AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 vs Intel Core i3-10320 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-10320 and AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 are both active desktop processors, yet they target very different design philosophies. The data shows a clear split: the Intel part wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the AMD part takes a single, decisive victory. Despite the lopsided win count, the Ryzen Embedded chip counters with a dramatically lower 35W TDP, six cores, and a 7 nm process, making this a contest between raw benchmark dominance and architectural efficiency.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-thread performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-10320 wins every single-thread benchmark. In PassMark single-thread, it scores 2841 versus the AMD's 1609, a 76.6% advantage. The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 1198 for Intel versus 1158 for AMD, a 3.5% lead.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 ever faster than the Intel chip?

A: Yes, in exactly one test: PassMark data encryption. The AMD scores 8046, while the Intel scores only 3458, giving AMD a 57% lead. This is the sole benchmark win for the Ryzen part in the entire comparison.

Q: How do the core counts and TDPs compare?

A: The AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD also has a much lower 35W TDP compared to the Intel's 91W TDP, making the AMD significantly more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Which chip has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-10320 has an average benchmark score of 14852, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 scores 14336. This places them both at the 69th percentile among all CPUs, but the Intel part holds a 3.6% average score advantage.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth specifications for each?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel Core i3-10320 also supports dual-channel DDR4 but has a lower bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i3-10320 does not. This is a notable feature difference for embedded and reliability-focused workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-10320 is the clear winner in most compute-heavy scenarios. It leads in all Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23) for both multi-core and single-core, with deltas consistently around 3.4–3.5%. It also dominates in PassMark integer math (31071 vs 30739, a 1.1% edge), floating-point math (19483 vs 18534, a 5.1% lead), and extended instructions (9284 vs 8799, a 5.5% lead). The biggest Intel wins come in PassMark physics (689 vs 441, a 56.2% lead) and PassMark find prime numbers (32 vs 22, a 45.5% lead).

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 wins only in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 8046 versus Intel's 3458. This 57% advantage is substantial and suggests the AMD chip has a specialized strength in cryptographic workloads, likely tied to its Zen 2 architecture and different instruction handling. Outside of that single test, the AMD chip lags in every other measured category, including data compression (136097 vs 140255) and random string sorting (13926 vs 17821).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern: the Intel chip edges out the AMD part by roughly 3.4% in every test. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 855 versus AMD's 827; in R15 single-core, it's 120 versus 116. The R20 results are 3564 vs 3446 (multicore) and 503 vs 486 (single-core). R23 follows with 8486 vs 8207 (multicore) and 1198 vs 1158 (single-core). These margins are tight but uniform, indicating a stable performance advantage for Intel across rendering workloads.

The PassMark results tell a more varied story. In multithread performance, Intel wins 9982 to 9656, a 3.4% margin. Data compression sees Intel at 140255 versus AMD's 136097, a 3.1% lead. However, the largest single-thread gap appears in PassMark single-thread, where Intel scores 2841 and AMD only 1609, a staggering 76.6% difference. This suggests the AMD chip's single-thread performance is significantly weaker, despite its higher core count.

The only AMD victory is in data encryption, with a score of 8046 versus Intel's 3458. This 57% delta is the second-largest margin in the entire comparison, only behind Intel's single-thread win. The data implies that while AMD loses most battles, it has a clear, specialized advantage in encryption-related tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several fundamental specifications. The Intel Core i3-10320 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds favor Intel: a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost of 4.60 GHz, compared to AMD's 3.00 GHz base and 3.95 GHz boost. TDP is dramatically different, with Intel at 91W and AMD at 35W.

Memory bandwidth also differs, with Intel at 42.7 GB/s and AMD at 51.2 GB/s. The AMD chip supports ECC memory, while the Intel chip does not. PCIe lanes differ as well: Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while AMD offers Gen 3 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are different too: Intel uses UHD Graphics 630, while AMD uses Radeon Graphics 384SP.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The Intel Core i3-10320 is built on Intel's 14 nm process at Intel's foundry, using the Comet Lake architecture. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 uses TSMC's 7 nm process and the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir. The AMD chip has 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip's transistor count and die size are not provided in the data.

Cache configurations differ in L2 cache: Intel has 256 KB per core, while AMD has 512 KB per core. Both share 8 MB of L3 cache. The AMD chip is part of the Ryzen Embedded 2000 series, while Intel is in the Core 10th Gen series. The AMD chip's Zen 2 architecture is a newer node, which likely explains its lower TDP and higher memory bandwidth, despite having more cores.

The Intel chip's higher clocks and older 14 nm node contribute to its higher 91W TDP. The AMD chip's 7 nm process allows for 6 cores at just 35W, a significant efficiency advantage. The AMD chip also has a newer release date of November 2020, compared to Intel's April 2020 launch.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core i3-10320 is the superior choice for raw performance in most general-purpose computing tasks. It wins 16 of 17 benchmarks, including all Cinebench tests and most PassMark workloads. Its 76.6% lead in single-thread performance and 56.2% lead in physics make it ideal for lightly-threaded applications and simulation tasks. The Intel chip's higher clock speeds (4.60 GHz boost versus 3.95 GHz) directly contribute to these wins.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 is the better pick for power-constrained or reliability-focused systems. Its 35W TDP versus Intel's 91W makes it far more suitable for embedded or thermally limited environments. The AMD chip also wins decisively in data encryption, scoring 8046 versus Intel's 3458, making it the clear choice for cryptographic workloads. Its ECC memory support and higher memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s) add to its appeal in server or embedded contexts.

For a desktop user seeking maximum performance per benchmark, the Intel Core i3-10320 is the data-backed winner. For an embedded system designer prioritizing efficiency, ECC support, and encryption throughput, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2546 is the logical selection, despite losing most raw compute tests. The choice ultimately hinges on whether the workload favors Intel's higher clocks or AMD's architectural efficiency and specialized encryption capabilities.