AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 vs Intel Core i7-8086K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 and Intel Core i7-8086K occupy the same performance percentile (56th) despite representing fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD part, a 2020 embedded processor built on TSMC’s 7 nm process, faces off against Intel’s 2018 flagship desktop chip on the older 14 nm node. Benchmark data shows the Ryzen Embedded V2718 sweeping all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with margins that are consistent and substantial. The Intel part counters with higher clock speeds and an unlocked multiplier, but the measured scores tell a clear story of generational efficiency versus raw frequency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen Embedded V2718 wins every single benchmark comparison, and the margins are remarkably uniform across both multi-core and single-core workloads. In Cinebench R15, the AMD chip scores 1350 against Intel’s 1206 in multi-core, a 11.9% advantage. The single-core result is nearly identical in percentage terms: 190 versus 170, also 11.8% in AMD’s favor. This consistency suggests the performance gap is architectural rather than workload-specific.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds. The AMD part delivers 5626 in multi-core compared to 5029 for the i7-8086K, again an 11.9% delta. Single-core in R20 shows 794 versus 709, with the closest margin of the entire set at exactly 12%. The R23 results reinforce the trend: 13396 versus 11975 in multi-core (11.9% delta) and 1891 versus 1690 in single-core (11.9% delta). No test shows Intel ahead.

The average benchmark score tells a similar story. The Ryzen Embedded V2718 averages 3875 across all recorded benchmarks, while the i7-8086K averages 3800. This places both parts at the 56th percentile among all CPUs, but the AMD chip’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-11700T (3864, +0.3%) and AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS (3924, -1.3%). The Intel chip’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-9700KF (3787, +0.3%) and AMD Ryzen 9 4900H (3820, -0.5%). Both processors sit in a tightly packed performance band where a few percent separates them from competitors.

The single-core results are particularly noteworthy because the i7-8086K runs at a 5.00 GHz boost clock versus the AMD’s 4.15 GHz. Despite that 20% frequency advantage on paper, the Ryzen Embedded V2718 still leads by roughly 12% in every single-core test. This indicates that the Zen 2 architecture’s instructions-per-clock advantage fully overcomes the clock speed deficit.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock, and does it translate to benchmark wins?

A: The Intel Core i7-8086K boosts to 5.00 GHz, substantially higher than the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718’s 4.15 GHz. However, the AMD part wins every Cinebench single-core test by 11.8% to 12%, demonstrating that clock speed alone does not determine performance.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8086K has 6 cores and 12 threads. This 2-core and 4-thread advantage contributes to the AMD’s multi-core wins, though its single-core wins suggest architectural superiority as well.

Q: Are these processors comparable in terms of production status?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 is listed as Active production, released on 2020-11-09, while the Intel Core i7-8086K is End-of-life, released on 2018-06-04. The AMD part remains available for new designs.

Q: What is the power consumption difference, and does it affect the performance results?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 has a TDP of 10 watts, while the Intel Core i7-8086K is rated at 95 watts. Despite using only a fraction of the power, the AMD part outperforms the Intel chip in every benchmark, highlighting the efficiency of the Zen 2 architecture.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory technology?

A: Both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configurations. However, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 offers a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and ECC memory support, while the Intel Core i7-8086K provides 42.7 GB/s and no ECC support.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 averages 3875, which is 75 points higher than the Intel Core i7-8086K’s 3800. Both sit at the 56th percentile, but the AMD part edges ahead in aggregate performance.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 wins in every measured performance category. Multi-core workloads show its advantage clearly: Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 13396 versus 11975 represents a 11.9% lead, and the R20 result of 5626 versus 5029 confirms this gap. The 8-core, 16-thread configuration provides a structural advantage over the 6-core, 12-thread Intel part in threaded applications.

Single-core performance also favors the AMD chip, which is unexpected given the Intel part’s 5.00 GHz boost clock. The R15 single-core score of 190 versus 170 and the R23 single-core score of 1891 versus 1690 both show an 11.9% margin. This means the Ryzen Embedded V2718 is the better choice for lightly threaded tasks as well as fully parallel workloads.

The Intel Core i7-8086K does not win any benchmark in the provided data. Its strengths lie elsewhere: it has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, which could potentially close the gap in the hands of a user pushing frequencies beyond the stock 5.00 GHz. It also supports up to 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, fewer than the AMD’s 20 lanes, but its higher base clock of 4.00 GHz versus 1700.00 MHz means it delivers more performance out of the box at default settings. For users prioritizing raw single-thread responsiveness in legacy applications, the Intel part’s higher clocks might be preferable, but the benchmark data shows the AMD chip already leads in that metric.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-8086K uses 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are dramatically different: 1700.00 MHz for AMD versus 4.00 GHz for Intel. Boost clocks also differ, with AMD at 4.15 GHz and Intel at 5.00 GHz.

Power consumption is a major differentiator. The AMD part has a TDP of 10 watts, while the Intel chip is rated at 95 watts. This 85-watt gap makes the AMD part suitable for passively cooled or low-power embedded systems, whereas the Intel chip requires substantial cooling. The AMD processor uses an AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1151.

Memory support shows a 51.2 GB/s bandwidth for the AMD versus 42.7 GB/s for the Intel. The AMD part supports ECC memory; the Intel part does not. PCIe lane counts differ: 20 lanes for AMD versus 16 lanes for Intel, both Gen 3. The integrated graphics also differ, with AMD featuring Radeon Graphics 448SP and Intel featuring UHD Graphics 630.

Production status is another differentiator: the AMD part is Active, while the Intel part is End-of-life. The Intel Core i7-8086K has a launch MSRP of $425 and an unlocked multiplier. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 has no listed launch MSRP and its multiplier is locked.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is substantial. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Renoir codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. This process node contains 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-8086K uses the Coffee Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 14 nm process, with no transistor or die size data provided.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. Both share 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the AMD part has 512 KB of L2 per core versus 256 KB for the Intel. L3 cache is 8 MB shared on the AMD versus 12 MB shared on the Intel. Interestingly, the Intel part has 50% more L3 cache per core (2 MB per core versus 1 MB per core), yet this does not translate into benchmark wins.

The AMD’s Zen 2 architecture implements a chiplet design philosophy, though the Renoir codename indicates a monolithic APU, integrating Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors. The Intel Coffee Lake die is monolithic as well, integrating UHD Graphics 630. The AMD part’s smaller 7 nm process and higher transistor count (9,800 million versus unspecified for Intel) enable it to deliver superior performance at a fraction of the power draw.

Memory architecture is dual-channel for both, but the AMD part’s 51.2 GB/s bandwidth exceeds the Intel’s 42.7 GB/s, which likely contributes to its multi-core performance advantage. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the Intel chip. PCIe Gen 3 support is present on both, but the AMD offers 20 lanes versus 16 lanes for Intel, providing more headroom for expansion in embedded applications.

The production status difference reflects the design intent: the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 is actively produced for embedded systems, while the Intel Core i7-8086K is end-of-life. The AMD part’s 10-watt TDP and ECC support make it suitable for industrial and server-like applications, whereas the Intel chip’s 95-watt TDP and unlocked multiplier target desktop enthusiasts. The benchmark data shows the AMD part not only wins on efficiency but also on raw performance across all tested workloads.