AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 vs Intel Core i7-6950X Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data paints a remarkably consistent picture across every single benchmark in the comparison suite. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 wins all six head-to-head tests, with the margins staying tightly clustered between 4.5% and 4.8%. This uniformity across different rendering workloads and scoring methodologies suggests a fundamental performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD part scores 1579 against the Intel Core i7-6950X's 1504, a 4.7% gap. The single-core R15 test shows 222 versus 212, a 4.5% difference. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result lands at 6580 for AMD and 6268 for Intel, again a 4.7% margin. The R20 single-core test shows 929 versus 884, the largest relative gap at 4.8%. Cinebench R23 continues the pattern: 15668 versus 14926 in multicore (4.7%) and 2212 versus 2107 in single-core (4.7%).

The consistency is striking. Six benchmarks, six AMD wins, and every margin landing within a narrow band of 4.5% to 4.8%. There is no benchmark where the Intel chip manages to close the gap or flip the result. The data does not show a single test, even among the single-core workloads, where the older Broadwell architecture can recover ground. This suggests the AMD processor carries a broad, evenly distributed performance edge across both lightly threaded and heavily threaded scenarios.

Looking at the aggregate benchmark score, the Intel part averages 4734 across its recorded tests, while the AMD part averages 4532. This aggregate number includes Geekbench results for Intel that are not present in the AMD data set, so the comparison is not perfectly apples-to-apples. Still, the head-to-head Cinebench results, where both chips ran identical workloads, are unambiguous. The Intel processor sits at the 59th percentile among all CPUs in the database, while the AMD chip sits at the 58th percentile, a negligible difference in overall standing despite the AMD wins in direct comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 wins in every measured category, but the nature of its wins matters for use-case analysis. The margins are nearly identical between single-core and multicore tests. In R15, the single-core margin is 4.5% and the multicore margin is 4.7%. In R20, single-core is 4.8% and multicore is 4.7%. In R23, both are 4.7%. This near-parity means the AMD chip does not specialize in one workload type. It simply executes every thread count at a slightly higher level.

For users running lightly threaded applications, such as older software or tasks with strict single-core dependencies, the AMD part offers a consistent 4.5% to 4.8% uplift. For heavily threaded rendering workloads, the same advantage persists. There is no scenario in the recorded data where the Intel chip's higher core count (10 versus 8) translates into a multicore win. Despite having two additional physical cores, the Intel i7-6950X cannot overcome the per-core efficiency of the AMD design.

The Intel part does hold advantages outside raw compute benchmarks. It supports quad-channel memory with a recorded bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, compared to the AMD chip's dual-channel 51.2 GB/s. It also offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus 20 on the AMD part. These are not benchmark scores, but they define where the Intel chip remains relevant. Workloads that stress memory bandwidth or require many PCIe devices would favor the Intel platform. The AMD part, by contrast, includes integrated Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic display scenarios.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i7-6950X uses the Broadwell-E architecture on Intel's 14 nm process, fabricated in-house. It packs 3,400 million transistors into a 246 mm² die. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 uses the Zen 2 architecture, specifically the Renoir variant, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. It crams 9,800 million transistors into a smaller 156 mm² die. This transistor density difference is enormous: the AMD chip holds nearly three times the transistor count in roughly 60% of the die area.

The core configurations differ as well. Intel provides 10 cores and 20 threads, while AMD provides 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip has 25 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD chip has just 8 MB. Per-core L2 cache also differs: 256 KB per core on Intel versus 512 KB per core on AMD. The L1 cache is identical at 64 KB per core. Despite the Intel chip's larger L3 pool and higher core count, the AMD chip wins every benchmark, indicating that the Zen 2 architecture extracts more performance per core and per clock.

Clock behavior tells part of the story. The Intel chip has a 3.00 GHz base clock and a 3.50 GHz boost clock. The AMD chip starts at 2.90 GHz base but boosts to 4.25 GHz. That higher boost ceiling, combined with better IPC from the newer Zen 2 design, explains the single-core wins. The AMD chip's 4.25 GHz boost clock is 21.4% higher than Intel's 3.50 GHz boost, which more than compensates for the slightly lower base clock.

