AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 vs Intel Core i7-9700KF Comparison

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 and Intel Core i7-9700KF represent two distinct approaches to desktop computing, separated by process technology, feature sets, and intended operating environments. While both processors feature 8 cores, the AMD part leverages simultaneous multithreading to present 16 threads, whereas the Intel part operates with 8 threads. Benchmark data shows the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 winning all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, with margins ranging from 10.5% to 10.7%. The AMD processor also achieves a higher average benchmark score of 3875 against the Intel’s 3787, although both sit at the 56th percentile among all CPUs. The Ryzen Embedded V2718 launches with a 10-watt TDP and integrates Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors, while the Core i7-9700KF carries a 95-watt TDP, a launch MSRP of $374, and no integrated graphics.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 scores 13396 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i7-9700KF scores 12100. The AMD processor leads by 10.7% in this workload.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare between these two CPUs?

A: In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 scores 1891, outperforming the Intel Core i7-9700KF’s 1708 by 10.7%. The same 10.7% margin appears in the R15 and R20 single-core tests as well.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 has a TDP of 10 watts, while the Intel Core i7-9700KF has a TDP of 95 watts. This represents a substantial difference in thermal design power, favoring the AMD part for low-power systems.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-9700KF support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i7-9700KF does not support ECC memory. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 does support ECC memory.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i7-9700KF has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718’s boost clock of 4.15 GHz.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does each processor provide?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 provides 20 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core i7-9700KF provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only).

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results paint a clear picture: the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 wins every single head-to-head comparison in the Cinebench suite. In multi-core tests, the AMD part’s 16 threads give it a decisive edge over the Intel’s 8 threads. The Cinebench R20 multi-core test shows the AMD scoring 5626 against the Intel’s 5082, a 10.7% advantage. Similarly, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 1350 versus 1219, again a 10.7% lead. This consistent margin across all three Cinebench versions suggests that the AMD processor’s threading advantage translates directly into sustained multi-threaded workload performance.

Single-core performance also favors the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718, though by a similar margin. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD scores 190 versus 172, a 10.5% difference. The R20 and R23 single-core tests both show 10.7% leads for the AMD part. This is notable because the Intel Core i7-9700KF has a significantly higher boost clock (4.90 GHz versus 4.15 GHz), yet the AMD’s Zen 2 architecture still manages to outpace it in these single-threaded benchmarks. The data suggests that the AMD processor’s instructions-per-clock efficiency compensates for the lower clock speed.

The Intel Core i7-9700KF does not win any of the six head-to-head benchmarks listed. However, its higher base clock (3.60 GHz versus 1.70 GHz) and boost clock (4.90 GHz versus 4.15 GHz) could theoretically benefit workloads that are highly clock-sensitive and do not scale with additional threads, though the Cinebench single-core results do not reflect such an advantage. The Intel part also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for manual overclocking, which the AMD processor locks. The Intel’s larger 12 MB shared L3 cache (versus 8 MB on the AMD) may help in certain cache-sensitive scenarios, but the benchmark data available does not show a win for the Intel part in any tested metric.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 is built on TSMC’s 7 nm process node and uses the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir. It integrates 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-9700KF, by contrast, uses Intel’s 14 nm process node with the Coffee Lake architecture, codenamed Coffee Lake Refresh. Its die size is 180.3 mm², and no transistor count is provided in the data.

Threading is the most significant architectural divergence. The AMD processor supports simultaneous multithreading, providing 16 threads from its 8 cores. The Intel processor does not, offering only 8 threads from its 8 cores. This explains the consistent 10.7% multi-core performance gap in Cinebench tests. The AMD’s Zen 2 architecture also includes a per-core L1 cache of 64 KB and per-core L2 cache of 512 KB, while the Intel’s per-core L2 cache is 256 KB. Both share L3 cache, with the AMD having 8 MB shared and the Intel having 12 MB shared.

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 includes integrated Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors, a feature entirely absent from the Intel Core i7-9700KF, which has no integrated graphics. The AMD part also supports ECC memory, while the Intel does not. Memory bandwidth figures differ as well: the AMD provides 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel provides 42.7 GB/s, both on dual-channel DDR4 memory buses. PCIe lane counts differ, with the AMD offering 20 Gen 3 lanes and the Intel offering 16 Gen 3 lanes.

The AMD processor is manufactured by TSMC, while the Intel processor is manufactured by Intel’s own foundry. The AMD’s 7 nm process is denser than Intel’s 14 nm process, contributing to the AMD’s smaller die size and lower TDP despite similar core counts. The Intel part is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD part is still active in production.

Specification Differences

The core specifications differ in several key areas. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-9700KF has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are 1.70 GHz for the AMD and 3.60 GHz for the Intel. Boost clocks are 4.15 GHz for the AMD and 4.90 GHz for the Intel. The TDP is 10 watts for the AMD and 95 watts for the Intel.

Socket compatibility differs: the AMD uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel uses Intel Socket 1151. The AMD processor is built on a 7 nm process, versus 14 nm for the Intel. The AMD’s die size is 156 mm², while the Intel’s is 180.3 mm². The AMD has 9,800 million transistors; the Intel’s transistor count is not listed.

Cache hierarchies differ: both have 64 KB L1 per core, but the AMD has 512 KB L2 per core versus the Intel’s 256 KB per core. The L3 cache is 8 MB shared on the AMD and 12 MB shared on the Intel. Memory bandwidth is higher on the AMD at 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory support is present on the AMD but absent on the Intel. The AMD provides 20 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the Intel provides 16. The AMD includes integrated Radeon Graphics with 448 SPs; the Intel has no integrated graphics. The Intel has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD does not. The Intel’s launch MSRP is $374; the AMD has no launch MSRP listed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a sweep for the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2718 across all six Cinebench tests. The largest absolute margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD scores 13396 and the Intel scores 12100, a difference of 1296 points. This represents a 10.7% advantage for the AMD. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the AMD scores 5626 against 5082, a 544-point lead, also 10.7%. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the AMD at 1350 versus 1219, a 131-point margin, again 10.7%.

Single-core tests follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD scores 1891 against the Intel’s 1708, a 183-point lead and 10.7% advantage. Cinebench R20 single-core shows the AMD at 794 versus 717, a 77-point difference, also 10.7%. The Cinebench R15 single-core test has the AMD at 190 and the Intel at 172, an 18-point margin and a 10.5% lead.

The consistency of the 10.7% delta across nearly every test is striking. It suggests that the AMD’s architectural efficiency and threading advantage provide a uniform performance uplift in these rendering workloads, rather than a test-specific anomaly. The only deviation is the R15 single-core test, which shows a slightly smaller 10.5% margin.

The Intel Core i7-9700KF does have a higher boost clock by 0.75 GHz, yet it still loses every single-core test by roughly 10.7%. This indicates that the AMD’s Zen 2 architecture delivers significantly more work per clock cycle in these benchmarks. The Intel’s advantage in L3 cache size (12 MB versus 8 MB) and its unlocked multiplier do not translate into wins in any of the tested Cinebench scenarios. The Intel processor also has a higher base clock by 1.90 GHz, but that does not help in these sustained-load benchmarks.

The AMD’s win count stands at 6, while the Intel’s is 0. The average benchmark scores reflect this overall trend: the AMD averages 3875, while the Intel averages 3787. Both processors rank at the 56th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they sit at a similar overall performance tier despite the AMD’s consistent wins in this specific benchmark suite.