in production?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B has a production status of "Active," while the Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 is marked "End-of-life." The AMD part also has a later release date (2018-02-20) versus the Intel (2016-05-30).

Specification Differences

The two parts differ in several key specifications beyond their benchmark scores. The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B has a base clock of 3.25 GHz and boost of 3.60 GHz. The Intel part uses the Intel BGA 1440 socket; the AMD uses AMD Socket FP5. Architecture differs: Skylake-H versus Zen. The Intel part is manufactured by Intel on a 14 nm process, while the AMD part comes from GlobalFoundries on 14 nm, though the transistor count (2,300 million vs 4,950 million) and die size (171 mm² vs 210 mm²) are quite different. Cache hierarchies are distinct: Intel has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 8 MB shared L3; AMD has 128 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core with 2 MB shared L3. Memory support: Intel accepts DDR3 and DDR4 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth; AMD accepts only DDR4 with no bandwidth figure. ECC memory: true for Intel, false for AMD. Integrated graphics: Intel Iris Pro Graphics P580 versus AMD Radeon Vega 8. PCIe: Intel has Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only); AMD has no PCIe spec listed. Market segment: Intel is Server/Workstation, AMD is Desktop. Production status: Intel is End-of-life, AMD is Active. Release dates differ by nearly two years. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $445; the AMD part has no launch MSRP listed. The Intel part number is SR2R9; the AMD has none.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a consistent, if minuscule, Intel advantage. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 693 against AMD’s 692, a 0.1% delta. Single-core R15 is a dead heat at 97 points each, with a 0% delta. Moving to R20, Intel leads multi-core 2888 to 2884 (0.1% delta) and single-core 407 to 406 (0.2% delta). In R23, the margins widen slightly but remain trivial: Intel takes multi-core 6878 to 6867 (0.2% delta) and single-core 971 to 969 (0.2% delta). Across all six tests, the Intel part wins 6 out of 6, with the AMD part winning none. Yet the average benchmark score difference is just 3 points (1989 vs 1986), placing both at the 44th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rival lists reinforce this: the Intel Xeon E3-1285L v4 sits at 1991 (-0.1% from Intel), and the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X at 1992 (-0.1%), while the AMD V1756B’s closest rival is the Intel Core i5-8279U at 1987 (0% delta). The two chips are statistically indistinguishable in rendering workloads, so any performance-based decision must look elsewhere.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Xeon E3-1585L v5 wins in every benchmark comparison, but the margins are so small that they carry no practical significance for most workloads. Its real advantages are architectural: ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive server or workstation tasks, and its 8 MB shared L3 cache provides a larger pool for data reuse across cores. The dual memory type support (DDR3 and DDR4) offers flexibility for legacy or mixed-memory systems. The Intel part also has a higher boost clock (3.70 GHz vs 3.60 GHz) and a higher launch MSRP of $445, reflecting its server-oriented positioning.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B wins in structural attributes rather than raw speed. It has a higher base clock (3.25 GHz vs 3.00 GHz), which can benefit sustained all-core loads if boost clocks are not sustained. Its larger per-core L1 (128 KB vs 64 KB) and L2 (512 KB vs 256 KB) caches give it a private-cache advantage that may help workloads with high per-thread locality. It is an active production part, meaning it remains available for new designs, whereas the Intel part is end-of-life. The AMD part also lists no launch MSRP, which could indicate more flexible pricing for volume embedded deals. Finally, its Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics offer a different feature set than Intel’s Iris Pro Graphics P580, though the data does not compare their performance. For new projects requiring long-term supply, ECC is not mandatory, and per-core cache is prioritized, the Ryzen Embedded V1756B is the logical pick. For legacy-compatible, ECC-capable, or memory-flexible systems, the Xeon E3-1585L v5 remains the data-backed choice.