Power draw differs dramatically. The Intel part carries a 140 W TDP, while the AMD part is rated at just 35 W. That is a fourfold difference in thermal envelope. The AMD chip delivers superior benchmark scores while consuming a fraction of the power budget. The Intel chip's TDP reflects its older process node and higher voltage requirements. The AMD chip's 35 W rating makes it suitable for thermally constrained environments, while the Intel chip demands serious cooling.

Memory support diverges in capability. Both support DDR4, but Intel uses a quad-channel memory bus with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while AMD uses dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s. AMD adds ECC memory support, which Intel lacks. The Intel chip offers 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while AMD offers 20. The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon Graphics, while the Intel part has no integrated graphics at all.

The production statuses differ sharply. The Intel i7-6950X is end-of-life, released in May 2016. The AMD V2748 remains active, released in November 2020. The Intel chip is a desktop Extreme Edition part with an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip is a locked embedded processor. The Intel part's launch MSRP was $1723. The AMD part has no recorded launch price in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 1579 versus 1504 in R15, 6580 versus 6268 in R20, and 15668 versus 14926 in R23. Each margin sits at 4.7%.

Q: Does the Intel chip's higher core count help in rendering?

A: No. Despite having 10 cores and 20 threads versus the AMD chip's 8 cores and 16 threads, the Intel i7-6950X loses every multi-core benchmark by 4.7%. The AMD chip's per-core efficiency overcomes the two-core deficit.

Q: How do the single-core results compare?

A: AMD wins all three single-core tests. The margins are 4.5% in R15 (222 versus 212), 4.8% in R20 (929 versus 884), and 4.7% in R23 (2212 versus 2107).

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Intel i7-6950X has a TDP of 140 W. The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 has a TDP of 35 W. The AMD chip delivers higher benchmark scores while drawing roughly a quarter of the thermal power.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-6950X does not.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 includes Radeon Graphics with 448 shader processors. The Intel Core i7-6950X has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points decisively toward the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 for raw compute performance. It wins every head-to-head test in the database, with margins ranging from 4.5% to 4.8%. No workload category favors the Intel chip. The Intel i7-6950X's additional two cores and 17 MB of extra L3 cache cannot translate into a single benchmark victory.

The AMD chip also dominates in efficiency. Its 35 W TDP versus Intel's 140 W represents a substantial thermal advantage. For any system builder prioritizing low power draw, compact cooling, or fanless operation, the AMD part is the only rational choice based on the recorded data. The integrated Radeon Graphics further simplifies system design by removing the need for a discrete GPU in display-only applications.

The Intel chip retains relevance only in platform-level features. Its quad-channel memory bus delivers 76.8 GB/s of bandwidth, a 50% advantage over the AMD chip's 51.2 GB/s. Its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes support more expansion devices than the AMD chip's 20 lanes. Systems requiring extreme memory throughput or many PCIe cards would prefer the Intel platform despite its lower benchmark scores. The unlocked multiplier also appeals to overclocking enthusiasts, though the base and boost clocks suggest limited headroom compared to the AMD chip's higher 4.25 GHz boost.

For most workloads, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 is the superior processor. It wins every compute benchmark, draws far less power, supports ECC memory, and includes integrated graphics. The Intel i7-6950X is an end-of-life product that cannot match the newer Zen 2 design's performance per watt. The only compelling reasons to choose Intel are the quad-channel memory bus, the greater PCIe lane count, and the unlocked multiplier, none of which appear in the benchmark results as performance advantages.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-6950X | AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.50 GHz | 4.25 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Zen 2 |

| Codename | Broadwell-E | Renoir |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | 3,400 million | 9,800 million |

| Die Size | 246 mm² | 156 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB per core | 512 KB per core |

| L3 Cache | 25 MB shared | 8 MB shared |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes | Gen 3, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Graphics 448SP |

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

| Release Date | 2016-05-30 | 2020-11-09 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $1723 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SR2PA | 100-000000245 |